The Biosphere Flashcards
Biosphere is region on or close to our planet in which
Life can be sustained
Each ecosystem has a set of _ that governs how it functions
ecological factors
Non-living factors are called _ factors
Abiotic
Abiotic factors include energy sources such as (2)
Light
Chemicals (oxygen, water, rock)
3 spheres that provide abiotic factors
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere is region where other spheres combine to
Create conditions that are compatible with life
Grasslands tend to form where
Water is scarce
Forests and woodlands grow in
Wet areas
Rüppell’s Vulture can fly as high as
7 miles (11km)
Age of biosphere
3.5 billion years
_ live deep below surface without sunlight or oxygen
Rock-eating bacteria
Rock-eating aka
Lithotropic
Rock-eating bacteria obtain energy by metabolizing _ from rocks (2)
Sulfur
Iron
Limits of biosphere are determined by
Supply of energy and nutrients
Above _ atmosphere too thin for most animals to breathe
4 miles (6 km)
Lower limit of biosphere at 250f (120c)
Even extreme-loving bacteria cannot survive
Atmospheric winds spread fungal spores, plant seeds, microorganisms, and even _ around the biosphere
Tiny animals
_ from land are washed into the ocean
Mineral nutrients
Below sediment (on bottom of ocean) is
Oceanic crust
Below oceanic crust is
Upper mantle
Bacteria in lithosphere has been found to live as deep as _ in crust below ocean floor
6.5 miles (10.5km)
Most oceanic animals live within _ ft of surface
1,600
Atmosphere contains oxygen and carbon dioxide and also
Ultimate source of nitrogen
Nitrogen used in _ and other essential life chemicals
Proteins
