biomes Flashcards
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Topic 5: Terrestrial Biomes
South Africa is divided into 7 terrestrial biomes.
1. Savanna Biome:
* Largest biome (46% of South Africa)
* Climate: summers are warm and wet, winter are cold and dry with little rain
* Soil type: sandy with lack of nutrients
* Vegetation: grass, woody and herbaceous plants like baobab, mopane and
camel thorn
* Animals: zebra, springbok, lion, elephant, hornbill birds.
2. Grassland Biome:
* High central plateau and highveld of South Africa
* Climate: summers are hot with high rainfall, thunderstorms and hail. Winters are
cold with heavy frost.
* Soil type: sandy and clay with rich fertile upper layers.
* Vegetation: sweet grasses with high nutritional value, trees grow along hills and
riversides.
* Animals: wildebeest, gemsbok, eland, rodents, butterflies, crickets, blue crane
and guineafowl.
3. Nama Karoo Biome
* Second largest biome stretching over the central plateau of western South Africa
* Climate: semi-desert with little rain. Summers are very hot, winters are cold.
* Soil type: sandy with little nutrition
* Vegetation: mostly grass and dwarf shrubs
* Animals: goats, ostrich, tortoises and rabbits
4. Succulent Karoo Biomes
* The West Coast of the Northern Cape and northern parts of the Western cape.
Include Namaqualand.
* Climate: summer are hot and dry, winters are cold. Rainfall is low but fog is
common.
* Soil type: soil is rich in lime
* Vegetation: swarf succulent plants. Namaqualand is known for colourful
wildflowers.
* Animals: nocturnal animals such as meerkats, sheep and goats.
5. Fynbos Biome
* Exclusively in the Western Cape
* Climate: summers are hot and dry; winters are cool and wet.
* Soil type: sandy and acidic and not very fertile due to the leaching of nutrients.
* Vegetation: widespread variety with important fynbos plants such as protea,
ericas and reeds. Over 9000 species
* Animals: porcupine, leopard, baboons and birds.
6. Forest Biome
* Smallest biome occurring in patches in the Western Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal,
Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
* Climate: high rainfall and no frost
* Soil Type: fertile
* Vegetation: yellowwood, stinkwood, ironwood, epiphytes, mosses and ferns.
* Animals: monkeys, bushbuck, birds like pigeons and eagles.
7. Thicket Biome
* Extends across the coast of KZN and Eastern cape
* Climate: rainfall is high with dry periods
* Soil Type: soil is shallow and varies from sandy loam to sandy clay
* Vegetation: short trees and vines
* Animals: elephant, kudu, squirrels’, moneys and bushbuck
What is the largest biome in South Africa?
Savanna Biome
The Savanna Biome covers 46% of South Africa.
Describe the climate of the Savanna Biome.
Summers are warm and wet; winters are cold and dry with little rain.
What type of soil is found in the Savanna Biome?
Sandy with lack of nutrients.
List some vegetation found in the Savanna Biome.
- Grass
- Woody and herbaceous plants like baobab, mopane, and camel thorn.
Which animals can be found in the Savanna Biome?
- Zebra
- Springbok
- Lion
- Elephant
- Hornbill birds.
What is the climate of the Grassland Biome?
Summers are hot with high rainfall; winters are cold with heavy frost.
What type of soil is present in the Grassland Biome?
Sandy and clay with rich fertile upper layers.
What vegetation characterizes the Grassland Biome?
Sweet grasses with high nutritional value, trees along hills and riversides.
Name some animals from the Grassland Biome.
- Wildebeest
- Gemsbok
- Eland
- Rodents
- Butterflies
- Crickets
- Blue crane
- Guineafowl.
What is the climate of the Nama Karoo Biome?
Semi-desert with little rain; summers are very hot, winters are cold.
What type of soil is found in the Nama Karoo Biome?
Sandy with little nutrition.
What vegetation is typical in the Nama Karoo Biome?
Mostly grass and dwarf shrubs.
Which animals are found in the Nama Karoo Biome?
- Goats
- Ostrich
- Tortoises
- Rabbits.
Where is the Succulent Karoo Biome located?
The West Coast of the Northern Cape and northern parts of the Western Cape.
What is the climate of the Succulent Karoo Biome?
Summers are hot and dry; winters are cold with low rainfall but common fog.
What type of soil is found in the Succulent Karoo Biome?
Soil rich in lime.
What vegetation is found in the Succulent Karoo Biome?
Swarf succulent plants; known for colorful wildflowers in Namaqualand.
Which animals are typical in the Succulent Karoo Biome?
Nocturnal animals such as meerkats, sheep, and goats.
Where is the Fynbos Biome located?
Exclusively in the Western Cape.
What is the climate of the Fynbos Biome?
Summers are hot and dry; winters are cool and wet.
What type of soil is found in the Fynbos Biome?
Sandy and acidic; not very fertile due to nutrient leaching.
Name some vegetation found in the Fynbos Biome.
- Protea
- Ericas
- Reeds
- Over 9000 species.
Which animals inhabit the Fynbos Biome?
- Porcupine
- Leopard
- Baboons
- Birds.
