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Environmental Sustainability Studies 111 INTRODUCTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Sustainability Studies 111 INTRODUCTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT Lecture 6 – The Earth’s Component: Biosphere. Biosphere. ...largely shaped and/or influenced by litosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere. Biosphere...complex interactions.

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Environmental Sustainability Studies 111 INTRODUCTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT

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  1. Environmental Sustainability Studies 111 INTRODUCTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT Lecture 6 – The Earth’s Component: Biosphere

  2. Biosphere... ...largely shaped and/or influenced by litosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere

  3. Biosphere...complex interactions Source: http://www.suratclimatechange.org/upload/image/global_climate_system.jpg

  4. Biosphere & Ecosystems • Ecosystems as most basic functional entities of the biosphere • Natural vs. artificial ecosystems • Resources derived from ecosystems • Ecosystems services rendered by biosphere • Ecosystem structure

  5. Ecosystem structure: Abiotic

  6. Ecosystem structure: Biotic

  7. Biomes of the World Source: http://allscienceconsidered.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/biomes.jpg

  8. Other biome classifications • Marine • Freshwater • Forest • Grassland • Tundra (arctic & alpine) • Desert NB! : Importance of the functions of biomes in relation to provision of resources, habitat & ecosystems services

  9. Large ecosystems • Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystems (BCLME) • Importance of an earth systems approach to large ecosystems • Importance of the BCLME programme for South Africa, Namibia & Angola in terms of research, sustainable resource uses, management and governance Source: www.bclme.org

  10. Ecosystems & Conservation • TRANSFRONTIER PARKS • RAMSAR SITES & MPA’s • WORLD HERITAGE SITES • BIOSPHERE RESERVES • NATIONAL PARKS • NATIONAL HERITAGE SITES • PROVINCIAL NATURE RESERVES • BIODIVERSITY CORRIDORS • BOTANICAL & ZOOLOGICAL UNITS • LOCAL NATURE RESERVES • PRIVATE NATURE RESERVES • MEMBERSHIP PNRs • CONTRACT NATURE RESERVES • CONSERVANCIES

  11. Western Cape: Biodiversity Endowment Source: Adapted from South African Yearbook 2005/6

  12. Cycles in the Biosphere

  13. Source: www.windows2universe.org

  14. Source: tutorvista.com

  15. Major biosphere challenges • General conservation vs. development controversies • Deforestation • Desertification • Exceeding of carrying capacities >>> Need for more bio-remedies relative to technological applications to address environmental problems

  16. Some questions • Why is a systems approach to the study of the environment and environmental problems needed? • Briefly explain the interdependency between the abiotic and biotic components of the structure of ecosystems. • Why is a healthy marine ecosystem important for life on land? • Do you think that we can ‘over-conserve’ species? Briefly explain.

  17. Diagrammes and animations Please visit http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams.html for explanatory notes, diagrammes and animations of the earth’s realms and processes!

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