Biomes of South Africa (pages 176-181) Flashcards

REFER TO NOTEBOOK/TEXTBOOK FOR DIAGRAMS

1
Q

what are the seven terrestrial biomes

A
  1. Grassland
  2. Savannah
  3. Nama-Karoo
  4. Succulent Karoo
  5. Forest
  6. Fynbos
  7. Thicket
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is a biome

A

large geographical region characterised by a specific set of environmental conditions such as climate, soil type, topography and vegetation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

climate of grassland biome

A

-summer rainfall with heavy thunderstorms and hail
-frost in winter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

vegetation of grassland biome

A

-trees scarce (grow mainly in hills and along river beds)
-grasses dominant plant type

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

animal life of the grassland biome

A

-many birds (black korhaan, blue crane, guineafowl, ground nesting birds)
-natural home of black wildebeest, blesbok and eland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

soil of grassland biome

A

-deep and dark
-fertile upper layers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

which parts of south africa is savannah

A

-almost half
-northern regions
-Kruger National Park

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

climate of savannah biome

A

-less summer rainfall than grassland
-higher summer and winter temperatures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

vegetation of the savannah biome

A

-mixed grasslands and trees
-commonly known bushveld
-lots trees eg. baobab, mopane and monkey thorn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

animal life of savannah biome

A

-lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, warthogs
-big 5
-many trees attract birds eg. hornbills, flycatchers, woodpeckers, shrikes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

soil in the savannah biome

A

-generally thin-lacking organic matter (humus)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

indigenous

A

plants and animals always present in an area, not brought there from another country

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

temperate

A

climate never too hot or very cold

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

canopy

A

top layer of leaves and branches of trees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is the smallest biome in south africa

A

forest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

best-known forests in south africa

A

Knysna and Tsitsikamma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

climate of forest biome

A

-temperate
-rainfall al year round
-only small temperature changes between summer and winter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

vegetation of forest biome

A

-big trees eg. yellowwood, ironwood
-ferns and mosses found below canopy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

animal life of forest biome

A

-colourful birds eg. Knysna turaco
-small animals eg. bushpigs, bushbuck, blue duikers, dassie
-predators eg. leopards and crowned eagles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

soil of forest biome

A

fertile

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

why is the soil of forest biome fertile

A

enriched by decaying plant material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

which parts of south africa does the nama karoo include

A

Namaland area of Namibia and Karoo region of South Africa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

climate of nama karoo

A

-semi desert
-low rainfall (less 400mm/year)
-rivers only flow after rain
-very hot summer
-very cold winter with frequent frost

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

vegetation of nama karoo

A

-small shrubs
-grasses
-trees only grow along rivers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

animal life of nama karoo

A

-animals adapted hot, dry climates
eg. bat-eared foxes, black-backed jackals, ostriches, spring hares
-used herds springbok shot out hunters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

soil of nama karoo

A

-thin
-rich in lime
-contains little organic matter
not very fertile

27
Q

climate of succulent karoo

A

-winter rainfall
-extremely dry summers
-summer tempretures often reach 40°C

28
Q

vegetation of succulent karoo

A

-dominant: succulents, thick, fleshy leaves able store water during long, hot summers

29
Q

how do plants prevent water loss (succulent karoo)

A

very small leaves or spines instead leaves. some just have green stems. annual plants survive dry conditions form of seeds which only germinate after rainfall

30
Q

animal life of succulent karoo

A

-bat-eared foxes
-suricate/meerkat
common barking gecko

31
Q

soil type of succulent karoo

A

-thin
-rich in lime
-not very fertile
-similar Nama-Karoo

32
Q

climate of fynbos biome

A

-cool, wet winter
-dry, hot summers

33
Q

vegetation of fynbos biome

A

-evergreen plans with tiny, hard leaves
-proteas, ericas, restios

34
Q

how did the fynbos biome get its name

A

narrow-leaved plants grow in region

35
Q

animal life of fynbos biome

A

-grysbok, geometric tortoises (suurpootjie)
-Cape sugarbirds, protea seedeaters - not found anywhere else
-leopards, baboons, eagles, lynxes, porcupines, grey rheboks
-caracals

36
Q

soil of fynbos biome

A

-generally poor
-lacking minerals and organic matter

37
Q

climate of thicket biome

A

-low rainfall can be winter/summer

38
Q

vegetation of thicket biome

A

-replaces forest not true savannah (doesnt have grass cover)
-shrubs
-low evergreen trees eg. wild olive trees, vines, succulent plants such as aloes
-many plants spine/thorns

39
Q

animal life of thicket biome

A

-elephant
-kudu
-vervet monkeys
-bushbuck

40
Q

soil of thicket biome

A
  • dune sand (coastal thicket)
    -sandy/clay soil
41
Q

area situated thicket biome

A

Addo Elephant National Park

42
Q

2 types of aquatic biomes

A

marine and freshwater

43
Q

where are marine biomes found

A

Earth’s oceans, cover nearly 75% Earth’s surface

44
Q

3 examples marine biomes

A

-coral reef
-estuaries
-oceans

45
Q

where is Earth’s rainfall from

A

evaporations of Earth’s oceans, temperature oceans effects world’s climate and wind patterns

46
Q

purpose of marine algae

A

major oxygen source and consumes huge amounts carbon dioxide

47
Q

vegetation of marine biome

A

-different types algae
-large kelp plants
-microscopic unicellular forms

48
Q

animals found marine biomes

A

-whales
-sharks
-octopuses
-molluscs eg. mussels, perlemoen, crustaceans (crabs, crayfish)
-SA marine biome 270/325 fish families

49
Q

range ecosystems South Africa’s marine biomes

A

rocky shores, coral reefs, kelp beds, open sea

50
Q

types of freshwater biomes

A

wetlands and rivers/streams

51
Q

what is a wetland

A

areas with shallow layer of water with vegetation growing in and on edges of the water

52
Q

flora

A

plant life

53
Q

species diversity

A

variety of different types of living things found in an area

54
Q

sediment

A

layers of sand and other small particles settle bottom of rivers, lakes, dams

55
Q

two examples of wetlands

A

swamps and marshes

56
Q

why are wetlands important

A

prevent flooding of ponds, lakes, streams and river by acting like a sponge, releasing water when water level gets low, absorbing water when water level high. filter and purify water

57
Q

animals found in wetlands

A

-southern red bishop
-shelduck
-insects
-mammals
-reptiles
-amphibians (striped stream frog)
-fish
-invertebrate species

58
Q

plants found wetlands

A

-grasses
-sedges
-water lilies
-arum lily
-red-hot poker

59
Q

what are rivers and streams

A

bodies of flowing water that move in one direction, source high mountains and end river mouth flows into sea

60
Q

water levels river

A

vary depending on time of year

61
Q

water near source vs mouth

A

-cooler source than mouth
-clearer source than mouth
-higher oxygen levels source
-freshwater fish found source

62
Q

plants found middle of river

A

-numerous green river plants and algae
-floating weeds

63
Q

what happens end of river

A

-water murky from sediment
-decreases amount of light
-less light, less plants, less oxygen
-find animals such as catfish and carp