Activity 2.3 - Biosphere and Interconnections

Concept map 1: Illustrating energy flow.

Concept map 2: Illustrates biodiversity

Concept Map 3: Illustrating the different types of biomes. 

   The first concept map shown is covering Chapter 4 which helps show us how energy is created and how its transferred throughout the earth. Energy's role within an ecosystem follows the Laws of Thermodynamics which is conservation, and transformation. Energy is important when it comes to an ecosystem and its food chain. The sun is at the top providing energy for many plants in which those plants will then be eaten by animals, and humans. Chapter 7 tells us about the richness of biological variation through biodiversity. Biodiversity is important because it provides for us humans, and our economies. Humans have taken a vantage of certain elements within its biodiversity that has resulted in extinction of several species which can largely impact an ecosystem. Chapter 8 tells us about different ecosystems called biomes. Just knowing a certain biome can tell us about a lot like what type of environment it could be like a desert or tropical rainforest. It can also tell us what specific species or plants that might live inside environment. Biomes can also be altered through human activity, and most of these damages occur where people live and work. Altercation of biomes can lead to extinction of certain plants and animals that can affect the food chain and biodiversity of the biome

 Chapter 4,7, and 8 all connect in some way.  Biodiversity, and biomes are connected because biodiversity tells us about what specific species and vegetation what we might have in a certain biome. For example, the artic wolf will live in a tundra, and a cactus will live in a desert. Biomes will also dictate the amount of biodiversity it will have. An example of this is a rainforest that will have a greater biodiversity compared to a desert. Chapter 4 is connected because it deals with energy within an ecosystem like a food chain. A biodiversity of a biome can be threatened if a part of a food chain is no longer available which can cause a ripple effect throughout an entire ecosystem and could severe damages that could be irreversible.  

 Citations: 

Freedman, B. (1970, January 1). Environmental science: A Canadian perspective. DalSpace Home. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://dalspace.library.dal.ca/handle/10222/74278.