Life science: biosphere

biotic components

all the living components such as plants, animals and micro orgganisms

abiotic components

all the non living components which include rocks, soil, water, atmospheric gases and sunlight

Ecology

study of relationships between living organisms and the environment in which the organisms live

biosphere

part of the earth that sustains life and contains all the living organisms

atmosphere

made up of gases, rainfall, humidity, sunlight, and temperature

hydrosphere

made up of nutients, salinty, pH, oxygen content, water temperature, and light penetration

lithosphere

made up of nutrients, water content, pH, texture, composition, temperature and gradient

what is used by plants during photosynthesis to manufacture organic compounds?

carbon dioxide

what is required by all living organisms for cellular respiration

oxygen

what is essential for the manufacture of proteins?

nitrogen

an important phase of the water cycle, no living organism can exist without it

water vapour

what makes up the lithosphere

the soil and rocks in the top layer of the earths crust

what is the top layer of the soil composed of

a mixture of weathered rocks, stones, and various amounts of decaying vegetation that can support life

what does soil provide nutrients for

plant growth and the habitats for terrestial animals and creatures that live below the soils surface

what makes up the hydrosphere

the oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams

how much of the earths surface does the hydrosphere cover

70%

where is 3% of earths water held

as freshwater in glaciers, icecaps, groundwater, lakes, soil, in water vapourin the atmosphere and within bodies of living organisms