Question

1) Research the history of terrariums. Find out who developed the first terrarium. What did this particular scientist want to study?
2) What are the two different types of terrariums?
3) What are examples of the plant life and animal life that can be found in each type of terrarium? Be specific and include many types of life that could be found.
4) How is a terrarium different than an aquarium?
5) Each is a mini ecosystems and a representation of much larger ecosystems found on earth. Describe in detail including plant life and animal life what ecosystem each of these represents.
6) When the terrarium is sealed which geochemical cycle can be observed?

Answer 1

The very first terrarium was created by Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in the year of 1842. He was a botanist. He was interested in studying insect behaviour. Once he accidentally left one of his bug jars open. A fern spore in the jar sprouted, grew and germinated into a new plant. This is how the first terrarium had been created.

Because of the different conditions within, terrariums can be classified into two types: closed and open. Closed terrariums have a lid to enclose the plants entirely within the glass container. Open terrariums do not require a lid.​