Page 604 - Geosystems An Introduction to Physical Geography 4th Canadian Edition

IV
Soils, Ecosystems, and Biomes
Chapter 18
the Geography of Soils 570
Chapter 19
ecosystem essentials 604
Chapter 20
terrestrial Biomes 640
earth is the home of the Solar System’s only known biosphere—a unique, complex, and interactive system of abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) components working together to sustain a tremendous diversity of life. energy enters the biosphere through conversion of solar energy by pho- tosynthesis in the leaves of plants.
Life is organized into a feeding hierarchy from producers to consum- ers, ending with decomposers. together, these varied organisms, in con- cert with the earth’s abiotic components, produce aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, generally organized into various biomes. Soil is the essential
▼ Nursing Tree-coniferous seedling growing out of moss-covered branch on deciduous tree, in temperate rain forest near Bella Coola Valley, Chilcotin Coast Region, British Columbia. [Gunter Marx Stock Photos]
INPUTS
Insolation
Abiotic and biotic elements Ecosystem components
ACTIONS
Photosynthesis/respiration Biogeochemical cycling Trophic relations, food webs Evolution, succession
HUMAN–EARTH RELATION Soil degradation Desertification Biodiversity losses
OUTPUTS
Soil, plants, animals, life Ecosystems Biodiversity Biomes: marine and terrestrial