The document explores the concept of ecosystems, defining both human and natural ecosystems, and discusses the ecological systems theory by Urie Bronfenbrenner, which identifies five environmental systems that influence human behavior. It also distinguishes between ecosystems and biomes, providing classifications and different types of biomes based on climate and biological diversity, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts due to human impact. The text emphasizes the complexity and variability in the classification of biomes, mentioning differing opinions on the total number of biomes recognized.

2. ECOSYSTEM is short for ‘Ecological System’.
We have: The Human Ecosystem and The Natural Ecosystem
An ECOSYSTEM includes all of the living organisms in a specific area.
An Ecosystem’s Development depends on the ENERGY that moves in and out of that system.
In a
‘Natural Ecosystem’,
the ‘living organisms’
(the plants and animals)
INTERACT
with their ‘non-living environments’
(weather, Earth, Sun, soil, atmosphere)
An entire ecosystem can be found under a big rock, or you could be referring to the overall ecosystem of the entire planet
that is, biosphere. (BIOSPHERE: the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the earth or another planet occupied by living organisms)

3. In The Human Ecosystem one system is a
phase into the next and a connection to
each other.
“You and Your Environment”
known as “The Human Ecology Theory”
by Urie Bronfenbrenner.
The ecological systems theory holds that
we encounter different environments
throughout our lifespan that may
influence our behaviour in varying
degrees.
The five (5) Environmental Systems are:
• Microsystem
• Mesosystem
• Exosystem
• Macrosystem
• Chronosystem.

4. Microsystem
The microsystem's setting is the direct environment we have in our lives i.e. family, friends,
classmates, teachers and other people that have direct contact with you.
Mesosystem
The mesosystem involves the relationships between the microsystems in one's life i.e. that your
school experience may be related to your family experience.
Exosystem
The exosystem is the context in which a person does not have any active role or may not have an
active role i.e. a divorce may damage a child’s/parent’s relationship or may bring them closer.
Macrosystem
The macrosystem setting is the actual culture of an individual. The cultural contexts involve the
socioeconomic status of the person and/or his family, his ethnicity or race and living in a still
developing or a third world country.
Chronosystem
The chronosystem includes the transitions and shifts in one's lifespan. Classic: Divorce: affects the
couple’s relationship as well as the children’s behaviour.

5. A biome IS NOT an ecosystem
Terrestrial Biomes
(Latin: Terra = earth)
Land
Aquatic Biomes
(Latin: Aqua = water)
Water
Biomes
(Greek: bio = ‘one’s life; modern science: ‘organic life’)
are regions of the world with similar climate (weather, temperature),
animals and plants (fauna and flora).
Biomes are very large ecological areas on the earth’s surface with fauna and flora
adapting to their environment.
You may find many units of ‘ecosystems’ within ONE BIOME.
There are:

6. How many BIOMES?
Biomes are the diverse regions found
on our planet which can be distinguished
by their fauna, flora, climate and
biological diversity (variety).
Biomes are a way to DIVIDE the Earth’s
Surface based on:
* Climate patterns;
* Soil types;
* Fauna and Flora that inhabit the area.
Scientists continue to argue on the exact
number, or different biomes that exist.

7. How many BIOMES?
There is no clear answer to the question ‘How many BIOMES are there?’
Many state that there are five (5).
AQUATIC DESERT
FOREST
TUNDRA*
GRASSLAND
* TUNDRA: Vast flat, treeless; subsoil
permanently frozen; Asia, N. America,
Arctic region of Europe.
The importance of biomes cannot be overestimated. Biomes have changed and moved many times during the history
of life on Earth. More recently, human activities have drastically altered these communities. Thus, conservation and
preservation of biomes should be a major concern to all.

8. How many BIOMES?
Others state there are:
ten (10) BIOMES.
RAINFOREST DESERT
CONIFEROUS FOREST
DESERT SCRUB
DECIDUOUS FOREST
GRASSLAND
SAVANNAH TUNDRA MOUNTAINS
MEDITERRANEAN
Trees loosing leavesCone and Pine trees
Grassy plain

9. How many BIOMES?
In your textbooks they count them as:
eight (8) BIOMES.
POLAR LANDS TUNDRA
TEMPERATE FOREST
DESERT
GRASSLANDS
BOREAL (TAIGA) FOREST
MOUNTAIN VEGETATION
TROPICAL FOREST
Taiga (Boreal) – swampy coniferous forest of high northern latitudes.

10. How many BIOMES?
As can be witnessed there is no right answer to this question.
If we take the five (5) major types of BIOMES as a start:
• Aquatic
• Desert
• Forest
• Grassland and
• Tundra
Then each has been taken and further divided:
• Aquatic into freshwater, marine and estuaries.
• Desert into hot and dry, semiarid, coastal, cold.
• Forest into rainforest, temperate, chaparral and taiga.
• Grasslands are divided into Savannah and Temperate grasslands.
• Tundra into Arctic Tundra and Alpine Tundra.
And divisions of these ‘also constitute as separate BIOMES’ by some.

11. The five (5) BIOMES:
AQUATIC: DESERT: FOREST: GRASSLAND: TUNDRA:
Three
biomes:
• Freshwater
• Marine
• Estuaries
Four biomes:
• Hot and Dry
• Semi Arid
• Coastal
• Cold
Four main
biomes:
• Rainforest
• Chaparral
• Temperate
• Boreal
(known also as
Taiga)
Two main
biomes:
• The
Savannah
Grasslands
• Temperate
Grasslands
Two major
biomes:
• Arctic
Tundra
• Alpine
Tundra
Chaparral – vegetation consisting chiefly of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes.
Estuary – the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream.

12. • An Ecological System
• The Human Ecology Theory
• The World's Biomes
• World Biomes