Environmental Sustainability Studies 111

INTRODUCTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Lecture 6 – The Earth’s Component: Biosphere

Biosphere...

...largely shaped and/or influenced by litosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere

Biosphere...complex interactions

Source: http://www.suratclimatechange.org/upload/image/global_climate_system.jpg

Biosphere & Ecosystems

• Ecosystems as most basic functional entities of the biosphere

• Natural vs. artificial ecosystems

• Resources derived from ecosystems

• Ecosystems services rendered by biosphere

• Ecosystem structure

Ecosystem structure: Abiotic

Abiotic/Non-living Components

Inorganic/chemicalsubstances: e.g. oxygen, carbon,

nitrogen+ compounds, e.g.carbon dioxide &

water

Organic substances: formbigger part of living

Organism...linking abioticAnd biotic compounds; e.g.

Proteins, carbohydratesfats, etc.

Climatic factors...two types 1. Atmospheric (wind

Humidity, temp.)2. Edaphic (soil properties,

Water & air content)

Ecosystem structure: Biotic

Biotic/livingcomponents

Producers... Consumers... Decomposers...

Biomes of the World

Source: http://allscienceconsidered.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/biomes.jpg

Other biome classifications• Marine

• Freshwater

• Forest

• Grassland

• Tundra (arctic & alpine)

• Desert

NB! : Importance of the functions of biomes in relation to provision of resources, habitat & ecosystems services

Large ecosystems

• Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystems (BCLME)

• Importance of an earth systems approach to large ecosystems

• Importance of the BCLME programme for South Africa, Namibia & Angola in terms of research, sustainable resource uses, management and governance

Source: www.bclme.org

Ecosystems & Conservation

• TRANSFRONTIER PARKS• RAMSAR SITES & MPA’s• WORLD HERITAGE SITES• BIOSPHERE RESERVES• NATIONAL PARKS• NATIONAL HERITAGE SITES• PROVINCIAL NATURE RESERVES• BIODIVERSITY CORRIDORS• BOTANICAL & ZOOLOGICAL UNITS• LOCAL NATURE RESERVES• PRIVATE NATURE RESERVES• MEMBERSHIP PNRs• CONTRACT NATURE RESERVES• CONSERVANCIES

Number of Species

Biome Veld Type

Plant Mammal Bird Amphibian Reptile

Eastern Cape 6 29 6383 156 384 51 57

Free State 3 19 3001 93 334 29 47

Gauteng 2 9 2826 125 326 25 53

KZN 3 19 5515 177 462 68 86

Limpopo 2 14 4239 239 479 44 89

Mpumalanga 2 20 4593 160 464 48 82

Northern Cape

4 20 4916 139 302 29 53

North West 2 10 2483 138 384 27 59

Western Cape 6 19 9489 153 305 39 52

Source: Adapted from South African Yearbook 2005/6

Cycles in the Biosphere

Source: www.windows2universe.org

Source: tutorvista.com

Major biosphere challenges

• General conservation vs. development controversies

• Deforestation

• Desertification

• Exceeding of carrying capacities

>>> Need for more bio-remedies relative to technological applications to address environmental problems

Some questions• Why is a systems approach to the

study of the environment and environmental problems needed?

• Briefly explain the interdependency between the abiotic and biotic components of the structure of ecosystems.

• Why is a healthy marine ecosystem important for life on land?

• Do you think that we can ‘over-conserve’ species? Briefly explain.

Diagrammes and animations

Please visit http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams.html for explanatory notes, diagrammes and animations of the earth’s realms and processes!