The Ecosphere

1
The Ecosphere

• and its components

2
The Ecosphere

• Comprised of
• Atmosphere (air)

3
The Ecosphere

• Comprised of
• Atmosphere (air)
• Hydrosphere (water)

4
The Ecosphere

• Comprised of
• Atmosphere (air)
• Hydrosphere (water)
• Biosphere (living organisms)

5
The Ecosphere

• Comprised of
• Atmosphere (air)
• Hydrosphere (water)
• Biosphere (living organisms)
• Lithosphere (rocks, minerals)

6
The Ecosphere

• Comprised of
• Atmosphere (air)
• Hydrosphere (water)
• Biosphere (living organisms)
• Lithosphere (rocks, minerals)

7
The Ecosphere

• Comprised of
• Atmosphere (air)
• Hydrosphere (water)
• Biosphere (living organisms)
• Lithosphere (rocks, minerals)
• ? traditional components
• Noösphere (human thought, information and
  conscious interaction)

8
Ecosystem

• Abbreviation of ecological system
• derives from the Greek oikos, (home) and systema
  (system)
• term coined in 1935 by British ecologist A.G.
  Tansley
• Describes complex and dynamic network of all
  organisms, their environments, and all
  interactions (biotic and abiotic) that occur
  amongst them

9
Ecosystem

• May be small scale (e.g., a pitcher plant ) or
  large scale (e.g., the entire planet), as defined
  by the observer
• ?
• In reality, all ecosystems are continuous and
  merge with each other within the ecosphere

10
Two major components of ecosphere

• Biotic
• (living)
• microorganisms
• plants
• invertebrates
• amphibians
• reptiles
• fish
• mammals (including humans)
• biological processes

• Abiotic
• (non-living)
• air
• water
• rocks and minerals
• mineral soil
• physico-chemical processes

11
Range of tolerance

• Living organisms are adapted to withstand a
  certain range of physical and chemical
  conditions, called
• RANGE OF TOLERANCE
• If the upper or lower limits of this range are
  exceeded, survival is difficult or impossible

12
Range of tolerance

• Hold your breath for
• as long as you can
• Raise your hand
• when you have to breathe, and take note of the
  time on the screen

13
Range of tolerance
000
14
Range of tolerance
005
15
Range of tolerance
010
16
Range of tolerance
015
17
Range of tolerance
020
18
Range of tolerance
025
19
Range of tolerance
030
20
Range of tolerance
035
21
Range of tolerance
040
22
Range of tolerance
045
23
Range of tolerance
050
24
Range of tolerance
055
25
Range of tolerance
100
26
Range of tolerance
100
27
Range of tolerance
105
28
Range of tolerance
110
29
Range of tolerance
115
30
Range of tolerance
120
31
Range of tolerance
125
32
Range of tolerance
130
33
Range of tolerance
135
34
Range of tolerance
140
35
Range of tolerance
145
36
Range of tolerance
150
37
Range of tolerance
155
38
Range of tolerance
200
39
Range of tolerance
205
40
Range of tolerance
210
41
Range of tolerance
215
42
Range of tolerance
220
43
Range of tolerance
225
44
Range of tolerance
230
45
Range of tolerance
235
46
Range of tolerance
240
47
Range of tolerance
245
48
Range of tolerance
250
49
Range of tolerance
255
50
Range of tolerance
300
51
Range of tolerance

• Hold your breath for
• as long as you can
• generally less than 2 minutes!
• After 5 minutes of asphyxia,
• cardiac arrest and brain death occursdue to lack
  of oxygen

52
Range of tolerance

• E.g. fish and water pH

RANGE OF TOLERANCE
NEUTRAL (e.g., pH 7) neutral
LOW(e.g., pH 5) acidic
HIGH (e.g., pH 9) alkaline

• At each end of the pH spectrum
• physiological interference
• reproductive inhibition
• mortality