Ecosystem, Biome, & Biosphere Lecture

Environmental science

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with non-living components such as air, water, and soil within a specific area.

Biome

A large geographic region characterized by its climate, dominant plant life, and the animals adapted to those conditions.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, encompassing every living organism and the environments that support life on Earth.

Forest Ecosystem

An ecosystem dominated by trees, rich in biodiversity, and characterized by layered vegetation and complex food webs.

Grassland Ecosystem

An ecosystem where grasses are the dominant vegetation, supporting grazing animals and experiencing periodic fires and seasonal droughts.

Desert Ecosystem

An ecosystem with very low precipitation, sparse vegetation, and organisms specially adapted to extreme temperature fluctuations.

Aquatic Biome

A water-based biome that includes oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, ponds, estuaries, and coral reefs.

Terrestrial Biome

A land-based biome such as forests, grasslands, deserts, savannas, or tundra.

Climate (Biome Factor)

The temperature and precipitation patterns that largely determine which plants and animals can survive in a biome.

Dominant Vegetation

The plant type that makes up the majority of a biome’s landscape and reflects its climate (e.g., trees in forests, grasses in grasslands).

Soil Type

The composition and structure of soil in a biome, influencing nutrient availability and plant growth.

Animal Life (Biome Factor)

The collection of animal species adapted to the climate, vegetation, and resources of a particular biome.

Habitat Loss

The destruction or alteration of natural environments, often due to human activities like deforestation, leading to reduced biodiversity.

Species Extinction

The permanent disappearance of a species, frequently caused by habitat loss, pollution, or climate change.

Deforestation

The large-scale removal of forests, which disrupts ecosystems and contributes to habitat loss and climate change.

Pollution

The introduction of harmful substances or energy into the environment, negatively impacting ecosystems and human health.

Habitat Restoration

Efforts to repair and rebuild damaged ecosystems to their original condition, supporting species recovery and ecological balance.

Sustainable Practices

Human actions that meet current needs while minimizing environmental impact and preserving ecosystems for future generations.

Climate Regulation

An ecosystem service where natural processes like photosynthesis and respiration help maintain atmospheric gas balance and Earth’s temperature.

Ecological Processes

Natural processes—such as nutrient cycling, energy flow, and species interactions—that sustain ecosystem structure and function.