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Life Sciences Grade 10 > Biomes of South Africa (pages 176-181) > Flashcards

Biomes of South Africa (pages 176-181) Flashcards

REFER TO NOTEBOOK/TEXTBOOK FOR DIAGRAMS (63 cards)

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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
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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

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3
Q

climate of grassland biome

A

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

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4
Q

vegetation of grassland biome

A

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

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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

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6
Q

soil of grassland biome

A

-deep and dark
-fertile upper layers

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7
Q

which parts of south africa is savannah

A

-almost half
-northern regions
-Kruger National Park

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8
Q

climate of savannah biome

A

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

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9
Q

vegetation of the savannah biome

A

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

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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

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11
Q

soil in the savannah biome

A

-generally thin-lacking organic matter (humus)

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12
Q

indigenous

A

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

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13
Q

temperate

A

climate never too hot or very cold

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14
Q

canopy

A

top layer of leaves and branches of trees

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15
Q

what is the smallest biome in south africa

A

forest

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16
Q

best-known forests in south africa

A

Knysna and Tsitsikamma

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17
Q

climate of forest biome

A

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

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18
Q

vegetation of forest biome

A

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

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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

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20
Q

soil of forest biome

A

fertile

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21
Q

why is the soil of forest biome fertile

A

enriched by decaying plant material

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22
Q

which parts of south africa does the nama karoo include

A

Namaland area of Namibia and Karoo region of South Africa

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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

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24
Q

vegetation of nama karoo

A

-small shrubs
-grasses
-trees only grow along rivers

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25
animal life of nama karoo
-animals adapted hot, dry climates eg. bat-eared foxes, black-backed jackals, ostriches, spring hares -used herds springbok shot out hunters
26
soil of nama karoo
-thin -rich in lime -contains little organic matter not very fertile
27
climate of succulent karoo
-winter rainfall -extremely dry summers -summer tempretures often reach 40°C
28
vegetation of succulent karoo
-dominant: succulents, thick, fleshy leaves able store water during long, hot summers
29
how do plants prevent water loss (succulent karoo)
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
animal life of succulent karoo
-bat-eared foxes -suricate/meerkat common barking gecko
31
soil type of succulent karoo
-thin -rich in lime -not very fertile -similar Nama-Karoo
32
climate of fynbos biome
-cool, wet winter -dry, hot summers
33
vegetation of fynbos biome
-evergreen plans with tiny, hard leaves -proteas, ericas, restios
34
how did the fynbos biome get its name
narrow-leaved plants grow in region
35
animal life of fynbos biome
-grysbok, geometric tortoises (suurpootjie) -Cape sugarbirds, protea seedeaters - not found anywhere else -leopards, baboons, eagles, lynxes, porcupines, grey rheboks -caracals
36
soil of fynbos biome
-generally poor -lacking minerals and organic matter
37
climate of thicket biome
-low rainfall can be winter/summer
38
vegetation of thicket biome
-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
animal life of thicket biome
-elephant -kudu -vervet monkeys -bushbuck
40
soil of thicket biome
- dune sand (coastal thicket) -sandy/clay soil
41
area situated thicket biome
Addo Elephant National Park
42
2 types of aquatic biomes
marine and freshwater
43
where are marine biomes found
Earth's oceans, cover nearly 75% Earth's surface
44
3 examples marine biomes
-coral reef -estuaries -oceans
45
where is Earth's rainfall from
evaporations of Earth's oceans, temperature oceans effects world's climate and wind patterns
46
purpose of marine algae
major oxygen source and consumes huge amounts carbon dioxide
47
vegetation of marine biome
-different types algae -large kelp plants -microscopic unicellular forms
48
animals found marine biomes
-whales -sharks -octopuses -molluscs eg. mussels, perlemoen, crustaceans (crabs, crayfish) -SA marine biome 270/325 fish families
49
range ecosystems South Africa's marine biomes
rocky shores, coral reefs, kelp beds, open sea
50
types of freshwater biomes
wetlands and rivers/streams
51
what is a wetland
areas with shallow layer of water with vegetation growing in and on edges of the water
52
flora
plant life
53
species diversity
variety of different types of living things found in an area
54
sediment
layers of sand and other small particles settle bottom of rivers, lakes, dams
55
two examples of wetlands
swamps and marshes
56
why are wetlands important
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
animals found in wetlands
-southern red bishop -shelduck -insects -mammals -reptiles -amphibians (striped stream frog) -fish -invertebrate species
58
plants found wetlands
-grasses -sedges -water lilies -arum lily -red-hot poker
59
what are rivers and streams
bodies of flowing water that move in one direction, source high mountains and end river mouth flows into sea
60
water levels river
vary depending on time of year
61
water near source vs mouth
-cooler source than mouth -clearer source than mouth -higher oxygen levels source -freshwater fish found source
62
plants found middle of river
-numerous green river plants and algae -floating weeds
63
what happens end of river
-water murky from sediment -decreases amount of light -less light, less plants, less oxygen -find animals such as catfish and carp

Life Sciences Grade 10 (9 decks)

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