biosphere
n.n. the part of the Earth where life exists. It includes all the living things and the parts of the planet they need to survive, like air, water, and soil.
n. the global ecological system consisting of all the living organisms and the parts of the Earth where they live. It encompasses the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
The biosphere includes all the plants, animals, and microbes on Earth.
Scientists are studying how rising temperatures might affect the biosphere and the delicate balance of life within it.
The concept of the biosphere highlights the interconnectedness of all living organisms and their physical environment, suggesting that no species exists in isolation from the global ecosystem.
Borrowed from German Biosphäre, coined by Austrian geologist Eduard Suess in 1875. By surface analysis, bio- + -sphere.