From a school course, everyone is familiar with concepts such as the biosphere and ecosystem. The concepts themselves are different, but they are very interconnected. How? Our task is to explain why the biosphere is a global ecosystem. To begin with, let's recall what an ecosystem is.
The concept of ecosystem. Types of ecosystems
An ecosystem is such a system, which includes a biocenosis and a biotope. In other words, these are all living organisms with their habitat. This can already explain why the biosphere is a global ecosystem. All living organisms that make up the ecosystem are closely related to the fact that a continuous metabolism flows between them. Two large groups are distinguished: these are natural ecosystems and agroecosystems. The latter are distinguished by the fact that they were created thanks to man. Both groups have a similar structure. Any system includes three blocks, namely: producers, consumers, reducers.
The former create organic matter (green plants), the latter consume organic matter. Among them are herbivores, predators and omnivores. To an omnivorous group it is customary to include a person. It is customary to attribute various fungi and bacteria to reducers. Decomposing substances, they transfer them from dead remnants again to inanimate environment. The ecosystem is only a small part of all life on earth. It should be explained in more detail why the biosphere is a global ecosystem.
Biosphere - the system of all life on Earth
What do we know about the biosphere? It is associated with the concepts of "life" and "ball". In other words, the biosphere is the shell of the globe densely populated by various organisms, as well as to some extent altered by them. The Earth’s shell formed over 3.5 billion years ago. At that time, the first organisms had just begun to appear. The hydrosphere (water shell), part of the lithosphere (outer sphere) and the atmosphere (air shell) are referred to the biosphere. In other words, all this can be called the environmental sphere (ecosphere), that is, a system that includes living organisms, interconnected, and their habitat. In total, 3 million different organisms live in the biosphere. Man is also undoubtedly part of the biosphere.
So, the biosphere is primarily a system.
Any system always consists of separate elements. Different ecosystems are interconnected not only within themselves, but also are closely interconnected with other ecosystems. Between them, as inside even the smallest system, there is an energy exchange, as well as an exchange of substances. The combined ecosystems form their cycle, due to which they will unite into a single global ecosystem. This global system is called the biosphere. How does this actually happen?
Why the biosphere is a global ecosystem
This can be explained by the following example. If we take any of the corners of our planet, we will certainly find sources of life in it. Oceans, the upper atmosphere, the zone of eternal snows - everywhere there is water. Therefore, in every corner of the planet we find life.
That is what Charles Darwin claimed. And, of course, he was right. Inhabiting the most diverse places on the planet, living organisms form an ecosystem. Being in it, they are all interconnected, primarily the metabolism and energy. A certain ecosystem by the cycle of matter and energy is interconnected with other systems. Those in turn, too. So it happens that many small ecosystems create one large ecosystem called the biosphere.
The biosphere is also an ecosystem
Briefly explaining why the biosphere is a global ecosystem, the earth’s shell is a living sphere that includes a huge number of life forms. Thus, it consists of separate ecosystems, which means it is a global system, the violation of which threatens life on the planet.