EGS Pippin 4 Determining Biome Boundaries

Question 1

Factors determining biome boundaries P1/3

Divided into 2 types:
(1)
(2)

Answer 1

1. Biophysical drivers
2. Plant adaptations

Question 2

Factors determining biome boundaries P2/3

(1) Biophysical Drivers:

(1)
→ Point
→ Point
→ Point
→ Point
(2)
(3)
(4)

Answer 2

(1) Climate:
→ Temp.
→ Rainfall/Precip.
→ Seasonality (rain)
→ Predictability

(2) Fire

(3) Soil

(4) Altitude & associated climate considerations

Question 3

Factors determining biome boundaries P3/3

(2) Plant Adaptations:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

Answer 3

(1) Architecture (leaf size, leaf angles, etc.)

(2) Water

(3) Storage

(4) Root form (deep vs shallow/bulb, etc.)

(5) Defence mechanisms (thorns, scent, etc.)

(6) Growth form & Persistence (geophytes, etc.)

Question 4

Overview of SA climate

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

Answer 4

(1) High Climate Diversity
(2) Lower average temps compared to latitudinal equivalents
(3) Lots of sunshine
(4) Quite dry; half global rainfall average
(5) Mostly summer rain; western cape has winter rain
(6) Rainfall forms gradient: increasing from west to east

Question 5

What are the 3 Main biophysical drivers determing SA biomes?

Answer 5

(1) Light
(2) Temperature
(3) Moisture

Question 6

3 Main biophysical drivers determing SA biomes P1/3

(1) Light:

• Depends on ()
• Macro scale - () in Southern Africa
• Micro & Meso scale - ()
• To calculate:
• () receives the most.

Answer 6

• Depends on incoming solar radiation
• Macro scale - seldom limiting in Southern Africa
• Micro & Meso scale - variable
• To calculate: measure radiation @ the Toposphere & temp. @ the ground
• Northern Cape receives the most.

Question 7

3 Main biophysical drivers determing SA biomes P2/3

(2) Temperature:

• Hottest in the () & ()
• Cooler on the () & ()
• () has a monderating effect.

Answer 7

• Hottest in the North East & North
• Cooler on the Escarpment & Plateau
• Coast has a monderating effect.

Question 8

3 Main biophysical drivers determing SA biomes P3/3

(3) Moisture:

• Moisture → () for () & () processes in () for () & ().
• Basic pattern: () MAP in () & (), across a () to () MAP in ().
• () variability in the (); () variability in the ()
• Plants follow ()
• Southern Africa returns some () of () to (), global average around () [, ]

Answer 8

• Moisture → critical for physiological & chemical processes in plants for energy exchange & transport of soluble nutrients
• Basic pattern: < 250 mm MAP in West & North West, across a gradient to ** > 1250 mm** MAP in East
• Higher variability in the West; Lower variability in the East
• Plants follow seasonal soil moisture balances
• Southern Africa returns some 91% of mean annual precip. to atmosphere, global average around 65% [Schultze, 2003].

< means less than; > means more than