1. The terrestrial ecosystems on the earth are being determined largely by the variations in climatic conditions between the poles and equator.
2. The main climatic influences which determine these ecosystems are rainfall, temperature and availability of light from the sun.
3. For instance, forests are usually associated with high rainfall, but the type Is influenced by temperature and light.
4. The same applies to deserts which occur in regions where rainfall is extremely low.
5. Thus, the climatic conditions along the horizontal climatic regions determined the terrestrial ecosystems on the earth.
6. If we move from equatorial region to the polar region, we can come across tropical rain forests, savannah, deciduous forest, coniferous forests and then tundras respectively.
7. Similarly altitude of the place is also a determining factor.
8. If we climb a mountain such as Kilimanjaro in equatorial Africa, we can go through a comparable system of ecosystems, starting with tropical rain forest at the base and ending with perpetual snow and ice at the summit.
