Grass Land

Madan Mohan Malaviya Univ.
of Technology, Gorakhpur
Forest and Grassland Ecosystem

•Introduction, types, characteristic
features, structure and function of
•Forest ecosystem and
•Grassland Ecosystem.
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Madan Mohan Malaviya Univ. of Technology, Gorakhpur
Forest ecosystem
• Forest ecosystems mainly consist of wide variety of
trees, herbs, shrubs, climbers, grass, lichens, algae
• A variety of animals, mammals, insects, reptiles,
amphibians, and birds.
• Forest ecosystems have better productivity and
diversity in comparison to other ecosystems. Plants
make up about 99 per cent of earth’s living species
and the rest 1 per cent include animals.
• The composition of plant and animal species in the
forests differs from place to place, even within the same
type of ecosystem.
• Total forests cover in the world is about 33% of the
world’s land area. In India, the forest cover is about 22%
of the total land area.
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Forest ecosystem
Forests provide several environmental services
• Providing wildlife habitat
• Maintaining biodiversity
• Nutrient cycling
• Affecting rainfall patterns
• Regulating stream flow
• Storing water
• Reducing flooding
• Preventing soil erosion
• Reclaiming degraded land
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Forest ecosystem
Apart from environmental values, forest
ecosystems have some traditional values as
well.
Examples are:
• Fire Wood & Timber.
• Fruits.
• Gums.
• Herbs & drugs
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Components of Forest Ecosystem

Biotic components
• The various biotic components,
representatives from the three functional
groups, of a forest ecosystem are:
Producers
• In a forest, the producers are mainly trees.
• Trees are of different kinds depending upon
the type of forest developed in that climate.
• Apart from trees, climbers, epiphytes, shrubs
and ground vegetation.
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Different types of trees in forest ecosystem
• Deciduous trees (such trees lose their leaves in
winter) are found in the region of moderate rainfall
• Evergreen trees are found in the regions rainfall is
good
• Coniferous trees (trees like pine, deodar etc. having
conical shape which grow in cold climate) are found
in the region where temperature is low.
• Desert trees (thorny trees with less or no leaves) are
found in the region of low rainfall.
• Mangrove trees can grow in water – logged soil preset
in coastal and river delta regions.
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The forests of the world are classified into the
following broad categories:
• Equatorial evergreen forest
• Evergreen broadleaf plants found near equator
• Temperate deciduous forest
• Plants shedding their leaves, found in regions away from equator
with moderate temperature & seasonal rainfall
• Northern coniferous forest
• Coniferous plants found in cold regions
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Forest ecosystem
Consumers
The consumers in a forest ecosystem are of three types
a) Primary Consumers:
• These are Herbivores which feed directly on producers. E.g.
• Ants, Beetles, Bugs, spiders etc. feeding on tree leaves.
• Larger animals such as Elephants, Deer, giraffe etc. grazing on
shoots and/or fruits of trees.
b) Secondary Consumers:
• These are carnivores and feed on primary consumers.
• These include Birds, Lizards, Frogs, Snakes, Foxes, etc.
c) Tertiary Consumers:
• These are secondary carnivores and feed on secondary
consumers
• These include top carnivores like Lion, Tiger, etc.
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Forest ecosystem
3) Decomposers
• These include wide variety of saprotrophic
micro- organism like;
• Bacteria (Bacillus Sp., Clostridium sp.,
pseudomonas, etc.)
• Fungi (Aspergillus sp., Ganoderma sp., Fusarium,
etc.)
• Actinomycetes (Streptomyces, etc).
• They attract the dead or decayed bodies of
organisms & thus decomposition takes place.
• Therefore, nutrients are released for reuse.
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Abiotic components
Soil
Type of soil
pH
Amount of organic matter present
Moisture and Drainage
The amount of moisture available is another key determinant
for the mix of species that will grow at a site. Different type of
forests are found in different conditions.
Topography
The land topography whether it is plane, hilly, upland or low-
lying, influences the type of forest ecosystem.
Low areas, such as those along rivers support species adapted
to wet conditions. High, dry uplands support species tolerant
to drought.
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Forest
Cover in
India
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:M_Tracy_Hunter
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https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Forest
Cover in
India
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Forest
Cover
in
India
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Insects
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Insects_collage.jpg
Deodar Tree
https://www.flickr.com/people/98719591@N00
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https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
Pine Tree
10/31/2020 https://www.maxpixels.net/Timber-Forest-Pine-Trees-Pine-Forest-701101 18
Sheesham Tree
10/31/2020 https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinesh_valke/4656268749 19
Sal or Teakwood Tree
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Krish_Dulal
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Forest ecosystem
10/31/2020 https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ContentFeature/ForestCarbon/images/measuring_tree_girth.jpg 21
Tropical forests
10/31/2020 https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ContentFeature/ForestCarbon/images/gabon_forest.jpg 22
Tropical scrub forests
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Adityamadhav83
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Temperate rain forests
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Temperate rain forests
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:MarshallSimon&action=edit&redlink=1
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https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Evergreen coniferous forests
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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Gangulybiswarup
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Tropical Rain Forest
10/31/2020 https://www.flickr.com/photos/shankaronline/7637237462 29
10/31/2020 https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/330000/velka/rain-forest-in-doi-inthanon-chiangmai-thailand-1587033131BIZ.jpg 30
10/31/2020 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashwinkumar/7158995367 31
Forest Fire
10/31/2020 https://www.nps.gov/hosp/learn/nature/images/RxFire-Hot-Springs-SIZED-FOR-WEB.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false 32
Ecological Services Provided by Forests
•Reducing global warming: The main

greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) is
absorbed by the forests as a raw material for
photosynthesis. Thus forest canopy acts as a
sink for CO2 thereby reducing the problem of
global warming caused by greenhouse gas
CO2
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• Production of
oxygen: The trees
produce oxygen
by photosynthesis
which is so vital
for life on this
earth. They are
rightly called as
earths lungs.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Figure_08_01_03.jpg
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•Wild life habitat: Forests are the homes of

millions of wild animals and plants. About 7
million species are found in the tropical
forests alone.
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•Regulation of hydrological cycle: Forested

watersheds act like giant sponges, absorbing
the rainfall, slowing down the runoff and
slowly releasing the water for recharge of
springs.
•About 50-80 %of the moisture in the air
above tropical forests comes from their
transpiration which helps in bringing rains.
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• Soil Conservation: Forests bind the soil particles

tightly in their roots and prevent soil erosion. They
also act as wind-breaks.
• Prevention of Soil Erosion Water moves slowly
through forested soils and stays free of sediments.
• Control of Run-off Leaves and branches of trees
break the impact of rain, causing it to drip rather
than have a strong force. Rain is absorbed by the
ground, reducing surface run-off.
• Reduction of Wind Erosion Trees are used as
windbreaks and slow down the force of wind.
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• Pollution moderators: Forests can absorb many

toxic gases and can help in keeping the air pure.
They have also been reported to absorb noise and
thus help in preventing air and noise pollution
• Removal of Pollutants The roots of trees absorb soil

and water pollutants.
• Sulphur dioxide is used for metabolism of trees.
Thus, forests aid in the cleansing of air, water and
soil.
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Ecological uses
• Driving energy flow and nutrient cycling.

• Provisions for Healthy Survival of Local
Communities and Mankind Forests provide
employment and income, aesthetic pleasure and
spiritual solace. They also provide food, ﬁbre,
honey, medicinal plants and minerals.
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Grassland ecosystem
• Grasslands (also called Greenswards) are areas where
the vegetation is dominated by grasses and
other herbaceous (non-woody) plants.
• Grasslands occupy about 24% of the earth’s surface.
• Grasslands occur in regions too dry for forests and too
moist for deserts
• The annual rainfall ranges between 25- 75 cm,
Usually seasonal
• The principal grasslands include:
• Prairies (Canada, USA)
• Pampas (South America)
• Steppes (Europe & Asia)
• Veldts (Africa)
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Grassland ecosystem
• The highest abundance & greatest diversity of large
mammals are found in these ecosystems.
• The dominant animal species include
• Wild horses, asses & antelope (found in africa)
Eurasia,
• Herds of Bison of America; and
• The antelope & other large herbivores of Africa
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Grassland ecosystem
The various components of a grassland Ecosystem are:
Biotic components: Three functional groups which are:
1) Producer Organisms:
In grassland, producers are mainly grasses; though, a
few herbs & shrubs also contribute to primary
production of biomass.
Some of the most common species of grasses are:
Brachiaria sp., Cynodon sp., Desmodium sp.,
Digitaria sp.
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Grassland ecosystem
2) Consumers
• In a grassland, consumers are of three main types;
a) Primary Consumers:
• The primary consumers are herbivores feeding
directly on grasses. These are grazing animals such as
• Cows, Buffaloes, Sheep, Goats, Deer, Rabbits
etc.
• Besides them, numerous species of insects,
termites, etc are also present.
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Grassland ecosystem
b) Secondary Consumers
• These are carnivores that feed on primary consumers
(Herbivores)
• These include;
• Frogs, Snakes, Lizards, Birds, Foxes, Jackals
etc.
c) Tertiary Consumers
• These include hawks etc. which feed on secondary
consumers.
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Grassland ecosystem
3) Decomposers
• These include wide variety of saprotrophic micro-

organism like:
• Bacteria; Fungi; Actinomycetes
• They attract the dead or decayed bodies of organisms
& thus decomposition takes place.
• Therefore, nutrients are released for reuse by
producers.
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Grassland ecosystem
Abiotic components
• These include basic inorganic & organic
compounds present in the soil & aerial
environment.
• The essential elements like C, H, N, O, P, S
etc. are supplied by water, nitrogen, nitrates,
sulphates, phosphates present in soil &
atmosphere. Organic substances like
carbohydrates, lipids and proteins, and
• Physical factors, like sun light, rainfall, soil,
temperature and pH.
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Functions of Grassland Ecosystem

• To increase the fertility of soil and to regulate the
productivity of ecosystem.
• To give shelter and food directly and indirectly to
animals, insects and birds.
• To have more cultivated grasses and grain crops.
• To reduce the leaching of minerals due to low
rainfall.
• Grassland ecosystem also consists of both biotic
and abiotic components interacting with each other.
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Grassland Ecosystem
Grassland Ecosystem
Steppes
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Anastasia_Ture&action=edit&redlink=1
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Veldts
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Pampas
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Prairies
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Producers: Different grass species
Consumers of Grassland ecosystem
Decomposers in a Grassland ecosystem

Ecological Benefits of Grassland Ecosystem
• Groundwater Recharge
• Preventing floods
• Natural production of food crops and meats
• Enriching Soils
• Carbon Capturing
• Maintenance of biodiversity
• Climate regulation
10/31/2020 55

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Madan Mohan Malaviya Univ.

Forest and Grassland Ecosystem

Components of Forest Ecosystem

Components of Forest Ecosystem

Components of Forest Ecosystem

Sal or Teakwood Tree

Tropical scrub forests

Temperate rain forests

Temperate rain forests

Evergreen coniferous forests

Evergreen coniferous forests

Evergreen coniferous forests

Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Rain Forest

Ecological Services Provided by Forests

•Reducing global warming: The main

Ecological Services Provided by Forests

Ecological Services Provided by Forests

•Wild life habitat: Forests are the homes of

Ecological Services Provided by Forests

•Regulation of hydrological cycle: Forested

Ecological Services Provided by Forests

• Soil Conservation: Forests bind the soil particles

Ecological Services Provided by Forests

• Pollution moderators: Forests can absorb many

• Removal of Pollutants The roots of trees absorb soil

• Driving energy flow and nutrient cycling.

• These include wide variety of saprotrophic micro-

Functions of Grassland Ecosystem

Producers: Different grass species

Consumers of Grassland ecosystem

Decomposers in a Grassland ecosystem

Ecological Benefits of Grassland Ecosystem

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