Biosphere
Biosphere
The Biosphere (/ˈbaɪoʊˌsfɪər/; from Greek βίος bios "life" and σφαῖρα sphaira "sphere") refers to the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their interaction with the elements of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
Etymology
The term "Biosphere" was coined by geologist Eduard Suess in 1875, which he defined as the place on Earth's surface where life dwells. The concept was later expanded upon by Russian scientist Vladimir Vernadsky in the 1920s, who saw the biosphere as a geological force that shapes the Earth's structure over geologic time.
Definition
The biosphere is the part of Earth where life exists. It includes all of the living organisms on Earth, as well as the dead organic matter produced by them. The biosphere extends from the deepest root systems of trees, to the dark environment of ocean trenches, to lush rain forests and high mountaintops.
Related Terms
- Ecosystem: An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system.
- Biome: A biome is a community of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the environment they exist in.
- Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth.
- Ecology: Ecology is the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, the interaction among organisms, and the interactions between organisms and their abiotic environment.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Biosphere
- Wikipedia's article - Biosphere
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