This document provides an introduction to a unit on the terrestrial environment and the biosphere. It begins by outlining the objectives and overview of the unit. The unit will introduce the components of the biosphere, ecosystems and biomes, and interactions among the spheres. It then defines key terms like biosphere, environment, and discusses the three main spheres of the biosphere - the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. The document provides examples of terrestrial and aquatic biomes and discusses abiotic and biotic factors within ecosystems. It also explores interactions between the spheres through examples like the water cycle and food chains/webs.

1. Integrated ScienceIntegrated Science
Module 4Module 4  Unit 2Unit 2  Lesson 1Lesson 1
BEGIN

2. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
OVERVIEW
• This slide presentation introduces you to the unit that looks at The
Terrestrial Environment This first lesson of the unit will help you to
understand the components of the biosphere and help you better
understand that the components of your environment are part of the
biosphere.
• In subsequent lessons, you’ll learn about soils which are important to
us for crop production and the various ways that we can conserve it
and keep it fertile.
• You will learn also how living things interact with the non-living
parts of the biosphere, for water and various gases and contribute to
the natural cycling of gases that are components of the atmosphere.
• The final lesson in this unit explores various natural disasters that can
adversely affect the entire biosphere.
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3. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
OBJECTIVES
On completing this slide presentation, you should be able to:
•define the term ‘biosphere’.
•recall and define the term ‘environment’.
•show appreciation for the soil and the sea which are the two most
important outdoor working environments in the Caribbean.
•recall the components of food-energy chains and webs as one type
of interaction in the environment.
•access and share internet information and ideas while working
together.
3
NOTE: For some activities, you will be asked to type your
responses in boxes. To do so, you must be in Slide Show
View. You can enter and delete text in the box in Slide Show
View.

4. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
1: The Biosphere
• Look carefully (again) at the cover slide… (Click the home button
below to go directly to the cover slide) there’s the blue sky or
atmosphere above, you’ll see water in the ocean in the distance
and you’ll also see the land with its soil in which grow green
plants and where humans build structures/houses and other
organisms live as well.
• Look at the next slide --- You’ll also see these three areas as well.
• In both, there are three distinct yet overlapping areas, or spheres,
that are a part of what we call the biosphere!
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5. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
So….. what is the biosphere?
5
ATMOSPHERE
O2, N, CO2, other gases,
water vapour, ozone,
temperature changes
HYDROSPHERE
all water in rivers, streams,
oceans and seas, rain and
*snow, glaciers and polar
ice caps
LITHOSPHERE
layers of the Earth’s crust,
rocks, soil, mineral
particles (e.g. clay, sand)
Did You Know?
In recent times, some
scientists have named
the *Cryosphere as
all the frozen parts of
the Earth system, so
that would include
snow, sea ice, glaciers
and polar ice caps!
?
Fort Clarence Beach and Sea
Click “?” below each word to find out.
?
?

6. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
The Biosphere
• Find out more; watch this video>
http://video.about.com/geography/The-Four-Earth-Spheres.htm
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The biosphere isis
thethe thin ‘envelope’
of soil, water and
gases/air on theon the
Earth where lifeEarth where life
exists! Itexists! It is the
environment an
organism lives in!
Image: Credit: Erle Ellis
Recall this
hierarchical levels
of organization
into which the
earth, biosphere,
biomes and
organisms fit.

7. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
The Biosphere
• The biosphere can really be thought of as a large, global
ecosystem that can be broken into regional or local biomes.
These two terms are often used interchangeably.
• The biosphere integrates all living beings and their relationships,
including their interactions with the elements of the lithosphere,
hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
• The biosphere is our environment in which we live.
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http://www.answers.com/topic/biosphere#ixz38sspLgDg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere

8. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
2: Ecosystems and Biomes
• Aquatic biomes are either….
• freshwater or salt water/marine,
• warm water or cool/cold water,
• still water (e.g. ponds, lakes) or
running water (e.g. rivers and
streams)
• Terrestrial biomes are either ..
• dry (deserts) or wet (swamps)
• hot or cold,
• on sloping or on level lands
• forest or non-forest
In Term 1 of Grade 10, you learned that there are differing
environmental systems or ecosystems in many kinds of biomes
that span the land, the oceans and seas. One useful classification
divides biomes into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Click this video and then check the map on the next slide >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTaWsFct32ghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTaWsFct32g

9. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Terrestrial Biomes
Terrestrial biomes include: (1) Forest biomes = Boreal coniferous
forests or Taigas, Temperate deciduous forests, Tropical rainforests
and, (2) Non-forest biomes = Grasslands, Chaparrals and Deserts.
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Tropical
rain
forest
Taiga
Desert
Grassland

10. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Environmental factors
Within the Biosphere are all of the many ecological systems
(ecosystems) of the Earth, where all biotic elements exist and
interact with the abiotic factors/components of the physical
environment that form the atmosphere, hydrosphere and
lithosphere.
Activity 2.1: Environmental factors
1. You learned about these components last year. Recall and name
these biotic and abiotic elements/components in the box below.
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Click here for possible answers.

11. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Feedback to Activity 2.1: Environmental factors
Here are two different sets of components that interact together.
Discuss them with your teacher.
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AbioticAbiotic = non-living physical factors - e.g. temperature, air and
wind speed, pH, rainfall/water/wave action, atmospheric gases,
salinity, turbidity, sunlight, soil/geology and topography of the
area.
BioticBiotic = living organisms - e.g. producers, predators, patho-
gens, consumers, parasites, decomposers - both microscopic and
macroscopic, living in terrestrial environments above or within the
soil and also in aquatic environments, and interacting with each
other and with abiotic components.

12. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Activity 2.1: Environmental factors
2. List the (A) Abiotic Factors and
(B) Biotic Components that make
up this ecosystem.
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Photo > http://www.panoramio.com/user/256634
Hellshire – cactus- thorn scrub; subtropical
dry forest (with sea in the background right).
Click here for possible answers.

13. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Feedback to Activity 2.1
3. List the (a) abiotic factors and (b) biotic components that make
each one different.
The abiotic factors are: 1) strong sunlight thus 2) intensely high
temperature is inferred; 3) = little rainfall is inferred from the fact
that cactus plants grow there and from the name - ‘cactus-thorn
scrub’ - plants with thorns instead of leaves, which help to conserve
water; 4) = very little soil seen – mainly rocks, so it is inferred that
with an absence of adequate soil, the area does not hold much water
for use by plants. The above factors make it a uniquely dry type of
terrestrial environment.
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14. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Feedback to Activity 2.1
3. List the (a) abiotic factors and (b) biotic components that make each one
different.
The Biotic components are: 1) Plants (cactus and dried, thorny Acacia at left
seen if enlarged) Those two species have adaptations to limit water loss by
transpiration. Also, what appears to be land-growing mangroves are
present. The plants are drought-tolerant species that can adapt to respiring,
carrying on nutrition, excretion and reproduction and also making food in a
hot, dry terrestrial forest environment. No animals are seen in this photo,
but it can be assumed that they would be mainly Arthropods (e.g. ants,
beetles, spiders) and Crustaceans (perhaps crabs?) whose body have a
protective shell or coverings that help them retain moisture, as well as lizards
including the Iguana, perhaps some birds and small snakes.
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15. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
3: Interactions among spheres
" The spheres are so closely connected that a change in one sphere
often results in a change in one or more of the other spheres… Such
changes that take place within an ecosystem are referred to as events.
“Events can occur naturally, such as an earthquake or a hurricane, or
they can be caused by humans, such as an oil spill or (water) pollution.
An event can cause changes to occur in one or more of the spheres,
and/or an event can be the effect of changes in one or more of Earth's
four spheres.
“This two-way cause and effect relationship between an event and a
sphere is called an interaction. “
Watch these videos to note some interactions >
http://www.dnatube.com/video/11618/Interaction-In-The-Biosphere
http://know.climateofconcern.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=article&id
15
Ref. > http://www.cotf.edu/ete/ess/essmain.html
Copyright © 1999-2003, Wheeling Jesuit University/Center for Educational Technologies®
. All rights reserved.

16. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Activity 3.1 - Interactions among the
spheres
Question 1. There are
numerous interactions
that take place between
the various spheres.
Name the spheres in the
diagram.
A
C D
B
A = Biosphere
B = Hydrosphere
C = Lithosphere
D = Atmosphere
Click here for possible
answers.

17. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Activity 3.1 - Interactions among the
spheres
Question 2. From the
arrows in the diagram,
list some interactions.
A
C D
B
1. Volcanic eruptions
form bed-rocks.
2. There is biological
weathering of
bedrock to form soil
which is used by
green plants. More
Click here for possible
answers.

18. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Activity 3.1 - Interactions among the
spheres
Feedback to Question 2 (cont’d)
1.Volcanic eruptions form bed-rocks.
2.There is biological weathering of bedrock to form soil which is
used by green plants.
3.The cycling of water from the hydrosphere to/from the
atmosphere and to/from organisms in the biosphere.
4.Gases of the atmosphere are cycled to and from the hydrosphere.
Did you recall that there can be interactions between green plants
and the sun’s energy and the gases of the atmosphere during
photosynthesis and respiration and between organisms via food-
energy chains and web?
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19. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Activity 3.1 - Interactions among the
spheres
Question 3. Name one thing from each sphere of the Earth system
that you interact with every day.
Question 4. How do they impact your life?
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Feedback: An example: Each day I drink a glass/box of cow’s milk,
so I’m interacting – not directly - with a biotic member of the
biosphere. The milk provides proteins and vitamins to keep me
healthy.
Click here for possible answers.

20. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Recalling interactions via food-energy
chains and webs
You’ve already explored the important interactions within
ecosystems.
Question 1. What is a food-energy chain?
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Answer to Question 1. A food chain shows the linear feeding
relationships between organisms within a community. It also shows
the direction in which energy is passed since energy is stored in food
made by plants. The arrows point in the direction of the transfer of
both food and energy, as one organism is eaten by another.
Click here for possible answer.

21. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Recalling interactions via food-energy
chains and webs
Question 2. How does the chain differ from a food-energy web?
21
2. A food-energy web shows that feeding interactions within a
community can be quite complex because there can be several kinds
of producers and also animals as consumers can occupy multiple
trophic levels and different niches as herbivores, carnivores and
omnivores
Click here for possible answers.

22. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Recalling interactions via food-energy
chains and webs
Question 3. In the diagram, what do the numbers stand for?
22
Feedback
The numbers represent
various trophic levels as
follows:
Click here for
possible answers.

23. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Recalling interactions via food-energy
chains and webs
23
Feedback to 4. The turtle as it feeds on waterweeds as well as the
slug.
Qu. 5. Name the animal that is a primary, secondary and tertiary consumer.
Feedback to 5. The Kingfisher bird.
Qu. 4. In the food-energy web on slide 22, which animal is an omnivore?
Click here for possible answers.
Click here for possible answers.

24. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Recalling interactions via food-energy
chains and webs
Question 6. If all of the waterweed died out, which organism would
be most immediately, directly adversely affected? Why?
24
The pond flies- because as a primary consumer it feeds only on water weed;
other primary consumers feed on algae as well as the water weed, so they
would still have food. Dragon flies and frogs would also then be affected as
they feed only on pond flies, who we assume would die out from lack of
food, and also snakes who also feed only on frogs. (However, in a real
ecosystem, animals deprived of their main food source are likely to go
elsewhere in search of food!)
Click here for possible answers.

25. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Terrestrial working environments
Some characteristics of good working environments are:
•Sufficient space available for reasonably large numbers of workers
to be accommodated.
•A ready supply of fresh air circulating, so there should not be
problems with ventilation.
•Sufficient natural lighting to allow workers to move around safely
and to perform their job without having to adopt awkward positions
or strain their eyes to see.
•‘Comfortable’ temperature warm enough for most of the day.
•Accessible water, sanitary & garbage facilities.
•Resource/s available to be used in the work.
•Hazards should be absent or very minimal.
•Area/s for eating/refreshments/relaxation.
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26. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Activity 4.1: Terrestrial working
environments
• Examine each graphic on each of the next three slides. Either all
or only some of them show images of the soil/land being used as
outdoor working environment.
• Discuss each graphic within your small group. Identify the type of
work seen, or inferred is, being done and decide and agree upon
why that graphic shows a good terrestrial working environment.
• When you finish, participate in the class discussion about each
image.
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27. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Activity 4.1 – Working environments
Question 1. Which of the next three slides show images in which
Jamaicans are using the soil as important outdoor working
environments?
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28. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Outdoor terrestrial working environments
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A
C
C: “A hearty 75-year-old farmer in
southern St. Elizabeth, Jamaica
prepares his field for planting his
next crop of potatoes. (Courtesy D.
Campbell)
B: A cross-country practice run on farm roads
- a combination of dirt, grass, marl, and sand -
rather than on asphalted roads.
B
A:Picking Jamaican cherry coffee berries;

29. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Outdoor terrestrial working environments
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E: Mining bauxite- rich soil;
D
F
E
D: Cattle feeding on grass
growing on the land
F: Watering corn crop growing on the land

30. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Activity 4.1 – Outdoor working
environment working environments
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HG
I
G. Houses in Caymanas Estate H. Devon House and grounds
I. Yams loads on a truck

31. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Activity 4.1 – Working environments
Question 1. Which of the next three slides show images in which
Jamaicans are using the soil as important outdoor working
environments? Type your response in the box below.
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31
Feedback : All the slides show a terrestrial environment which is a
potential outdoor working area involving the use of the soil in some
way. Click the next button for additional feedback.
Click here for possible answers.

32. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Feedback to Activity 4.1 – Working
environments
Question 1. Which of the next three slides show images in which Jamaicans are using
the soil as important outdoor working environments?
Feedback : All the slides show a terrestrial environment which is a potential outdoor
working area involving the use of the soil in some way.
Photo C – definitely shows that soil is being used as an outdoor working environment,
since the farmer is plowing it obviously to plant crops.
A – since the women are picking cherry coffee which is rooted and grown in soil, that
also shows the soil/land as an important working environment.
B – it could be argued that running is not the standard work situation similar to say
plowing the ground for farming. But the soil/land is important for the activity shown
because the people are training for a cross-country run on actual soil/land, rather than
on an indoor or asphalted surface on which running movements would impact their
skeleton and muscles quite differently..
Photos D, E, F – all three images show the soil/land as an important outdoor
terrestrial working environment. In fact, soil is the usual material for plant
growth. F actually shows mining being done in this outdoor terrestrial environment
which provides mineral resources which can be obtained from the soil (lithosphere).
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33. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
Feedback to Activity 4.1 – Working
environments
Question 1. Which of slides you viewed shows an environment which,
currently , people can use as outdoor working environments?
Photo G - shows a terrestrial environment in which road works and building
of houses could be done and both involve use of/interaction with soil.
Photo H - Devon House provides a terrestrial, outdoor working
environment. People can work there as gardeners, tour guides etc. for this
historic property, and there is space for selling refreshments/snacks, craft
items etc. and using the grounds for study areas and craft fairs.
Photo I - A yam crop that was grown in soil is shown loaded on a truck.
Their growth provides work both directly and indirectly, e.g. working
environments would have been for farmers to plant and dig yams. Others
work to clean the yams and pack them for trucking to be sent for packaging,
inspection and export.
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34. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
End of Activities
• You have reached the end of the slides and activities.
• If you wish to review any of the concepts in this lesson, go to the
first slide and click on the subtopic.
• If you have finished viewing the slides, click the Close (X) button.
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35. OBJECTIVES
The
Biosphere
Ecosystems
and Biomes
Interactions
among spheres
INTRODUCTION
X
CREDITS Images were Retrieved on-line
November 2012
• Charles Hall, (Lead Author);Judith S. Weis (Topic Editor) "Ecology". In: Encyclopedia of Earth.
Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National
Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth
August 3, 2010; Last revised Date July 30, 2012; Retrieved January 22, 2013
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Ecology
• http://ann2.vicp.cc/jqf.html
• http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/jm/jm-nbsap-01-p4-en.pdf
• © 2012; Camille Roberts, Jamaica
• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/299716/Jamaica/54500/Resources-and-power
• http://www.natgeoeducationvideo.com/film/1222/biosphere
• http://video.about.com/geography/The-Four-Earth-Spheres.htm
http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/fourspheres.htm
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ6VtduDSyY&feature=related
• Erle Ellis: Retrieved from > http://www.eoearth.org/article/Ecology
• http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/jm/jm-nbsap-01-p4-en.pdf
• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/299716/Jamaica/54500/Resources-and-power
• http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120605/news/news1.html
• Image modified from > http://www.csun.edu/science/books/sourcebook/chapters/8-
organizing/files/earth-systems-interactions.html
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