Abstract
The biosphere, also called the ecosphere, is the natural environment of living organisms and is the complex biological epidermis of the Earth whose dimensions are not precisely defined. It consists of the surficial part of the lithosphere, a lower part of the atmosphere, and the hydrosphere. Several ecosystems have been developed within the biosphere. Each ecosystem is a fundamental division of the total environment consisting of living organisms in a given area and having a balanced cycling of chemical elements and energy flow.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
(2007). The Biosphere. In: Trace Elements from Soil to Human. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-32714-1_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-32714-1_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-32713-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-32714-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)