Landareoj

Landareoj is a term used in ecological and linguistic discussions to refer to organisms whose principal life activities occur on land. In practice, landareoj are terrestrial beings, including most plants, fungi, and many animals, but excluding organisms whose life cycles are primarily aquatic or aerial. The term is deliberately broad and non-taxonomic, focusing on habitat rather than strict phylogenetic boundaries.

Within landareoj, members display a wide range of adaptations to life on solid substrates: waxy cuticles and stomata in plants, seeds and vascular systems, roots and mycorrhizal associations; fungi producing hyphal networks; and animals with legs, wings, or burrowing abilities enabling soil, forest, or grassland life. The category also encompasses lichen-forming symbioses and some algae that reside on land.

Ecologically, landareoj include primary producers that convert sunlight into biomass, decomposers facilitating nutrient cycling, and various consumers. They occupy almost every terrestrial habitat—from tropical forests and temperate grasslands to deserts and alpine zones—and display significant regional diversity. Their distribution is shaped by climate, soil, moisture, and biotic interactions.

Threats to landareoj arise from habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, and climate change. Conservation and sustainable land management aim to preserve the ecosystem services provided by terrestrial biota, including food, fibers, medicines, soil formation, and carbon storage.

See also: terrestrial ecosystems; biota; ecology.