Let's learn about the last of the Earth's layers: The Biosphere
The Biosphere is well known because we live in it!. But, do you know what biomes are? Or ecosystems? or the biocenose?
Conditions for life: There are certain conditions in our Earth that make life possible:
Liquid water, an energy source, a magnetic field, a protective atmosphere and Carbon compounds.
What is biodiversity? Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety of species that live or have lived on Earth. Biodiversity provides with resources: food, medicines, row materials, energy, sites for leisure activities.
Biodiversity loss is caused by the overexploitation of living organisms and the disruption of ecosystems.In order to prevent species from dying out, we must:
use resources sustainably, ban the hunting or harvesting of certain species,establish captive breeding, create nature reserves, stop the pollution, prevent forest fires, etc.
Find here a presentation on the Biosphere:
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The world's biomes: Polar, Taiga, Oceanic forest, Mediterranean forest, desert, savannah, jungle. Areas of similar climatic conditions where communities of living organisms share common features. The conditions depend upon the temperature, the rainfall and the quiantity of light. Aquatic ecosystems: freshwater (flowing water and still-water ecosystems) and marine ecosystems.
The Soil, one of the most important ecosystems:
The abiotic components include the sand and gravel, air in the pores, water, etc. And among the physical characteristics we can highlight temperature, pH and humidity and the lack of sunlight except on the surface.
Biocenosis: set of living organisms, the animals such worms and ants and different species of insects and plants, fungi and bacteria.
Relationships: Plants get the nutrients from the soil, and animals feed on them and bacteria and fungi decompose the remains of living oranisms turning them into nutrients that plants can use again.
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Find here some activities on ecosystems:
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Biosphere imbalance:
The very rapid population growth produces the destruction of the habitats, pests and plagues, bioaccumulation of chemicals, pollution in rivers and lakes, rising sea levels, oils slicks, floating islands of rubbish, salinisation, air pollution, the ozone hole, acid rain, smog, deforestation and erosion, contaminated soil, etc.
In search of a lost balance:
Sustainable development: new model of development that fullfils our present needs without jeopardising resources for future generations. Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Reject and Repair.
The next article about our wastes is very interesting. Source: El País, Auhtors: CLEMENTE ÁLVAREZ,|MARIANO ZAFRA,|JOSÉ A. ÁLVAREZ
