Biosphere

Front

Biosphere Noun

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[bahy-oh-sfeer]

Back

Biosphere

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The part of Earth where life exists, encompassing all land, water, and air that is inhabited by and supports life.

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Example: This diagram shows the biosphere as the zone of life that includes parts of the land (lithosphere), water (hydrosphere), and air (atmosphere).

Front

Geosphere Noun

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[jee-oh-sfeer]

Back

Geosphere

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The solid, rocky part of Earth, including surface features like continents and the sea floor, as well as everything below.

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Example: This diagram shows a cutaway of the Earth, identifying the geosphere's main layers: the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.

Front

Hydrosphere Noun

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[hahy-droh-sfeer]

Back

Hydrosphere

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All of Earth's water in all its forms, including liquid water, ice, and water vapor found on the planet.

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Example: This diagram shows the hydrosphere as all the water on Earth, located between the lithosphere (land) and atmosphere (air), and interacting with the biosphere (life).

Front

Atmosphere Noun

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[at-muh-sfeer]

Back

Atmosphere

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The layer of gases that surrounds Earth, blanketing its solid and liquid surfaces and held in place by gravity.

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Example: This diagram shows the atmosphere is a blanket of air divided into layers, each with unique characteristics like temperature, altitude, and typical phenomena.

Front

Gaia hypothesis Noun

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[gahy-uh hahy-poth-uh-sis]

Back

Gaia hypothesis

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A scientific hypothesis suggesting that Earth itself functions as a self-regulating, living organism through the interaction of its systems.

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Example: This image illustrates the Gaia hypothesis by showing Earth as a single, interconnected system where all life, from microscopic cells to large whales, works together.

Front

Biotic Adjective

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[bahy-ot-ik]

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Biotic

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Relating to the living or once-living components of an environment, such as plants, animals, and bacteria.

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Example: This image shows that biotic factors are all the living parts of an ecosystem, including animals, plants, fungi, and microscopic organisms like bacteria.

Front

Abiotic Adjective

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[ey-bahy-ot-ik]

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Abiotic

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Relating to the non-living physical and chemical components of an environment, such as sunlight, temperature, soil, and water.

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Example: This diagram shows that abiotic factors are the non-living parts of an ecosystem, providing key examples like sunlight, water, soil, wind, temperature, and atmosphere.

Front

Biota Noun

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[bahy-oh-tuh]

Back

Biota

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The collection of all living organisms, including animals, plants, and microorganisms, found in a specific region or geological period.

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Example: This image shows that biota includes all living things on Earth, such as plants, animals, and insects, in different environments like land and water.

Front

Population Noun

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[pop-yoo-ley-shuhn]

Back

Population

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A group of organisms of the same species that live in the same geographic area and are capable of interbreeding.

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Example: This diagram shows a population as the total group of individuals, from which a smaller, representative sample is selected for study.

Front

Community Noun

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[kuh-myoo-ni-tee]

Back

Community

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All of the different populations of living organisms that live and interact in a specific geographical area.

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Example: A community consists of different species interacting in the same area, like this plant, caterpillar, bird, and microbes sharing energy through a food chain.