Which of the following terms describes the sum of all ecosystems on Earth?

Which of the following terms describes the sum of all ecosystems on Earth?

• A. Atmosphere
• B. Biosphere
• C. Geosphere
• D. Hydrosphere

Answer: (B)

The term that describes the sum of all ecosystems on Earth is "Biosphere." The biosphere encompasses all living organisms and their interactions with the environments in which they live, including land, water, and the atmosphere. It represents the global ecological system that integrates all living beings and their relationships with one another and with their physical surroundings. This concept is crucial because the biosphere includes various biomes—such as forests, deserts, and oceans—each containing distinct ecosystems that interact with each other through energy flows and nutrient cycles. Understanding the biosphere helps scientists study biodiversity and the impact of human activities on ecological balance. In contrast, the atmosphere refers to the layer of gases surrounding the Earth, the geosphere denotes the solid parts of the Earth including rocks and landforms, and the hydrosphere encompasses all water bodies, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. While each of these terms describes important components of the Earth's systems, none capture the entirety of ecosystems as the biosphere does.

The term that describes the sum of all ecosystems on Earth is "Biosphere." The biosphere encompasses all living organisms and their interactions with the environments in which they live, including land, water, and the atmosphere. It represents the global ecological system that integrates all living beings and their relationships with one another and with their physical surroundings.

This concept is crucial because the biosphere includes various biomes—such as forests, deserts, and oceans—each containing distinct ecosystems that interact with each other through energy flows and nutrient cycles. Understanding the biosphere helps scientists study biodiversity and the impact of human activities on ecological balance.

In contrast, the atmosphere refers to the layer of gases surrounding the Earth, the geosphere denotes the solid parts of the Earth including rocks and landforms, and the hydrosphere encompasses all water bodies, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. While each of these terms describes important components of the Earth's systems, none capture the entirety of ecosystems as the biosphere does.