KEY CONCEPT The biosphere is one of Earth

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KEY CONCEPT The biosphere is one of Earths four
interconnected systems.
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The biosphere is the portion of Earth that is
inhabited by life.

• The biosphere includes all ecosystems.
• one of Earths systems

• includes the biota, all the living things in the
  biosphere

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• There are three other Earth systems.

• hydrospherewater, ice, and water vapor
• atmosphereair blanketing Earths solid and
  liquid surface
• geospheregeologic features above and below
  Earths surface

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Biotic and abiotic factors interact in the
biosphere.

• All four Earth systems are interconnected.
• The Gaia hypothesis considers Earth as a kind of
  living organism.
• Earth systems interact to yield a biosphere
  capable of supporting life.
• It was developed by James Lovelock and Lynn
  Margulis.