Biosphere - Inga Koli Flashcards
1
Q
What is a biosphere
A
- Section of the Earth where living organisms occur
- Consists of lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere
2
Q
What is the definition of a hydrosphere
A
- Includes all water on the Earths surface e.g oceans, rivers
- Water cover 75% of the Earths surface
3
Q
What is the definition of a lithosphere
A
Soils and rocks on the outer layer of Earth
4
Q
What is the definition of an atmosphere
A
The layer of air that surrounds the earth
Consists of a mixture of all the Earth’s gases
5
Q
Definition of biome
A
- Different areas on Earth with climatic conditions and vegetatiom
- Animals adapt
- A particualr area with specific climate
- Two types terestrial and aquatic
6
Q
All terrestrial biomes in South Africa
A
- Savannah
- Grassland
- Nama Karoo
- Succulent Karoo
- Fynbos
- Forest
- Thicket
7
Q
Forest
A
- High in rainfall no frost
- Fertile soil, with a thin layer of humus
- Consists of trees that form a closed canopy of leaves
- Animals such as bushpig, bushbuck and monkeys
8
Q
Succulent Karoo
A
- Very hot, dry summers and colds winters
- Low rainfall in winter
- Soil is rich in lime and forms thin layer of rocks
- Plants adapt to extremely highsummer temperatures
- Plants are mostly small with plenty of water stored in their leave
- Animals include meerkats
9
Q
Savannah
A
- Warm wet summers and cold dry winters
- Sandy soil; lack in nutrients
- Red grass and baobab tress occur
- Animals such as the big five
10
Q
Grassland
A
- Hot summers with high rainfall and cold winter with frost
- Soil is sandy ;leaching of nutrients making the soil acidic
- Mainly grasses and very few trees
- They are used as nature reserves for herding animals
11
Q
Nama Karoo
A
- Very hot summers and cold, frosty winters; semi desert that receives little rain
- Soil is rich in lime
- Mostly shrubs and grasses
- Sheep and goat graze on the grass
12
Q
Fynbos
A
- Cool wet winters and hot dry summer
- Sandy acidic soil; not very fertile
- Consists of evergreen shrubs with hard
