This presentations is about the concept of biosphere and its habitats, how it is useful in our life.

1. The Biosphere
ConceptConcept
By: RAJDEEP DAS
1st Sem. M.Sc. Dept. Of Ecology

2. What is Ecology?
• The Scientific study of the Interaction among
organisms and between organisms and their
environment
• Coined by Earnest Haeckel in 1866• Coined by Earnest Haeckel in 1866
• Biosphere:
• Plants, life, water, land, air and part of the
atmosphere

3. Levels of Organizations
• Study of the interactions between a
particular organisations and its
surroundings.
• Species
Populations• Populations
• Community
• Ecosystem
• Biome
• Biosphere

4. Level of Organization
• Individual
• Group of organisms so similar that they can breed
and produce fertile offspring
• Population
• Groups of individuals that belong to the same
species living in the same area

5. Level of organization
• Community
• Groups of different populations within a defined
area.
• Ecosystem
• Collection of organisms that live in a particular
place with non-living: or physical environment.

6. Level of Organization
• Biome
• Group of Ecosystem that have the same climate
and similar dominant communities
• Biosphere
• The Earth

7. Biosphere
• Biosphere is the global ecological system
integrating all living being and their
relationship
• Usually defined as the thin outer layer of the
earth capable of supporting life.

8. Biosphere Subdivison
• Lithosphere – rocky material of the earth’s
outer shell.
• Source of mineral elements required for life.
• Hydrosphere – water on or near the earth’s
surface.
Hydrosphere – water on or near the earth’s
surface.
• Atmosphere – the gaseous component of the
biosphere.
• Atmospheric oxygen is produced by photosynthesis.

9. • The biosphere includes many environments.
- saltwater and freshwater environments
Tidepool Estuary

10. • Biodiversity generally increases from the poles to the
equator.
• Biodiversity is greater in areas with consistently warm
temperatures.
• Biodiversity is the variety of life.
Biodiversity is
greater closer to
the equator.

11. • The concept of the "biosphere," i.e., "the domain of life," was
introduced in biology by Lamarck (1744-1829) in Paris at
the beginning of the nineteenth century, and in geology by
Edward Suess (1831-1914) in Vienna at the end of that
century.
• Vernadsky greatly expanded and developed the concept of
the biosphere.
• He imbued that very word—first proposed by the French
scientist Jean- Baptiste Lamarck in 1802, in his book
Hydrogeology, to denote the totality of our planet’s living
scientist Jean- Baptiste Lamarck in 1802, in his book
Hydrogeology, to denote the totality of our planet’s living
organisms—with much deeper meaning.
• Now the term “biosphere” went far beyond its simple
definition as the sum total of sedimentary rocks created by
organisms, the sense in which it had been used in the late
19th century by the Austrian geologist Eduard Suess in The
Origin of the Alps, and the German geologist Johannes
Walther, well-known for his works on lithology.

12. Physical and chemical factors
influence life in the biosphere
• The most important abiotic factors that
determine the biosphere’s structure and
dynamics include
– the energy source, usually solar energy,
– temperature,– temperature,
– abundance and type of water,
– nutrients,
– other aquatic factors such as availability of
oxygen, and
– other terrestrial factors including wind and fire.

13. • Vernadsky discusses the biosphere as an interface between the
physical planet and its cosmic environment. The emphasis is on
the radiations arriving
• From space, their transformation by the living biosphere, and
the role of the biosphere in determining the complex chemical
composition of the Earth's crust.
1. Living matter is not created from inert matter.
2. There are no lifeless geological eras.
3. Living matter of all eras has been similar to contemporary living
matter.matter.
4. Throughout all eras, there have been no sharp changes in the
influence of living matter on its surroundings, and in all, the
average chemical compositions of living matter and crust have
been similar to ours.
5. There have been no great changes in the quantity of living
matter.
6. All the energy produced by living matter derive from the Sun.
7. He even states one of the key ideas that appear later in
Lovelock's Gaia theory: the biosphere acts as a thermostat

14. • Vernadsky teaches us that life, including human
life, using visible light energy from our star the
Sun, has transformed our planet over the eons.
• He illuminates the difference between an
inanimate, mineralogical view of Earth's history,
and an endlessly dynamic picture of Earth as the
domain and product of life, to a degree not yet
well understood.well understood.
• No prospect of life's cessation looms on any horizon.
What Charles Darwin did for all life through time,
Vernadsky did for all life through space. Just as we
are all connected in time through evolution to
common ancestors, so we are all — through the
atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and these
days even the ionosphere — connected in space

15. Vernadsky’s View
• Life occurs on a spherical planet. Vernadsky is the first
person in history to come [to] grips with the real
implications of the fact that Earth is a self-contained
sphere.
• Life makes geology. Life is not merely a geological force,
it is the geological force. Virtually all geological features
at Earth's surface are bio-influenced, and are thus part
of Vernadsky's biosphere.
• The planetary influence of living matter becomes more
extensive with time. The number and rate of chemical
elements transformed and the spectrum of chemical
reactions engendered by living matter are increasing,
so that more parts of Earth are incorporated into the
biosphere.

16. • Vernadsky identified the boundaries of the biosphere as
well as its composition, energetics, and dynamics.
• He included in the biosphere the upper part of the
lithosphere to a depth of 2-3 km, which contains living
bacteria, the hydrosphere, and the lower part of the
atmosphere.
• Within the biosphere he distinguished two component
types of matter: minerals, which he termed “inert,”
and living matter.
types of matter: minerals, which he termed “inert,”
and living matter.
• The morphology of inert matter (its chemical
composition and physical state) is preserved unchanged
in the course of geological time, while living matter,
both in totality and in its individual forms, undergoes
continual change in the process of the biosphere’s
evolution as an integrated system.

17. • Vernadsky considered living matter, the active
component of the biosphere, to be the carrier of
free energy in the biosphere’s geochemical
processes, viewing certain forms of homogeneous
living matter that have remained unchanged for
billions of years (such as some species of Radiolaria
that have been unchanged since the Algonkian
Era, or the genus Lingula, unchanged since the
Cambrian Era) as exceptions.Cambrian Era) as exceptions.
• At the same time, he rejected the existence of any
special zones between living and non-living
matter, advancing the empirical generalization
that “there are no transitions between living and
inert natural bodies of the biosphere

18. • Vernadsky viewed the biosphere and the conditions
under which life emerged on our planet as an
inseparable component of a certain structure of the
Earth’s crust and its degree of organization.
• He based this conception on geology and
geochemistry, and the tremendous amount of
empirical material accumulated by these sciences.
• Geology had made it possible to formulate the
scientific question of the origin of the biosphere, while
geochemistry provided a reliable determination of the
conditions necessary for the creation of the biosphere
geochemistry provided a reliable determination of the
conditions necessary for the creation of the biosphere
and the emergence of life.
• In his judgment, the task of geochemistry was the
“study of the history of the chemical elements within
the bounds of our planet,” and this new branch of
natural science was in fact established through
Vernadsky’s work.

19. • Vernadsky thought that the continuous migration of
atoms in the Earth’s crustal layer was biogenic to a
significant degree, i.e., that it was caused by the
geochemical energy of living matter (the energy of
life), connected first and foremost with the processes
of alimentation and respiration of living organisms.
• He came to the surprising conclusion that living
matter changes the structure of inert matter, acting
upon chemical compounds and even upon atomic
states, and inducing a stable state of carbon in
organic molecules under the thermodynamic
states, and inducing a stable state of carbon in
organic molecules under the thermodynamic
conditions of the biosphere.
• Vernadsky thought that living organisms should be
characterized quantitatively in the same way as other
bodies, according to their atomic composition, mass,
and energy, and that the mass of living matter and
its average chemical composition in the biosphere are
not changed or disrupted by the process of evolution.

20. • Solar and chemical energy serve as the original source of
the energy of life. The absorption of solar energy by
photoautotrophs—the living matter that uniquely
transforms solar energy into chemical energy and
distributes it throughout the planet—is one of the most
important functions of living matter in the biosphere.
• And this is the basic energy source for exogenous
geochemical and geological processes. In other words, living
matter, transforming solar radiation, draws inorganic
material into continuous circulation.
This idea is central to the concept of biogeochemistry,• This idea is central to the concept of biogeochemistry,
which Vernadsky introduced. In it he included the functions
of the exchange of matter—respiration, alimentation,
creation of the body mass of organisms, their movements
and the work they perform, and even grander
undertakings on the scale of human communities.
• the free oxygen on our planet is created almost entirely by
the geochemical energy of life—by the photochemical
processes of the plant world.”

21. • Vernadsky advanced three propositions, asserting that the
existence of the biosphere and the appearance of living
matter were inseparable. He believed that the biosphere
was not an accidental formation, but rather a “distinctive
lawful mechanism,” whose individual parts are connected
and mutually conditioned, and which has the property of
being organized.
• Finally, he held that the basic features of the structure
and mechanism of the interactions on which the biosphere
is based were stable and constant, and that it had been a
and mechanism of the interactions on which the biosphere
is based were stable and constant, and that it had been a
stable system in dynamic equilibrium over the billions of
years since its origin, in the Archean Eon, similar to the
stability and immutability of the configuration of the
Solar System
• Closed biotic cycles, of which nutrient (trophic)
interactions are an important component, are a condition
for the stability of the biosphere and, at the same time,
represent the basis of life as a biospheric process.

22. • Such processes as the growth of the biomass of
organisms, the assimilation of matter, energy exchange,
the differentiation/migration of the chemical elements,
and the synthesis and breakdown of organic compounds
at all stages of the trophic cycle in biocenoses, are all
connected with these biotic cycles.
• The bacteria and plants of the early biosphere (the
autotrophs) utilized carbon from atmospheric carbon
dioxide and possessed no mechanism for nitrogen
fixation or photosynthesis, nor did they have
fermentation systems, which would have provided
fixation or photosynthesis, nor did they have
fermentation systems, which would have provided
energy through the hydrolytic decomposition of their
internal structures.
• These processes arose later in the course of evolution,
and our modern animal world (heterotrophs), with its
extraordinarily complex organization, consumes a wide
array of organic and inorganic materials.

23. • He viewed the biogeochemical functions of the
biosphere, which provide the basis for life, as
immutable, having existed continuously throughout
geological time.
• Vernadsky included among these biogeochemical
functions: gas exchange involving N2-O2-CO2-CH4-
H2-NH3-H2S, which is effected by all organisms; the
oxygen function performed by photosynthetic plants;
the oxidation and reduction functions, supplied
primarily by bacteria, including autotrophic bacteria;
the calcium function, carried out by algae, moss, and
primarily by bacteria, including autotrophic bacteria;
the calcium function, carried out by algae, moss, and
marine organisms, as well as by bacteria; and the
concentration function, performed by unicellular and
multi-cellular organisms.
• Biogeochemical functions are also responsible for the
breakdown of organic compounds by bacteria and
fungi, and for metabolism and respiration.

24. • Vernadsky considered the stratified part of the Earth’s
crust (the Earth’s sedimentary envelope) to be the
remnant of earlier biospheres, and thought that even the
granite-gneiss layer had been formed as a result of the
metamorphism and remelting of rocks formed earlier
under the influence of living matter.
• In other words, only basalts and the other main
magmatic rocks are abyssal, their formation being
unconnected to the biosphere. Thus, Vernadsky’s
biosphere is a global ecosystem in which connections
among the gaseous, liquid, and solid envelopes are
biosphere is a global ecosystem in which connections
among the gaseous, liquid, and solid envelopes are
regulated by living matter, and the biosphere’s basic
properties result from the activity of these envelopes.
• Life, therefore, is Earth’s planetary constant, which is
closely bound up with the structure and the function of
these envelopes. “Life is not . . . an external random
occurrence on the surface of the Earth,” he said. “Never
in all geological time have there been azoic geological
epochs.”

25. • Vernadsky has emphasized the existance of
• Life stability field- conditions which life withstands
without ceasing its function i.e., conditions under
which an organism suffers, but survives
• Life existence field – conditions under which an
organism can produce progeny i.e. increase the living
mass.
• Earth limit the development of life and determine
the boundaries of biosphere—
First condition is sufficient amount of CO gas and• First condition is sufficient amount of CO2 gas and
oxygen in the biosphere.
• Second-Sufficient amount of water(liquid) which
ensures enzymatic processes
• Third- Favourable thermal condition which
preclude both too high temperature (Coagulation
of temperature) and too low temperature (stop
the work of enzyme)

26. • Characteristic features of biosphere as dynamic
system is its nonequlibrium
• In 1935 Erwin Bauer said that living systems are
never in equilibrium. At the expense of the free
energy they constantly perform work to avoid the
equilibrium required by the laws of physics and
chemistry under existing external conditions. It is
called the principle of Bauer.. This principle is valid
for the biopshere as a whole. The gaseous
called the principle of Bauer.. This principle is valid
for the biopshere as a whole. The gaseous
composition of the atmosphere and the salt
composition of ocean are not in equlibrium.

27. • Record holders in survival are procaryotic
organisms- Bacteria and cyanobacteria
• Fourth condition is the presence of subsistence
wage of the elements of a mineral diet- a factor
which to a consirable extent limits life within
large areas of oceans
• Fifth is the hypersalinity of the aqueous medium,
which when approximately ten times higher thanwhich when approximately ten times higher than
the concentration of salt water limits life.

28. Biosphere – as cybernetic
system
• Biosphere possess the properties of self regulation.
• Biotic components of the biosphere has played a very
important role in achieving self regulation.
• Atmospheric radiation created a chemical evolution
leading to the formation of complex organic molecules
• Atmospheric radiation created a chemical evolution
leading to the formation of complex organic molecules
such as amino acids which formed the building block
of primitive life.
• Thus first living organism were yeast like anaerobes
that obtained their energy for respiration through
fermentation. Slowly photosynthetic organisms
evolved and the composition of the gaseous envelope
of our planet changed. This showed that life regulated
the atmosphere of the planet.

29. • Second example of self regulation is the world ocean
• Every year river introduce 1.5 million tons of
calcium carbonate into the ocean, but the salt
composition of oceanic water remain substantially
unchanged. Why?
• Because organisms use these calcium carbonates for
building their skeleton and after their death these
carbonates go down to oceanic floor. Some of thesecarbonates go down to oceanic floor. Some of these
later came up as limestone hill by geological
upheavals.
• Because of this cybernetic nature biosphere is
extremely stable and resilient to external shock.

30. • One reason for this stability and remarkable
external resilience is the high diversity of the
biosphere.
• According to the diversity law of Ashby a cybernetic
system possess stability for blocking external and
internal disturbances only when it has sufficient
internal diversity.
• The earth is characterized by considerable diversity
of natural conditions. This is determined byof natural conditions. This is determined by
• Its spherical shape, revolution around the sun and
rotation around its own axis. These provide
latitudinal and seasonal changes in the intensity of
solar energy input and considerable diversity of
natural conditions
• But the main diversity of earths biosphere is
created by living organisms

31. • This stability is determined by exclusive diversity,
unlimited number of living organisms,
interchangeability of the ecosystem constituting the
biosphere, by the vital resilience and activity of
individuals .
• Thus the earths biosphere is a self regulated cybernetic
system with ever increasing noise immunity possessing
the properties of homeostasis which is determined by
the activity of living matter( H. T.Odum, 1983).
• The heterogeneity of the structure of the biosphere is• The heterogeneity of the structure of the biosphere is
determined by the presence of regions in it which differ
in their biogeochemical specialisation or biogeochemical
provinces.
• These provinces are areas on the surface of earth
differing from the adjacent areas in the concentration
of chemical elements and as a result causing different
biological reactions of local flora and fauna.

32. • The vertical width of the biosphere in the ocean
covers the entire depth of oceanic waters and
includes the bottom film of life which varies
markedly in thickness.
• The biosphere on continents comprises a thin
superficial layer and a thick underground layer.
Fig. –Distribution of living organisms in the• Fig. –Distribution of living organisms in the
earth’s biosphere

33. Vassoyevich’s View
• Vernadsky had not defined what he
implied by the surrounding of biosphere
• A contemporary explanation is given by
Vassoyevich. He mentioned about
Megabiosphere- a multilayered envelope of
Vassoyevich. He mentioned about
Megabiosphere- a multilayered envelope of
the earth, formed as a result of the
activity of
• living matter-upper boundary-limit to
which the biogenic atmosphere extends
• Lower boundary- envelope of earth not
subject to the influence of life.

34. • Megobiosphere includes
• The Apobiosphere- the upper portion of Earth’s
atmosphere which is beyond the boundary to
which abiotic life forms extend
• The parabiosphere (Hutchinson)-a zone
overlaying the biosphere---life stability field
• Enbiosphere (Hutchinson)-• Enbiosphere (Hutchinson)-
• Metabiosphere - which corresponds to the area
of bygone biosphere-envelope of the earth that
had at any time been subject to the influence of
life.

35. Significance of the concept of
Biosphere
• Paramount importance of living matter - large and
small, plants, microbes and animals.
• Interconnectedness of abiotic and biotic factors
• Importance of conservation and sustainable
development
Importance of conservation and sustainable
development
• The development of biosphere is determined by the
constant influx of energy from space.
• Characterised by the presence of liquid water and
extensive low temperature reactions which proceed
in the aqueous medium and are to a considerable
degree regulated by the action of enzymes.

36. • Biosphere produces gaseous envelope towards its
outer edge and an envelope of sedimentary rock
towards the interior of the planet.
• Man occupies a specific place in the biosphere.
Man came to realize the overall
interconnectedness of natural phenomenon and
of his role in it.
• Vernadsky called the biosphere controlled by the• Vernadsky called the biosphere controlled by the
mind of man, the noosphere.
• Teilhard de Chardin defined the noosphere as a
new ‘canopy’, a thinking stratum.