Biosphere to Ecosystems

This presentation is a combination of different slides which I re-purposed. I included a reference of all the slides I used at the end of my presentation.

1. Biosphere to
Ecosystems
Trischa Pretorius

3. Ecology
The scientific study of
interactionsamong
organismsand their
environment.

4. Terminology
•Biosphere: Theportion of the
planetwhich in all life exists.
•Biome: A groupof ecosystems
that have the same climate
and similardominant
communities.

5. Terminology
•Ecosystem: Collectionof allthe
organismsthat 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.

6. Terminology
•Species: A groupof organisms
similarto one another that can
breed together.
•Populations: Groupsof
individualsthat belong to the
same species and livein the
same area.

8. Biosphere
•Biosphere is the global
ecological system
integratingall living
beings and their
relationships.
•Usually defined as the
thin outer layer of the
earth capable of
supporting life.

9. Subdivisions of the
Biosphere
•Lithosphere
•Hydrosphere
•Atmosphere

10. Lithosphere
The rocky material of the earth’s
outer shell and is the ultimate
source of allmineral elements
requiredby living organisms.

11. Hydrosphere
•The hydrosphere includes all water
on Earth.
•The abundanceof water on Earth is a
unique feature that clearly
distinguishesour "Blue Planet" from
others in the solar system.

12. Hydrosphere
•Not a drop ofliquid water can be
found anywhere else in the solar
system. It is because the Earth has just
the right mass, the right chemical
composition, theright atmosphere,
and is the right distance from the Sun
that permits waterto existmainly as a
liquid.
•Mostof the water is containedin the
oceans.

13. Hydrosphere

14. Atmosphere
•The gaseous component of the
biosphere.
•Extends up to some 3500 km above the
earth’s surface, butall life is confined to
the lowest 8 to 15 km (TROPOSPHERE).
•The screening layer in the atmosphere
of oxygen-zoneis concentrated mostly
between 20 –25 km.

15. What is a biome?

16. Biomes
•Scientists have developed the term Biome
to describe areason the earth withsimilar
climate, plants, and animals.
•The plantsand animalsthat live in a
specific biome are physically well
adapted for that area.
•Plantsand animalsthat live in a specific
biome share similar characteristicswith
other plants and animals in that biome
throughoutthe world.

17. Biomes
There are 8officially 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

18. Forest
•Earth's most complexland.
•Forests occupyapproximately 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 arethree major types of forests,
classed according to latitude:
Tropical
Temperate
Boreal forests (taiga)

19. Temperate forest
•Temperate forests occur in eastern
North America, northeastern Asia,
and westernand 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.

20. Temperate forest

21. Tropical forest
•Average annual rainfall: 400 cm (158 in)
•Average temperature: 34°C (93°F)
•Climate: Very humid,itrainseveryday and
is warmthroughoutthe year.
•Landforms: The terrain consists of both
mountains and flat plains.

22. 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 iscoldwith winds blowing from the
arctic, most rainfall occurs during the hot
summer. Wintersare freezing cold.
•Landforms: Mountaintops, valleys and forests

23. 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.

24. Savanna

25. 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.

26. Grassland

27. Chaparral
•Chaparral is found on most continents,
fromthe west coast of the UStothe
western tip of Australia and the coastal
areas of the Mediterranean.
•The main climatic influence is heatand
lack of moisture. Wintersare mildwith
summerso hotand drythat fires and
droughts are common.

28. 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

30. 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

31. Desert
•Average annual rainfall: 25
cm (10 in)
•Average temperatures:
Summer: 38°C (100°F),
Winter: 7°C (45°F)
•Climate: Very dry andhot.
It ishot during the dayand
coldat night.
•Landforms: Flat sandy
plains.

32. The marine biome
•Marine regions cover about three-
fourths of the Earth'ssurface and include:
Oceans
Coral reefs
Estuaries
•Marine algae supply muchof the world's
oxygen supply and take in a huge
amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
•The evaporation of the seawaterprovides
rainwater for theland.

33. Ocean Pelagic & Coral
Reefs
Yikes a
shark!
Coral Reefs
Ocean Pelagic

34. Estuaries

35. The freshwater biome
•Freshwateris defined as having alow
salt concentration—usually less than
1%.
•Plants and animalsin freshwater regions
are adjusted to the low salt content and
would not be able to survivein areasof
high salt concentration (i.e., ocean).
•There are different types of freshwater
regions:
Ponds and lakes
Streams and rivers
Wetlands

36. ENVIRONMENT

37. Environment
•Environment: set of natural,
cultural and social values.
•Made up: biocenosis(flora +
fauna),
Biotope(air, water, soil) and
human being.
The relationship between them
can cause environmental
impacts.

38. Climate change
Acid rain
Hole in the ozone layer
Endangered species
Deforestation
Etc.
Environmental impacts:

39. 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

40. Acid rain
Nitricand Sulphuric oxides
in the air mixwith
atmospheric water
destroying vegetationwhen it
rains.

41. Acid rain

42. Hole in the ozone layer
•CFC(Chlorofluorocarbon)from
the sprays destroysthe ozone
particles in the atmosphere.
•Thehole in the ozone allowsthe
ultravioletand other harmful rays
to go through.
•Consequences: Health
problems like skin cancer.
AlthoughCFC was forbiddenit
persists for decades.

43. Endangered species
•Human beings destroy the natural habitat of
animalsand vegetation, also the natural
resources exploitationcause a high risk
situation with biodiversity extinction.
•Deforestation, urbanizationof natural
ecosystems, non native species, lakes and
rivers pollution, are the main things
responsible.

44. WHAT CAN WE DO?
•Thinkgreendaily.
•Saveresources.
•Reduce, reuse, recycle
•Don’twasteenergy!

46. Ecosystems
•Anecosystemis aninteraction
between plants, animals,
microorganisms, and their
environment.
•All things in an
ecosystem,living
andnonliving, work
togetherto be
one functional unit.

47. Ecosystems
•All living organisms in an ecosystem
dependon 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?

48. Where are ecosystems?
•Ecosystems are everywhere!
•They can be as BIGas the Savanna in
Africa!
Lions, gazelles, bonsai trees,
and shrubs all play a part in the
savanna ecosystem.

49. Where are ecosystems?
•Ecosystems can even be as smallas a
garden in your back yard!
Write down what kinds
of living and nonliving
things you think make
up an ecosystem in a
garden.
Grab a pen and paper!

50. Parts of an
ecosystem
that are non-
livingare
called
abiotic.
Abiotic

51. Biotic
Parts of an ecosystem that
are livingor were once
livingare calledbiotic.

52. Producers
•Organismsthat
usethe energy
from thesunto
producetheir
own food.
•Ex: Plants, algae
and some
bacteria.

53. Consumers
•Organismsthat obtains energy
by feedingon other organisms.
•3-Types
1.Herbivores
2.Carnivores
3.Scavengers and decomposers

54. Herbivores
•Heterotrophsthat
consume plants
only.
•Ex: cows, deer,
rabbits…
•(First order
consumers)

55. Carnivores
•Heterotrophsthat
consumeother
animals.
•Ex: Humans,
cats…
•(Second order
consumers.)

56. Scavengers
•Feed on dead
organisms.
•Ex: vultures

57. Decomposers
•Break down wastes
and dead
organismsand
returnthe raw
materials tothe
ecosystem.
•Ex: Bacteria and
fungus

58. 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.

59. How does energy flow
through the ecosystem?
•In ONEdirection only.
•The movementof the
energythrough the
ecosystem can be show
in diagramcalled food
chain.

60. Organisms and
Energy
•Allthe energyon Earth
comes from the sun!!

61. Sun-Producers-Consumers-
Decomposers-Released as heat
Autotrophs
First-order
heterotrophs
Third-order
heterotrophs Second-order
heterotrophs
Decomposers

62. Food chain and Food
web
•Theenergyenter as sunlightand
convertedto food molecules by
producer.
•After this, energyis transferto each
organism that eat a producer
•And to another organism that feed
on these consumers.

63. Food Chain
•DEFINITION: It is
a seriesof events
in which one
organism eats
anotherto get
energy
•The figure represent
a simplest exchange
of energy.

65. Food Web: Many interconnected
and overlapping food chains

66. Ecological Pyramids
•Shows how energy
flows through the
ecosystem

67. Energy Pyramid
•Showsthe amount
of energythat
movesfrom one
feeding level to
anotherin a food
web
•Only 10% of the
energyis passed
onto the next level.

68. Energy Pyramid
•The most energy
is available at the
producer level
of the pyramid
•As you move up
the pyramid, each
levelhas less
energyavailable
than the level
below.

69. Cycles of the matter
What is a cycle?
•Is a series of things
that repeat over
and over again.
What are some
example of cycles?
•Water cycle
•Oxygen cycle
•Carbon dioxide
cycle

70. Nutrients
•Nutrients cycle
through the
ecosystem,
never
disappearing.
nutrients
nutrients
nutrients

71. Water Cycle
•3 parts…
1.Evaporation
2.Condensation
3.Precipitation

72. Evaporation
•Theprocess by which molecules
of liquid water absorb energy
and changeto a gas.
•Fromoceans, lakes, river.
•From living things: Leaves of
trees, liquid wastes and when you
exhale.

73. Condensation
•The processby which a gas
changesto a liquid.
•When the gas rises in the
atmosphere, itcools down and
little dropletsare formed.
•The water dropletscollect
around particles of dust,
eventually forming clouds.

74. Precipitation
•More water condenses and the
dropsgrow largerand 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.

75. Water Cycle

76. Oxygen and carbon
cycle
These two elements are essentialto
thelife on the earth.
In ecosystems the processof carbon
and oxygen cycles are linked
•Producers, consumers, and
decomposersplay important
roles in recycling carbon and
oxygen.

77. Carbon cycle
•The cycle can startwhen
producerstake in carbon dioxide
gasfrom the air and release
oxygenduring photosynthesis.
•They takethecarbon and make
food molecules such as sugar
and starchesto get energy.

78. Carbon cycle
•When consumerseatproducers,
they take in the carbon-containing
food moleculesto obtain energy.
•The consumerbreak down the
carbon compounds in a process
called respiration.
•Then carbon dioxide is cycled
back into the atmosphere as
carbon dioxide.

79. Carbon Cycle

80. Oxygen cycle
•Theoxygenis found through
the ecosystems
•Producersrelease oxygenin
the photosynthesis process.
•The organismstake the
oxygenfrom air or water and
use it to carry out their life
process.

81. Oxygen Cycle

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