Biosphere and

ecosystems

Biosphere The biosphere is the global ecosystem that contains all other

ecosystems.

It is like a puzzle in which all living things are interconnected. If an animal becomes extinct, will this affect other organisms in the ecosystem? Why?

Food chain Every organism needs food, which provides energy to live.

The movement of energy can be represented through a food chain. In a food chain we find three different types of living things: producers,

consumers and decomposers.Producers They make their own food through photosynthesis.

Consumers They obtain food eating other living things.

They eat producers They eat primary consumers

They eat secondary consumers

DecomposersThey live in the remains of dead

living things.

Examples PRODUCERS Plants, algae.

PRIMARY CONSUMERSAnimals that eat plants or algae.

SECONDARY CONSUMERSAnimals that eat primary consumers.

TERTIARY CONSUMERSAnimals that eat secondary consumers.

DECOMPOSERS Fugi, bacteria.

Ecosystems Ecosystems are made up of living things and non-living things which work

together to make a balanced system.

Ecosystems have no particular size, they can be as large as the Earth itself or as small as a drop of water.

Elements of an ecosystem There are two essential elements in an ecosystem:

Elements of an ecosystem

Living things

Physical environment

Plants, animals, protist,

fungi,monera

Air, water, soil, rocks…

Ecosystems on Earth. We can distinguish three different types of ecosystems on Earth:

terrestial, aquatic and artificial.

TERRESTRIAL AQUATIC ARTIFICIAL

TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMSTUNDRA

FORESTS

GRASSLANDS

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

DESERT

•Temperature: It is the coldest ecosystem. •Location: Areas near the North Pole.•Vegetation: No trees, only mosses and grasses. •Fauna: Reindeer, artic fox.

•Temperature: Warm and wet, It rains a lot.•Location: Tropical areas.•Vegetation: A lot of plants such as evergreen trees, or orchids. •Fauna: snakes, monkeys, jaguars, toucans.

•Temperature: It is the hottest and driest ecosystem.Hot during the day and cold during the night. •Vegetation: Plants adapted to dry conditions such as cacti.•Fauna: lizards, camels, scorpions.

•Flat areas dominated by grasses. Two types:

SAVANNA (tropical areas)TEMPERATE GRASSLAND•Fauna: giraffes, zebras, lions.

Coniferous forests: cold areas. Plants such as pines. Animals such as bears, foxes.Temperate deciduous forests: Trees that lose their leaves such as oak. Animals such as squirrels.Mediterranean forests: Surrounding areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Plants such as holm oaks. Animals such as lynx.

Which is my ecosystem?

Artic Fox

Horned viper snake Parrot

AntelopeBear

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMMARINE FRESHWATER

Open OceanIt contains the largest ecosystem on Earth.

ShorelineIt is the place where sea and land meet.Examples are the animals that live on rocky shores.

Coral reefsThey are the richest in number of species.

Flowing waterRivers and streams

Standing water

Lakes Ponds Wetlands

Which is my ecosystem?

Shark Mussels

Coral

Fish

ARTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEM Humans have created artificial ecosystems for their own benefit. These artifical ecosystem can be terrestrial or aquatic. One type of terrestrial ecosystem is the urban ecosystem, which

includes cities and towns.

ARTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEMS

Terrestrial-Farmlands-Zoos-Terrariums

Aquatic-Aquariums-Man-made ponds-Fish farms

Urban-Cities-Towns-Villages