Discuss the term biosphere and its relationship to the ecosystems that comprise it.

Address the following in your response:

What does the term biosphere mean?

How do the various ecosystems on Earth contribute to the biosphere as a whole?

Can the Earth itself be considered a biosphere? Why or why not?

How would you describe a phylogenetic tree to a nonscientist? What is the significance of placing related groups on a phylogenetic tree?

How does this type of classification help scientists?

List characteristics that are shared by fungi and plants. List characteristics that are shared by fungi and animals.