LS notes

Question 1

Biosphere?

Answer 1

Place where all living organisms occur and sustains life.

Question 2

Atmosphere?

Answer 2

Here life exists in the air.
Humidity
Precipitation
Wind
Water vapour
1. Nitrogen- manufacture protein
2. Oxygen- cellular respiration
3. Carbon Dioxide- photosynthesis

Question 3

Lithosphere?

Answer 3

Where life exists in the soil.
Soil type
pH levels
Provides habitat

Question 4

Hydrosphere?

Answer 4

Where life exists in water.
Salinity
Temperature

Question 5

Ecology?

Answer 5

Study of relationships between living organisms and the environment they live in

Question 6

Biotic?

Answer 6

Organisms that are living or was living.

Question 7

Abiotic?

Answer 7

Non-living.

Question 8

Species?

Answer 8

Organisms that are the same and are able to breed fertile offspring.

Question 9

Population?

Answer 9

Organisms of the same species living in the same area and the same time and are able to breed.

Question 10

Community?

Answer 10

Different populations in the same area.

Question 11

Biome?

Answer 11

An area where species are adapted to climate.

Question 12

Ecosystem?

Answer 12

An area where there is an interdependent relationship organism and their environment.

Question 13

Biodiversity?

Answer 13

Variety of species in an area.

Question 14

Indigenous?

Answer 14

Species that exist in their natural environment.

Question 15

Endemic?

Answer 15

Species found in one area only.

Question 16

Biomes?

Answer 16

1. Savannah
2. Desert
3. Grassland
4. Forest
5. Nama-Karoo
6. Succulent Karoo
7. Fynbos

Question 17

Fynbos?

Answer 17

Found southern most area of SA (Western Cape). Unique vegetation. Wildfires- recycle nutrients, remove dead matter making space for new growth, essential for protea seed germination.

Question 18

Biome features?

Answer 18

Defined geographical region
Several ecosystems
Distinct climate

Question 19

Fynbos plants?

Answer 19

Ericas- fine leaves rolled inward that reduce surface area for transpiration.
Proteas-large leaves and spectacular blooms. King Protea
Restios- tough, strong stems
Geophytes- underground storage bulbs attracts tourists.

Question 20

Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems? Climate

Answer 20

1.Climate
-Light some plants are Sun-lovinf and others are shade-loving. Leads to stratification.
-Heat at different latitudes climate is different. Hotter at equator.
-Water all cells have cytoplasms made mostly of water all organisms need water to survive.
-Gases Nitrogen protein, Oxygen respiration Co2 photosynthesis
-Wind for pollination and dispersal of seeds. It increases transpiration and redistributes clouds for rain.

Question 21

Hot climate adaptations?

Answer 21

Thin fur
Less blubber
Sweat more
Nocturnal too avoid hot day

Question 22

Cold climate adaptations?

Answer 22

Thick fur
Sweat less
More blubber
Hibernation
Migration to avoid winter

Question 23

Ectotherms?

Answer 23

Animals that get warmth from environment.

Question 24

Endotherms?

Answer 24

Animals that get warmth through respiration.

Question 25

Xerophytes?

Answer 25

Thick cuticle Rosette Sunken stomata Deep roots

Question 26

Hydrophytes?

Answer 26

Stomata on top surface of floating leaves Many air spaces in leaves

Question 27

Abiotic Factor Edaphic ?

Answer 27

Sand- large particle size and air spaces and capillary water drains quickly. Organic matter washes through particles Loam- Capillary water fills air spaces available for absorption. Organic matter is retained making it rich in humus. Clay- hygroscopic attached to soil particles. Tiny air spaces waterlogged easily. Organic matter washes over.

Question 28

Soil Acidity?

Answer 28

Bacteria thrives in basic. And fungi thrives in acids. Acids at top soil because water filters to bottom. Acid loving plant roots shallow and deep for alkaline loving plants

Question 29

Humus?

Answer 29

Sticky substance that forms when de composers break down dead organic matter in the soil. Enriches soil.

Question 30

Hygroscopic water?

Answer 30

Thin layer of water around soil particle.

Question 31

Abiotic Factor Physiographic?

Answer 31

Slope steepness- Gentle slope rain washes slowly. Less erosion and more negation and lots of infiltration. Steep slope rain washes quickly more erosion less vegetation. Altitude-height above sea level. Less O2 and Co2 and more colder. Aspect-direction of slope. North facing hotter and less vegetation with xerophytes. South facing more vegetation and cooler mesospheres. More rain seaward side of escarpment.

Question 32

Producers?

Answer 32

Autotrophs. Photosynthesis to make Thor own food.

Question 33

Consumers?

Answer 33

Heterotrophs?

Question 34

Decomposers?

Answer 34

Fungi and Bacteria are saprophytes and absorb dead organic matter

Question 35

Why is food web more realistic?

Answer 35

More than one source of energy and more stable ecosystem.

Question 36

Pyramid of energy?

Answer 36

Amount of energy at each trophic level.

Question 37

Pyramid of biomass?

Answer 37

Dried mass at each trophic level.

Question 38

Pyramid of numbers?

Answer 38

Number of organisms at each trophic level?