Biodiversity & Sustainability

Biomes a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or tundra.

The Biosphere All biomes combine to create one system…called the biosphere Biosphere is where life exists and includes water, land and air atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphereThe three interacting components of the physical environment that make up the biosphere are the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere

Atmosphere the atmosphere is a layer of gases that are held by the Earth's gravity the atmosphere extends from surface level to km above surface level

Atmosphere composed of different gases –Nitrogen which makes up 78% of the Earth's atmosphere –Oxygen which makes up 21% –Argon which makes up 0.9% of the atmosphere –Carbon Dioxide which makes up 0.04% of the atmosphere –The remaining is made up of water vapour and other trace gases.

Lithosphere it is the Earth's crust consists of rock materials, soil or other minerals found from underground

Lithosphere continued extends 100 km down from surface and runs under the continents and oceans is home to many micro-organisms, plants, animals, and fungi

Hydrosphere The hydrosphere is water that is on or surrounds our Earth. “Hydrosphere” can be found in various forms: –in plants, animals, humans etc. –under the Earth's sediments, crust and rocks.

Hydrosphere continued –water that covers the Earth's surface (3/4 of the surface) in liquid plus solid forms such as ice and snow. –water vapour and atmospheric water in the air

Sustainability Definition: when a population of plants, animals and other living organisms can continue to interact and reproduce indefinitely… it is the capacity to endure

Biodiversity Definition: number of different types of organisms in an area The greater the number of organisms in an area, the greater the biodiversity of that area High biodiversity levels are connected with a healthy, sustainable environment

Natural vs. Artificial NaturalArtificial

Decreasing Biodiversity 5 Major Causes of Decreased Biodiversity –Habitat change –Overexploitation –Pollution: i.e. toxicity & acidity of water –Invasive species –Climate change