Unit 1

• Biosphere


  The part of the Earth and its atmosphere where living organisms are found
• Ecology


  The study of the relationships between living organisms, and their living and non-living environment
• Hydrosphere


  Oceans, lakes and rivers, underground water and water vapour
• Lithosphere


  The Earth's crust, including soil and rocks on and below the Earth's surface
• Atmosphere


  Layer of gases surrounding the Earth
• As far as we know, Earth is the only planet that supports life
• Living organisms are found in many different places on the surface of the land, underground and in the water
• Living organisms interact with one another and with the non-living environment around them, such as air and water
• The biosphere includes all the ecosystems of the Earth on land and in the water
• Ecosystem


  Consists of living organisms and the non-living factors around them, such as air, soil and water
• The biosphere can be thought of as a global ecosystem where all living and non-living things are interconnected
• Biome


  A region that has a certain climate, soil type and type of vegetation
• Biomes are usually named after the dominant life forms found in them
• Main terrestrial biomes


  • Grasslands
  • Forests
  • Deserts
• Types of biomes


  • Aquatic
  • Terrestrial
• Aquatic biomes


  Can be sub-divided into freshwater and seawater or marine biomes
• Climate


  The typical weather conditions in a particular area
• Terrestrial


  On land
• Aquatic


  In water
• The types of animals found in the biomes are adapted to that particular environment
• Grazers such as wildebeest and eland occur naturally in grassland biomes
• The biosphere has three components where living organisms are found
• Components of the biosphere

  • Hydrosphere
  • Lithosphere
  • Atmosphere