What Is the Biosphere? – Biosphere Definition for Kids
The biosphere is defined as areas on Earth which contain living organisms (humans, plants, animals, bacteria etc). From the depth of the ocean floor to your garden, all of these areas come under the biosphere. We are constantly surrounded by the biosphere, so tell me how many living organisms can you spot right now? Remember that there are many organisms that are not visible to the naked eye.
What Makes Up the Biosphere? – Living Things in the Biosphere
The biosphere is made up of all the living organisms on Earth like:
- Humans
- Animals
- Plants
- Bacteria and Fungi
Where Is the Biosphere Found and Examples of the Biosphere?
The biosphere is found everywhere around us, on land, in water and in the atmosphere. Here is a list of where biosphere is found and its examples:
- Land: Humans and animals use land to hunt and create their habitat.
- Forests: Over 60,000 species of plants exist in forests, and 75% of bird species, 68% of mammals and 80% of amphibian species. Examples of a few forests throughout the world are: The Amazon Rainforest, the Black Forest, the Atlantic Forest.
- Mountains: Fewer species of animals and plants live in mountainous areas due to the high altitude. Examples of mountainous areas are: K2, Mount Everest, Nanga Parbat where species of animals like snow leopard, yak, cougar etc. live.
- Desert: Few species of animals and plants live in the desert area due to the high temperature, scorching hot during the day and freezing cold during the nights. Examples of deserts are: Gobi Desert, Sahara Desert, Karkum Desert etc. where species of animals like thorny devil, dingo, kangaroo rat etc. live.
- Grassland: Different species of animals and plants live in grasslands. Examples of grasslands are: African savannas, Argentinian pampas etc. where species of animals like bison, zebra, grassland bird etc. live.
- Cities and Parks: Due to urbanization and destruction of habitats to create infrastructure, species of animals and plants are scarce in cities and parks. Despite the setbacks, animals like squirrels, dogs, rats etc. live in cities and parks.
- Water: Sea creatures and sea plants live in water, while land animals and humans require fresh water to survive.
- Oceans: The ocean covers 70% of this planet, so there are many species of animals and plants present in this biosphere. It is estimated that there are 247,417 marine species but the number could be higher as humans still haven’t discovered the entirety of the ocean. Examples of oceans are: Atlantic ocean, Pacific ocean, Indian ocean etc. where species like the blue whale, orca, the great white shark etc. live.
- Fresh water bodies: Humans and animals rely on fresh water to survive. Examples of rivers, streams and lakes are many throughout the world, species like fish (trout, bass etc.) and aquatic insects live in fresh water bodies as well.
- Atmosphere: The atmosphere supports vital processes of life such as plants producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide; both humans and animals breathe oxygen to survive. Species like birds and insects hunt for their food through flight and they migrate using the atmosphere.
How Does the Biosphere Interact with Other Earth Systems?
The biosphere is an essential foundation in the Earth’s system; it does not occur in isolation. The Earth system consists of:
- The Geosphere – the solid layers that create the Earth.
- The Cryosphere – the frozen water on Earth like ice caps, glaciers, snow.
- The Hydrosphere – all of the liquid water present on Earth like lakes, rivers, oceans.
- The Atmosphere – all layers of gases that surround Earth.
The biosphere connects to all of these systems and animals and plants are prime examples of these connections:
- Biosphere to Geosphere: Plants and animals use the layers of the Earth. Plants grow in the soil, anchoring their roots deep into the layers of Earth, while animals like moles dig into the ground to create channels to live inside.
- Biosphere to Cryosphere: Animals like polar bears use frozen water bodies as their platform for hunting.
- Biosphere to Hydrosphere: Fish and ocean plants live in water bodies like oceans and lakes, while land animals and humans require fresh water to survive.
- Biosphere to Atmosphere: Plants release oxygen, humans and animals breathe in oxygen and out carbon dioxide. Air quality is very important for humans and animals as poor air quality can make them sick or even cause death.
Why Is the Biosphere Important? – Importance of the Biosphere for Kids
- Food source:
The biosphere is important to humans and animals as both get their food source from their environment and each other. Through the process of farming and keeping animals, humans receive their food source, while they can directly hunt or fish for animals as well. Animals which are carnivores hunt smaller animals, while herbivores rely on plants for their food source.
- Building materials and Shelter:
Humans and animals both create their homes from material around the biosphere. Humans create intricate buildings where building material is mined and collected from the environment around them. Animals use trees, caves or dig in dirt to create their homes while few animals live in trees.
- Oxygen:
Plants release oxygen. Humans and animals breathe in oxygen and out carbon dioxide, which is a never ending process.
Fun Biosphere Facts for 5th Graders
- No biospheres exist outside of Earth.
- Scientists claim that life on Earth began 3.5-3.8 billion years ago.
- Did you know that worms and snails also inhabit the ocean floor?
- Austrian geologist Eduard Suess created the word “Biosphere” in 1875.
- The biosphere contains between 3 to 8.7 million species.
- The biosphere is part of the Earth’s 5 systems.
Conclusion – What Should You Remember About the Biosphere?
The biosphere consists of all of the living creatures on this planet, some organisms aren’t even visible to the naked eye but constantly surround us. Through studying about the biosphere we understand the importance of interconnected systems and how to respect nature and things around us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does human life affect the biosphere?
When humans overuse resources like water or destroy habitats this causes other living things to suffer in the biosphere. Plants and animals do not have enough water to survive and when habitat is destroyed species of animals and plants go extinct.
What is the deepest part of Earth where the biosphere exists?
The hadal zone is the deepest part of the biosphere which is inhabited by marine animals.
What is the highest point on Earth where the biosphere exists?
The highest point on Earth where the biosphere exists is roughly 41,000 feet or 12,500 meters, where bacterial and fungal spores were found to survive.
How many species exist in the biosphere?
It is estimated by scientists that 3-30 million species exist in the biosphere.
