Flora and fauna are the set of species of plants and animals that inhabit the same geographic region or ecosystem.
- Flora: Includes all plant species: plants and flowers, shrubs, trees, and vegetables that inhabit the same geographical area (country, region, continent) or are part of a specific ecosystem (forest, plain, steppe, desert). For instance, The orchid, cactus, and beans are plant species that make up the Mexican flora; Seagrasses and algae are plant species that comprise the marine ecosystem.
- Fauna: Includes all animals: terrestrial and aquatic, vertebrates and invertebrates, both domestic and wild, that inhabit a geographical area (country, region, continent) or that are part of a specific ecosystem (forest, plain, steppe, desert). For instance, the crocodile, coyote, and badger are animal species that make up the Mexican fauna; the crab, the shark, and the killer whale are animal species that comprise the marine ecosystem.
Flora and fauna are considered biotic factors, and abiotic factors (climate, level of rainfall, type of soil) constitute ecosystems. All the world’s ecosystems have a characteristic fauna and flora; the species that make them up are adapted to their geographic and climatic conditions.
The flora and fauna are essential to maintaining the ecological balance and need each other. Plants release oxygen through photosynthesis, which animals need to live; animals produce and release carbon dioxide through respiration, which plants use for photosynthesis. For this reason, the protection and conservation of ecosystems and their biodiversity is investigated and promoted.
Types of flora
Native flora
The native flora comprises plant species that grow naturally in a specific ecosystem or geographic area. Native plants are closely associated with the ecosystem they inhabit, and they are related to the birds and insects with which they share their habitat.
Exotic flora
Exotic flora is one that reaches an ecosystem through human action or external factors.
Within the exotic flora is the agricultural flora, formed by the plants that are used for agricultural cultivation or gardening, and the invasive flora, made up of exotic species that settle in a new ecosystem due to their characteristics (reproductive capacity, adaptability), put biodiversity at risk.
Types of fauna
Wildlife
Wildlife can be indigenous or exotic. The native fauna is that of a particular ecosystem that has not suffered alterations or has been domesticated by humans. Exotic fauna is that which has been introduced to another ecosystem by human action or by external factors.
The exotic fauna introduced into a new ecosystem adapts to the biotic and abiotic factors of the new habitat (soil type, absence of predators). In many cases, exotic fauna can become invasive when they threaten the new ecosystem and put native flora and fauna at risk; such is the case of beavers in the province of Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina or rabbits in Australia.
Domesticated fauna
The domesticated fauna is made up of those animals raised by humans. Animals such as dogs and cats are used as pets. Animals such as goats, horses, and donkeys are domesticated and used as means of transport, work tools, or to obtain some benefit.
Examples of flora and fauna
Flora and fauna of the temperate forest
| Flora | Fauna |
|---|---|
| Birch | Red Fox |
| Fir | Forest Spider |
| Oak | Raccoon |
| Larch | Beaver |
| Maple | Lynx |
| Cedar | Grizzly |
| Remote Carex | Nepalese Owl |
| Redwood | Chipmunk |
| Juniper | Red Deer |
| Moss | Beaver |
| Spruce | Wolf |
| Pine | Black Bear |
| Yew | Tree Porcupine |
| Araucaria | Deer |
Desert flora and fauna
| Flora | Fauna |
|---|---|
| Cactus | Camel |
| Agave deserti | Desert Snake |
| Thorn Bush | Egyptian Cobra |
| Goat Horn | Scorpion |
| Yucca | Dromedary |
| Oleander | Vulture |
| Juniper | Beetle |
| Acacia | Coyote |
| Desert Willow | Desert Fox |
| Barrel Cactus | Jackal |
| Anastatica | Desert Iguana |
| Opuntia | Egyptian Gerbil |
| Cholla | Lizard |
Jungle flora and fauna
| Flora | Fauna |
|---|---|
| Mamey | Tapir |
| Pink Stick | Green Macaw |
| Tamarind | Toucan |
| Rubber Tree | Orangutan |
| Plantain | Spider Monkey |
| Liana | Bearded Boar |
| Orchid | Crocodile |
| Palm Tree | Termite |
| Cocoa | Fer-de-lance Snake |
| Guava | Sloth |
| Fern | Anaconda |
| Bromeliad | Alligator |
| Moss | Red-eyed Tree Frog |
| Teak | Tarantula |
| Bouvardia | Scarlet Macaw |
| Honduras Mahogany | Hoacin |
| Cedar | Bat |
| Araceae | Yellow-headed Parrot |
| Cola Nut | Jaguar |
Flora and fauna of the savannah
| Flora | Fauna |
|---|---|
| Acacia | Elephant |
| Palm Tree | Giraffe |
| Baobab | Lion |
| Andropogon | Zebra |
| Herbaceous Plants | Hippopotamus |
| Elephant Grass | Rhinoceros |
| Prosopis | Crocodile |
| Pangola Grass | Hyena |
| Astrebla | Cheetah |
| Candelabra Tree | Gazelle |
| Triodia | Antelope |
| Jackal Berry Tree | Black Mamba |
| Wild Grass | Termite |
| Perennial Grasses | African Warthog |