biosphere Encyclopedic Entry

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1 This website would like to remind you: Your browser (Safari 7) is out of date. Update your browser for more security, comfort and the best experience on this site. Encyclopedic Entry biosphere For the complete encyclopedic entry with media resources, visit: The biosphere is made up of the parts of Earth where life exists. The biosphere extends from the deepest root systems of trees, to the dark environment of ocean trenches, to lush rain forests and high mountaintops. Scientists describe the Earth in terms of spheres. The solid surface layer of the Earth is the lithosphere. The atmosphere is the layer of air that stretches above the lithosphere. The Earth s water on the surface, in the ground, and in the air makes up the hydrosphere. Since life exists on the ground, in the air, and in the water, the biosphere overlaps all these spheres. Although the biosphere measures about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from top to bottom, almost all life exists between about 500 meters (1,640 feet) below the ocean s surface to about 6 kilometers (3.75 miles) above sea level. Origin of the Biosphere The biosphere has existed for about 3.5 billion years. The biosphere s earliest lifeforms, called prokaryotes, survived without oxygen. Ancient prokaryotes included single-celled organisms such as bacteria and archaea. Some prokaryotes developed a unique chemical process. They were able to use sunlight to make simple sugars and oxygen out of water and carbon dioxide, a process called photosynthesis. These photosynthetic organisms were so plentiful that they changed the biosphere. Over a long period of time, the atmosphere developed a mix of oxygen and other gases that could sustain new forms of life. The addition of oxygen to the biosphere allowed more complex life-forms to 1 of 6

2 evolve. Millions of different plants and other photosynthetic species developed. Animals, which consume plants (and other animals) evolved. Bacteria and other organisms evolved to decompose, or break down, dead animals and plants. The biosphere benefits from this food web. The remains of dead plants and animals release nutrients into the soil and ocean. These nutrients are re-absorbed by growing plants. This exchange of food and energy makes the biosphere a selfsupporting and self-regulating system. The biosphere is sometimes thought of as one large ecosystem a complex community of living and nonliving things functioning as a single unit. More often, however, the biosphere is described as having many ecosystems. Biosphere Reserves People play an important part in maintaining the flow of energy in the biosphere. Sometimes, however, people disrupt the flow. For example, in the atmosphere, oxygen levels decrease and carbon dioxide levels increase when people clear forests or burn fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Oil spills and industrial wastes threaten life in the hydrosphere. The future of the biosphere will depend on how people interact with other living things within the zone of life. In the early 1970s, the United Nations established a project called Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), which promotes sustainable development. A network of biosphere reserves exists to establish a working, balanced relationship between people and the natural world. Currently, there are 563 biosphere reserves all over the world. The first biosphere reserve was established in Yangambi, Democratic Republic of Congo. Yangambi, in the fertile Congo River Basin, has 32,000 species of trees and such endemic species as forest elephants and red river hogs. The biosphere reserve at Yangambi supports activities such as sustainable agriculture, hunting, and mining. One of the newest biosphere reserves is in Yayu, Ethiopia. The area is developed for agriculture. Crops such as honey, timber, and fruit are regularly cultivated. However, Yayu s most profitable and valuable resource is an indigenous species of 2 of 6

3 plant, Coffea arabica. This shrub is the source of coffee. Yayu has the largest source of wild Coffea arabica in the world. Vocabulary Term absorb verb to soak up. agriculture the art and science of cultivating the land for growing crops (farming) or raising livestock (ranching). ancient adjectivevery old. organisms that have a well-defined shape and limited animal growth, can move voluntarily, acquire food and digest it internally, and can respond rapidly to stimuli. archaea (singular: archaeon) a group of tiny organisms often living plural in extreme environments, such as ocean vents and salt lakes. atmosphere layers of gases surrounding a planet or other celestial body. bacteria plural (singular: bacterium) single-celled organisms found in every ecosystem on Earth. basin a dip or depression in the surface of the land or ocean floor. biosphere part of the Earth where life exists. location recognized by the United Nations as important to biosphere the relationship between people and the natural reserve environment. greenhouse gas produced by animals during respiration carbon dioxide and used by plants during photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is also the byproduct of burning fossil fuels. coal dark, solid fossil fuel mined from the earth. coffee plant native to Africa whose dried berries and seeds are used for a drink of the same name. species of shrub native to east Africa and the Arabian coffee arabica Peninsula, whose berries are harvested for coffee. consume verb to use up. crop agricultural produce. 3 of 6

4 Term cultivate verb to prepare and nurture the land for crops. decompose verb to decay or break down. decrease verb to lower. disrupt verb to interrupt. Earth our planet, the third from the Sun. The Earth is the only place in the known universe that supports life. ecosystem community and interactions of living and nonliving things in an area. endemic species species that naturally occurs in only one area or region. establish verb to form or officially organize. evolve verb to develop new characteristics based on adaptation and natural selection. fertile adjectiveable to produce crops or sustain agriculture. food web all related food chains in an ecosystem. Also called a food cycle. forest ecosystem filled with trees and underbrush. forest species of elephant native to the Congo River rain forest elephant in Africa. fossil fuel coal, oil, or natural gas. Fossil fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. function verb to work or work correctly. honey sweet substance produced by bees from pollen or nectar. hunt verb to pursue and kill an animal, usually for food. hydrosphere all the Earth's water in the ground, on the surface, and in the air. indigenous adjectivecharacteristic to or of a specific place. industrial adjectivehaving to do with factories or mechanical production. lithosphere outer, solid portion of the Earth. Also called the geosphere. lush adjectiveabundant and rich. 4 of 6

5 Term Man and the United Nations program established to support a working, Biosphere balanced relationship between people and the natural Programme world. (MAB) mining process of extracting ore from the Earth. mountain landmass that forms as tectonic plates interact with each other. nutrient substance an organism needs for energy, growth, and life. ocean trench a long, deep depression in the ocean floor. oil fossil fuel formed from the remains of marine plants and animals. Also known as petroleum or crude oil. oil spill accidental release of petroleum products into a body of water, either by an oil tanker or an offshore oil rig. oxygen chemical element with the symbol O, whose gas form is 21% of the Earth's atmosphere. photosynthesis process by which plants turn water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide into water, oxygen, and simple sugars. plant organism that produces its own food through photosynthesis and whose cells have walls. profitable adjectiveable to make money. prokaryote organism whose cells have no nucleus. rain forest area of tall, mostly evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall. red river hog mammal (pig) native to African rain forests. resource available supply of materials, goods, or services. Resources can be natural or human. root system all of a plant's roots. shrub type of plant, smaller than a tree but having woody branches. soil top layer of the Earth's surface where plants can grow. sphere round object. sugar type of chemical compound that is sweet-tasting and in some form essential to life. 5 of 6

6 Term processes for growing crops and raising livestock that sustainable makes the most efficient use of resources. Sustainable agriculture agriculture aims to cultivate the land so it may be used by future generations. human construction, growth, and consumption that can sustainable be maintained with minimal damage to the natural development environment. timber wood in an unfinished form, either trees or logs. unique adjectiveone of a kind. United Nations international organization that works for peace, security and cooperation. Maps UNESCO: Man and the Biosphere Programme Biosphere Reserves Directory Websites Biosphere National Geographic Society. All rights reserved. 6 of 6