Wildlife Habitats

The world has six major habitat zones, or ecosystems - aquatic, desert, forest, mountain, grassland and tundra - which are further divided into subcategories such as tropical or temperate forests.

Where these ecosystems are located is due to the world climate. Moisture condenses out of warm air rising over the equator where it is hot and wet. With all of the moisture dropped over the equatorial zones, drier air descends again, producing hot, arid desert belts next to the tropics. The dry air then moves toward the north and south poles, meeting cold polar air which results in the changable climate of the cooler temperate regions.

Ecosystems are characterized chiefly by their vegetation, and each has its own set of plant life forms. The dominant plant in a forest is the tree, whether it's in a tropical rainforest in South America or the cold forests of Russia; in the tundra it's a dwarf shrub and in the savannah it's grasses. Areas with similar climates in different parts of the world develop the same characteristic appearance, with a variety of plants and animals that have taken the same evolutionary path. The Pampas Grasslands of Argentina may look similar to the Steppe Grasslands of Asia, but a closer look will reveal different species of grasses, and different animals eating those grasses.

Life in each ecosystem is a delicately balanced, interconnected web. Each element of the web is intertwined with all others, and for a healthy ecosystem, all elements must be present. If a top predator like the tiger is removed, the population of plant eaters explodes, eating all the vegetation. If drought or disease eliminates the plant life, the plant eaters will leave or die, followed by the predators. Take out one single element, and the result is a dead ecosystem, unable to support any life.

The world's wild species are perched on the edge of an abyss. Habitat loss, pollution, poaching, climate change and introduced species are just a few of the threats affecting the survival of the world's wildlife, from tiny ocean krill to elephants. The balance of life is tipping, and we need to pay attention.

The following pages are meant to give you a snapshot of life in each ecosystem. Where they are, how they function and how wild species have adapted will give you a clear picture of their delicate balance. Regular updates on factors upsetting that balance will tell you the rest of the story.

All coming soon...

Tundra and Polar

Taiga or Boreal Forest

Tropical Rainforest

Mountains

Grasslands

Deserts

Aquatic