Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

what is Ecology?

A

the study of relationships between living organisms and their non living and living environment.

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2
Q

What does the Biosphere consist of?

A

The biosphere consists of lithosphere,hydrosphere and the atmosphere.

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3
Q

What are the different levels of organization?

A

Earth. Biosphere,Biome,Ecosystem,community,population and organism

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4
Q

Explain what the atmosphere,lithosphere and hydrosphere consists of?

A

atmosphere consists of the gases that surround earth
lithosphere consists of the earths crust,soil,rock , below and on top of the earths surface.
hydrosphere consists of rivers,lake,oceans,underground water and water vapour.

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5
Q

What is a Biome?

A

A biome is a region the has a specific climate,soil type and a particular vegetation that grows there.

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6
Q

Name wo types of Biome?

A

Aquatic and Terrestrial

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7
Q

what are the seven terrestrial Biomes??

A

Fynbos
Nama Karoo
Succulent Karoo
Savannah
Forest
Grassland
Thicket

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8
Q

Name the two aquatic biomes

A

marine and freshwater

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9
Q

Grassland Biome Climate?

A

Summer rainfall
Heavy thunderstorms with Hail
Cold,dry winters with frost
Warm or hot summers

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10
Q

Grassland soil?

A

Deep,dark soil( mixed with clay,sand and organic matter)

Fertile upper layer

Good drainage

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11
Q

Grassland vegetation?

A

Very few trees
trees are found by river water beds and hills
Grass is the dominant plant type

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12
Q

Grassland Animal Life?

A

Many birds:Blue Crane and Guinea Fowl
Black wildebeest, Blesbok and Eland

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13
Q

Forest Biome Climate?

A

Rainfall all year round
Warm summers;mild to cool winters

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14
Q

Forest Biome Soil?

A

Loam soil
Fertile and enriched with decaying plant material(humus)

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15
Q

Forest Biome Vegetation?

A

Giant trees:Yellowwood,Ironwood and Stinkwood
Many ferns and mosses(shade loving plants) on the forest floor
KZN coast= Natal Wild Bananana,palms and brushes

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16
Q

Forest Biome Animal Life?

A

Many birds:Knysna Woodpecker,Crowned eagles,Bush Pigs,BushBuck,Blue duiker and Leopards.

17
Q

Savannah Biome Climate?

A

Rainfall mainly in summer
Very hot summer and mild winter temps.
Frost in winter

18
Q

Savannah Biome Soil?

A

Lacking in Organic matter
infertile upper part
fertile lower parts
Sandy,often clay-like or loam

19
Q

Savannah Vegetation?

A

Mixed grasslands and trees(bushveld)
Common trees=Baobab,Mopane,Monkey Thorn

20
Q

Savannah Animal Life?

A

Big 5:Elephant,Lion,Leopard,Buffalo,Rhino
Other animals: giraffe and zebra
Many bird species:Hornbills,Flycatchers,Woodpeckers and Shrikes

21
Q

Nama Karoo Climate?

A

Rainfall mainly in summer
Low rainfall (< 400 mm/year)
Rivers only flow after heavy rain
Very hot summers,very cold dry winters with frost

22
Q

Nama Karoo Soil?

A

Thin and mainly lime
Very little organic matter therefore not very fertile soil
Sandy, freely drained

23
Q

Nama Karoo Vegetation?

A

Mostly semi desert
small shrubs and grasses
few trees only found along rivers

24
Q

Nama Karoo Animal Life?

A

Ostriches, Bat eared Foxes,Black backed jackals,Spring hares,Riverine rabbit

25
Q

Succulent Karoo Biome Climate?

A

Winter rainfall
Very hot,extremly dry summer(+40*C)

26
Q

Succulent Karoo Biome Soil?

A

Very similar soil to Nama Karoo Biome
Thin and mainly lime and infertile
Mostly sandy,well drained (water does not remain in the soil)

27
Q

Succulent Karoo Vegetation?

A

Succulent plants (thick fleshy leaves for water storage ) e.g catus,aloe
Leaves often absent, very small or modified to thorns
Plants survive dry season as seeds
After rain the ground is covered with colourful flowers which attract tourists from all over the world

28
Q

Succulent Karoo Animal Life?

A

Bat-eared foxes,Meerkats
Common barking gecko

29
Q

Fynbos Climate?

A

Cold,wet winters
Hot,dry summers

30
Q

Fynbos Soil?

A

infertile soil (no humus)
Sandy and rocky
Water drains through it -not held back

31
Q

Fynbos Vegetation?

A

Mainly evergreen plants with tiny, hard leaves
Main types:Proteas and Ericas
Burns easily - veld fires common but necessary for reproduction

32
Q

Fynbos Animal LIfe?

A

Grysbok,Geometric tortoise,Cape sugarbird,Protea,Lynx,Porcupies
Mountain regions:Leopards,Baboons,Eagles,Lynx,Porcupines

33
Q

What does endemic mean?

A

it means native and restricted to a certain place

34
Q

Thicket Biome Climate?

A

Low rainfall ( summer or winter depending on region where thicket is found )

35
Q

Thicket Biome Soil?

A

Can vary for dune sand (coastal thicket) to sandy or clay soils in other parts of the biome

36
Q

Thicket Biome Animal Life?

A

Elephant,Kudu,Vervet monkeys,Bushbuck

37
Q

Marine Biome Vegetation?

A

giant kelp
unicellular forms(phytoplankton)

38
Q

Marine Biome Animal Life?

A

Whales
Sharks
Octopuses
Molluscs( mussels and Perlemoen)
Crustaceans( crabs and crayfish and shrimp)

39
Q
A