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ST/EST 404
THE EARTH & SPACE
CHAPTER 8 NOTES
CHAPTER 8
The Biosphere
(pp. 254 – 279)
1 What is the biosphere?
The Earth is wrapped in _______________ overlapping layers:
1. _________________________ (solid layer)
2. _________________________ (layer of water)
3. _________________________ (layer of air)
4. _________________________ (layer of LIFE!)
The biosphere corresponds to the entire system of living ____________________ and their
__________________.
The biosphere is the layer around the Earth containing all _______________ _______________.
2 Biogeochemical cycles
In order to survive, living organisms needs to take in large amounts of certain essential elements,
namely, ___________________, ____________________, _____________________,
______________________, _____________________, and ______________________.
They are found in ____________ and ____________, in the atmosphere and in ________________
and ___________________ tissues and they are constantly circulating within the biosphere in
biogeochemical cycles.
Bio = ___________________ processes (respiration and photosynthesis)
Geo = ____________________ processes (erosion and sedimentation)
Chemical = _________________ processes (combustion and synthesis)
 A biogeochemical cycle is the continuous ______________________ of an element from one
______________________ to another.
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ST/EST 404
THE EARTH & SPACE
CHAPTER 8 NOTES
 Read “Solution to Pollution” on p. 255
What revolutionary technique is being used in Saskatchewan to remove CO2 that is being pumped
into the atmosphere in North Dakota?
______________________________________________________________________________
What is the CO2 being use for?
______________________________________________________________________________
2.1 THE CARBON CYCLE
Carbon (___) is the main element making up all biological molecules (____________, ___________,
and _____________________). It is also found in _________ and methane (________) which are
found in the atmosphere.
How is carbon recycled within the biosphere?
1. _________________________:
_____________ ______________ + water  _______________ + oxygen
(CO2)
(C6H12O6)
2. ________________________: animals eat ______________ and other ______________ to
get the carbon they need.
3. ________________________: When organisms exhale, they release _______.
_______________ + oxygen

_____________ ______________ + water
(C6H12O6)
(CO2)
4. _______________________of waste: Any carbon that is not used for respiration is returned
to the biosphere as waste (_____________and ___________ ______________) which is
broken down by _______________________ which release ________ and
___________________ in the process.
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THE EARTH & SPACE
CHAPTER 8 NOTES
5. __________________ fires: Carbon stored in the ______________ and ____________ of
trees is released as _________.
6. __________________ and ____________________: Carbon dioxide dissolved in the water
reacts with _________________ and then with __________________ to form
_______________ ____________________ which is used to make __________________
and ____________________ of marine organisms.
7. ______________________ ______________: Shells and skeletons of marine organisms
accumulate as sediment on the ocean floor forming rock which can eventually return to the
surface with the movement of _________________ __________________.
8. ____________________ _____________________: CO2 from certain types of melted rock is
released into the atmosphere when a _________________ erupts.
9. ____________________ _________________: Dead organisms (mainly plant matter) get
buried in the ocean floor and compacted by sediment converting them into
_________________ ________________ (takes millions of years).
10. ___________________________ of fossil fuels: When fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) are
burned (automobiles, thermal power plants) _______________ _______________ is released
into the atmosphere.
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http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/102/ccycle.gif
ST/EST 404
THE EARTH & SPACE
CHAPTER 8 NOTES
2.2 THE NITROGEN CYCLE
Living organisms need nitrogen (___), chiefly to manufacture ________________ and ________.
Organisms need bacteria to convert unusable molecular nitrogen (_____) in the atmosphere into
______________________ (NH3), ____________________(NH4+), ____________________ (NO2-)
and ______________________ (NO3-).
1. Nitrogen ____________________: nitrogen-fixing bacteria take nitrogen form the
__________________ and convert it into __________________. Some ammonia is
converted into _____________________.
2. ___________________________: Bacteria oxidize ___________________ to form
_____________. Other bacteria oxidize _________________ into _________________.
3. Nitrogen absorption by_________________ and ___________________: Plants draw
_________________ and _________________ from soil and water. Herbivores get their
nitrogen by eating the _________________ and carnivores get their nitrogen by eating the
_____________________ or other animals.
4. _______________________ of waste: Certain bacteria and fungi break down the nitrogen in
plant and animal _________________. They produce _________________ which dissolves
and forms ___________________.
5. ________________________: Certain bacteria convert ___________________ into
molecular ________________, which returns to the _________________________.
Many natural factors can alter the nitrogen cycle: But human activities have a much greater impact:
 Farming: Fertilizers rich in _________________, ___________________ and
______________________ are applied to the fields.
 Factories: nitrogen compounds are discharged in _______________________.
Too much nitrogen can alter ___________ __________________ which interfere with
_____________ growth.
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ST/EST 404
THE EARTH & SPACE
CHAPTER 8 NOTES
2.3 THE PHOSPHORUS CYCLE (EST only)
Phosphorus is important to living things because it is a basic component of ___________ and many
animals need to form _____________, ________________ and _______________.
How is phosphorus recycled within the biosphere?
1. ________________________: Wind and rain wear away small amounts of phosphorus from
_______________, usually in the form of ________________________.
2. _______________________ by living organisms: _________________ rapidly absorb
phosphates from the ______________. _________________ get their phosphate by eating
plants, and carnivores get their phosphorus by eating ______________ and
other_______________.
3. ___________________________ of waste: Digested phosphates are returned to the soil by
animals in the form of _____________ and _______________. Phosphate are also released
when ___________________ break down dead ___________________ and
__________________.
4. Proliferation of __________________ and ________________________: Phosphates from
_______________ and from animal and decomposer ________________________ go into
the ocean. Once in the ocean, the phosphorus either promotes the growth of
________________ or settles out at the bottom with other sediment and, over millions of
years, forms __________________.
Human activities are ______________________ the natural phosphorus cycle. Those activities
include:
 Over-use of phosphorus-rich______________________ on farmland
 Use of phosphorus-laden _________________.
The phosphorus in these substances makes its way into our ________________,
_________________ and coastal _________________ where it accelerates _________________
growth.
Overpopulation of algae causes __________________________ - a drop in deep water oxygen
concentration. What would that do to the aquatic life?
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ST/EST 404
THE EARTH & SPACE
CHAPTER 8 NOTES
3 Biomes
 Biomes are large regions of the world with distinctive ______________________,
_________________________, and ____________________________.
3.1 FACTORS DETERMINING BIOME DISTRIBUTION
Terrestrial Biomes
Latitude
Aquatic Biomes
Altitude
Turbidity (water clarity)
Direction and strength of current
Soil type
Presence of _________ and __________
Nutrients (type, amount, etc.)
Proximity to bodies of _______________

Water ____________________________
These factors determine which __________________ and _________________ species
live in a certain biome.
Ex. Some fish require _______________ water to thrive, while others need salt water.
The following section will describe all the different types of biomes (ecosystems) on the Earth.
There are two types of biomes: __________________________ and ______________________.
 All the information about the biomes will be summarized in a table on the following two
pages.
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THE EARTH & SPACE
CHAPTER 8 NOTES
3.2 TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
Terrestrial Biome
Location
Characteristics
Threats
TROPICAL FORESTS
Either side of the equator
(between the Tropics of
Cancer and Capricorn)
 20 C – 34 C
 Seasonal (Africa) or evergreen/
rainforest (South America &
Asia)
 Home to 50-80% plants and
animal species
 Regulates the Earth’s climate
Clear-cutting for
farmland and timber
BOREAL FORESTS
Below Arctic circle:
 Mainly conifers
 Acidic soil
 Nutrient poor soil


Canada
Northern Russia
o
o


TEMPERATE FORESTS
Southern Canada
USA
Europe
Australia
 Avg. temp. = 8-10oC
 Coniferous & deciduous trees
 Nutrient rich soil
GRASSLANDS & SHRUBLANDS
(A.K.A Prairies)
Everywhere EXCEPT
Europe & Arctic regions





ARCTIC TUNDRA
North of the Boreal forest
 Max. temp. = 10oC
 Grasses, stunted bushes. moss,
lichen
 Permafrost
 Caribou, arctic foxes,
lemmings, migratory birds
DESERTS
Areas of low precipitation
and extreme temperatures
(Asia, Africa, Antarctic)
  25 cm of precip/yr
 -89oCT 52oC
 Little plant life
ALPINE BIOMES
High altitudes
Submontane zone
Montane zone
Subalpine zone
Alpine zone
Nival zone



Rocky Mountains (US
& CAN)
Andes (S. America)
Logging for paper
products and
timber for
construction
Fire, insects and
disease
Urbanization &
farming (Montreal and
Toronto used to be
temperate forests)
Low rainfall (no trees)
Can survive fires, drought and mowing
Temperate grasslands: Hot summers, cold winters
Savannas: Hot all year
Derived grasslands: Farms
Below 1300 m
1300-1800 m
1800-2400 m
 2400 m
 3000 m
Climate change, global
warming (Arctic is
warming up twice as
fast as the rest of the
Earth)
Deciduous tress
Conifers
Sparse conifers
Bushes and grass
Snowcaps
Himalayas (Asia)
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ST/EST 404
THE EARTH & SPACE
CHAPTER 8 NOTES
3.3 AQUATIC BIOMES
FRESHWATER BIOMES
Aquatic Biome
Definition
Characteristics
Threats
LAKES
Bodies of water
surrounded by land and
fed by rivers
 Home to microorganisms,
plants, plankton, fish,
amphibians, reptiles & birds
 Shoreline acts as buffer,
filtering the surface run-off
Farming and industrial
activities, urbanization
pollutes them
RIVERS
Permanent or seasonal
drainage channels for
surface water
 Home to grasses & moss
Agriculture and
industrial activities
deteriorate water quality
WETLANDS
Areas that are
permanently or
temporarily covered with
fresh or salt water
 Habitat for many plants and animals
 Acts as a huge sponge that absorbs rainwater and
reduces the risk of flooding
MARSHES: stagnant water w/o trees
SWAMPS: stagnant or moving water w/ trees or shrubs
PEAT BOGS: poorly drained soil carpeted with moss
MARINE (SALTWATER) BIOMES
Aquatic Biome
Definition
Characteristics
ESTUARIES
Zone between maritime
and river environments
Threats
 Fresh water mixes with salt water
 Home to oysters, sponges, belugas
 Great for whale watching (whales feed there)
OCEANS AND SEAS
Habitats are subdivided
by depth
 Surface: phytoplankton
 Open water: crustaceans, fish,
jellyfish, mollusks, birds
 Ocean floor/Seabed: benthos =
mollusks, crustaceans, deep-water fish
which feed off dead organisms
scattered over the ocean floor
Fishing
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ST/EST 404
THE EARTH & SPACE
CHAPTER 8 NOTES
CORAL REEFS
Most found in tropical
seas
 Habitat (food and shelter) for hundreds
of thousands of marine species
(biodiversity!!!)
 Formed of calcium carbonate which
the coral produces
 Major source of economic, social and
cultural importance
 20% have been destroyed
Pollution,
over-fishing,
global
warming,
increased
sedimentation
END OF CHAPTER 8 NOTES
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