Ecology

Question 1

what is Ecology?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What does the Biosphere consist of?

Answer 2

The biosphere consists of lithosphere,hydrosphere and the atmosphere.

Question 3

What are the different levels of organization?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Explain what the atmosphere,lithosphere and hydrosphere consists of?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

What is a Biome?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Name wo types of Biome?

Answer 6

Aquatic and Terrestrial

Question 7

what are the seven terrestrial Biomes??

Answer 7

Fynbos
Nama Karoo
Succulent Karoo
Savannah
Forest
Grassland
Thicket

Question 8

Name the two aquatic biomes

Answer 8

marine and freshwater

Question 9

Grassland Biome Climate?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Grassland soil?

Answer 10

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

Fertile upper layer

Good drainage

Question 11

Grassland vegetation?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Grassland Animal Life?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Forest Biome Climate?

Answer 13

Rainfall all year round
Warm summers;mild to cool winters

Question 14

Forest Biome Soil?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Forest Biome Vegetation?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Forest Biome Animal Life?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Savannah Biome Climate?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Savannah Biome Soil?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Savannah Vegetation?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Savannah Animal Life?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Nama Karoo Climate?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Nama Karoo Soil?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Nama Karoo Vegetation?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Nama Karoo Animal Life?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Succulent Karoo Biome Climate?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Succulent Karoo Biome Soil?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Succulent Karoo Vegetation?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Succulent Karoo Animal Life?

Answer 28

Bat-eared foxes,Meerkats
Common barking gecko

Question 29

Fynbos Climate?

Answer 29

Cold,wet winters
Hot,dry summers

Question 30

Fynbos Soil?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Fynbos Vegetation?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Fynbos Animal LIfe?

Answer 32

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

Question 33

What does endemic mean?

Answer 33

it means native and restricted to a certain place

Question 34

Thicket Biome Climate?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Thicket Biome Soil?

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Thicket Biome Animal Life?

Answer 36

Elephant,Kudu,Vervet monkeys,Bushbuck

Question 37

Marine Biome Vegetation?

Answer 37

giant kelp
unicellular forms(phytoplankton)

Question 38

Marine Biome Animal Life?

Answer 38

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