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/chemical
substances: e.g.
oxygen, carbon,
nitrogen
+ compounds, e.g.
carbon dioxide &
water
Organic substances: form
bigger part of living
Organism...linking abiotic
And biotic compounds; e.g.
Proteins, carbohydrates
fats, etc.
Climatic factors...two types
1. Atmospheric (wind
Humidity, temp.)
2. Edaphic (soil properties,
Water & air content)
Ecosystem structure: Biotic
Biotic/living
components
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 ‘overconserve’ species? Briefly explain.
Diagrammes and animations
Please visit
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diag
rams.html for explanatory notes,
diagrammes and animations of the earth’s
realms and processes!