Biosphere to

Ecosystems

Trischa Pretorius
 Ecology
The scientific study of
interactions among
organisms and their
environment.
 Terminology
• Biosphere: The portion of the
planet which in all life exists.

• Biome: A group of ecosystems

that have the same climate
and similar dominant
communities.
 Terminology
• Ecosystem: Collection of all the
organisms that live in a particular
place, together with their non-living
environment.
• Community: Assemblages of
different populations that live in a
particular place together with their non-
living physical environment.
 Terminology
• Species: A group of organisms
similar to one another that can
breed together.

• Populations: Groups of
individuals that belong to the
same species and live in the
same area.
 Biosphere
• Biosphere is the global
ecological system
integrating all living
beings and their
relationships.

• Usually defined as the

thin outer layer of the
earth capable of
supporting life.
Subdivisions of the
Biosphere

• Lithosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Atmosphere
 Lithosphere
The rocky material of the earth’s
outer shell and is the ultimate
source of all mineral elements
required by living organisms.
 Hydrosphere
• The hydrosphere includes all water
on Earth.

• The abundance of water on Earth is a

unique feature that clearly
distinguishes our "Blue Planet" from
others in the solar system.
 Hydrosphere
• Not a drop of liquid water can be
found anywhere else in the solar
system. It is because the Earth has just
the right mass, the right chemical
composition, the right atmosphere,
and is the right distance from the Sun
that permits water to exist mainly as a
liquid.
• Most of the water is contained in the
oceans.
Hydrosphere
 Atmosphere
• The gaseous component of the
biosphere.

• Extends up to some 3500 km above the

earth’s surface, but all life is confined to
the lowest 8 to 15 km (TROPOSPHERE).

• The screening layer in the atmosphere

of oxygen-zone is concentrated mostly
between 20 - 25 km.
What is a biome?
 Biomes
• Scientists have developed the term Biome
to describe areas on the earth with similar
climate, plants, and animals.

• The plants and animals that live in a

specific biome are physically well
adapted for that area.

• Plants and animals that live in a specific

biome share similar characteristics with
other plants and animals in that biome
throughout the world.
 Biomes
There are 8 officially classified terrestrial
biomes (plus marine and freshwater):

1. Temperate forest
2. Tropical forest
3. Conifer (taiga/boreal)
4. Tropical savannah
5. Temperate grassland
6. Chaparral
7. Tundra
8. Desert
 Forest
• Earth's most complex land.
• Forests occupy approximately one-third
of Earth's land area, account for over two-
thirds of the leaf area of land plants, and
contain about 70% of carbon present in
living things.
• There are three major types of forests,
classed according to latitude:
 Tropical
 Temperate
 Boreal forests (taiga)
 Temperate forest
• Temperate forests occur in eastern
North America, northeastern Asia,
and western and central Europe.
• Well-defined seasons with a distinct
winter characterize this forest biome.
• Moderate climate and a growing
season of 140-200 days during 4-6
frost-free months distinguish
temperate forests.
Temperate forest
 Tropical forest
• Average annual rainfall: 400 cm (158 in)
• Average temperature: 34°C (93°F)
• Climate: Very humid, it rains everyday and
is warm throughout the year.
• Landforms: The terrain consists of both
mountains and flat plains.
 Boreal forest (taiga)
• Average annual rainfall: 30-84 cm

(12-33 in)

• Average temperatures:

 Summer: 14°C (57°F),

 Winter: -10°C (14°F)

• Climate: It is cold with winds blowing from the

arctic, most rainfall occurs during the hot
summer. Winters are freezing cold.

• Landforms: Mountaintops, valleys and forests

 Savanna
• Average annual rainfall: 150 cm (59 in)
• Average temperatures:
Dry season: 34°C (93°F)
Wet season: 16°C (61°F)

• Climate: There are two seasons,

wet in the summer, dry in the winter.
• Landforms: Flat plain with small hills.
Savanna
 Grassland
• Average annual rainfall:
25-75 cm (10-30 in)
• Average temperatures:
 Summer: 30°C (86°F)
 Winter: 0°C (32°F)
• Climate: Hot summers and cool
winters.
• Landforms: Gently rolling hills and flat
plains.
Grassland
 Chaparral
• Chaparral is found on most continents,
from the west coast of the US to the
western tip of Australia and the coastal
areas of the Mediterranean.

• The main climatic influence is heat and

lack of moisture. Winters are mild with
summer so hot and dry that fires and
droughts are common.
 Tundra
• Average annual rainfall: 30-50 cm (12-20 in)
• Average temperatures: Summer:12°C (54°F)
Winter: -26°C(-14°F)
• Climate: Long, cold winters and short, cool
summers
• Landform: Flat plain
Characteristics of tundra
include:
• Extremely cold climate
• Low biotic diversity
• Simple vegetation structure
• Limitation of drainage
• Short season of growth and reproduction
• Energy and nutrients in the form of dead
organic material
• Large population oscillations
 Desert
• Average annual rainfall: 25
cm (10 in)
• Average temperatures:
 Summer: 38°C (100°F),
 Winter: 7°C (45°F)
• Climate: Very dry and hot.
It is hot during the day and
cold at night.
• Landforms: Flat sandy
plains.
 The marine biome
• Marine regions cover about three-
fourths of the Earth's surface and include:
 Oceans
 Coral reefs
 Estuaries
• Marine algae supply much of the world's
oxygen supply and take in a huge
amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
• The evaporation of the seawater provides
rainwater for the land.
Ocean Pelagic & Coral
Reefs
Ocean Pelagic

Coral Reefs

Yikes a
shark!
Estuaries
The freshwater biome
• Freshwater is defined as having a low
salt concentration — usually less than
1%.
• Plants and animals in freshwater regions
are adjusted to the low salt content and
would not be able to survive in areas of
high salt concentration (i.e., ocean).
• There are different types of freshwater
regions:
 Ponds and lakes
 Streams and rivers
 Wetlands
ENVIRONMENT
 Environment
• Environment: set of natural,
cultural and social values.
• Made up: biocenosis (flora +
fauna),
Biotope (air, water, soil) and
human being.
The relationship between th
can cause environmental
impacts.
Environmental impacts:
 Climate change
 Acid rain
 Hole in the ozone layer
 Endangered species
 Deforestation
 Etc.
 Climate change
• Natural + anthropic
• Human activities are warming up the
planet (Industry, transport)
• Consequences:
 CO2 in atmosphere (Greenhouse effect)
 Temperature increasing (Global warming)
 Ice cap melting
 Sea level raising
 Acid rain
Nitric and Sulphuric oxides
in the air mix with
atmospheric water
destroying vegetation when it
rains.
Acid rain
Hole in the ozone layer
• CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon)from
the sprays destroys the ozone
particles in the atmosphere.
• The hole in the ozone allows the
ultraviolet and other harmful rays
to go through.
• Consequences: Health
problems like skin cancer.
Although CFC was forbidden it
persists for decades.
 Endangered species
• Human beings destroy the natural habitat of
animals and vegetation, also the natural
resources exploitation cause a high risk
situation with biodiversity extinction.
• Deforestation, urbanization of natural
ecosystems, non native species, lakes and
rivers pollution, are the main things
responsible.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
• Think green daily.
• Save resources.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Don’t waste energy!
 Ecosystems
• An ecosystem is an interaction
between plants, animals,
microorganisms, and their
environment.
• All things in an
ecosystem, living
and nonliving, work
together to be
one functional unit.
 Ecosystems
• All living organisms in an ecosystem
depend on each other for survival.
• This means these organisms are
interdependent.
• Think of what would
happen to the birds
that live in the trees
in your yard if all
the worms in your
yard disappeared?
 Where are ecosystems?
• Ecosystems are everywhere!

• They can be as BIG as the Savanna in

Africa!

Lions, gazelles, bonsai trees,

and shrubs all play a part in the
savanna ecosystem.
 Where are ecosystems?

• Ecosystems can even be as small as a

garden in your back yard!

Grab a pen and paper!

Write down what kinds
of living and nonliving
things you think make
up an ecosystem in a
garden.
 Abiotic
Parts of an
ecosystem
that are non-
living are
called
abiotic.
 Biotic
Parts of an ecosystem that
are living or were once
living are called biotic.
 Producers
• Organisms that
use the energy
from the sun to
produce their
own food.
• Ex: Plants, algae
and some
bacteria.
 Consumers
• Organisms that obtains energy
by feeding on other organisms.
• 3-Types
1. Herbivores
2. Carnivores
3. Scavengers and decomposers
Herbivores
• Heterotrophs that
consume plants
only.
• Ex: cows, deer,
rabbits…
• (First order
consumers)
 Carnivores
• Heterotrophs that
consume other
animals.
• Ex: Humans,
cats…
• (Second order
consumers.)
Scavengers

• Feed on dead
organisms.
• Ex: vultures
 Decomposers
• Break down wastes
and dead
organisms and
return the raw
materials to the
ecosystem.
• Ex: Bacteria and
fungus
Are the decomposer
nature´s recyclers?
While obtaining energy for
their own needs,
decomposer return simple
molecules to the
environment. These
molecules can be used
again by other organisms.
 How does energy flow
through the ecosystem?

• In ONE direction only.

• The movement of the
energy through the
ecosystem can be show
in diagram called food
chain.
 Organisms and
Energy
• All the energy on Earth
comes from the sun!!
 Sun-Producers-Consumers-
Decomposers- Released as heat
Autotrophs

Third-order
heterotrophs Second-order
First-order heterotrophs
heterotrophs
Decomposers
Food chain and Food
web
• The energy enter as sunlight and
converted to food molecules by
producer.
• After this, energy is transfer to each
organism that eat a producer
• And to another organism that feed
on these consumers.
Food Chain
• DEFINITION: It is
a series of events
in which one
organism eats
another to get
energy
• The figure represent
a simplest exchange
of energy.
Food Web: Many
interconnected
and overlapping food chains
Ecological Pyramids

• Shows how energy

flows through the
ecosystem
Energy Pyramid
• Shows the amount
of energy that
moves from one
feeding level to
another in a food
web
• Only 10% of the
energy is passed
onto the next level.
Energy Pyramid
• The most energy
is available at the
producer level
of the pyramid
• As you move up
the pyramid, each
level has less
energy available
than the level
below.
 Cycles of the matter
What are some
What is a cycle? example of cycles?
• Is a series of things • Water cycle
that repeat over
and over again. • Oxygen cycle
• Carbon dioxide
cycle
 Nutrients

• Nutrients cycle
through the
ecosystem, nutrients nutrients

never
disappearing.
nutrients
 Water Cycle

• 3 parts…
1.Evaporation
2.Condensation
3.Precipitation
 Evaporation
• The process by which molecules
of liquid water absorb energy
and change to a gas.
• From oceans, lakes, river.
• From living things: Leaves of
trees, liquid wastes and when you
exhale.
 Condensation
• The process by which a gas
changes to a liquid.
• When the gas rises in the
atmosphere, it cools down and
little droplets are formed.
• The water droplets collect
around particles of dust,
eventually forming clouds.
 Precipitation
• More water condenses and the
drops grow larger and heavy
then fall back to earth as
precipitation.
• Over oceans and lakes.
• When it falls on land it may
soak into ground and become
groundwater.
Water Cycle
 Oxygen and carbon
cycle
These two elements are essential to
the life on the earth.
In ecosystems the process of carbon
and oxygen cycles are linked
• Producers, consumers, and
decomposers play important
roles in recycling carbon and
oxygen.
 Carbon cycle
• The cycle can start when
producers take in carbon dioxide
gas from the air and release
oxygen during photosynthesis.
• They take the carbon and make
food molecules such as sugar
and starches to get energy.
 Carbon cycle
• When consumers eat producers,
they take in the carbon-containing
food molecules to obtain energy.
• The consumer break down the
carbon compounds in a process
called respiration.
• Then carbon dioxide is cycled
back into the atmosphere as
carbon dioxide.
Carbon Cycle
 Oxygen cycle
• The oxygen is found through
the ecosystems
• Producers release oxygen in
the photosynthesis process.
• The organisms take the
oxygen from air or water and
use it to carry out their life
process.
Oxygen Cycle
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