1. Environmental Studies
Strand 3
Unit 2
Lesson 1

2. Watch:
Spheres of the earth

4. Spheres of the earth: Biosphere: Where all living organisms exists
Lithosphere:
Outer layer of earth comprised of soil & rocks
Hydrosphere:
All water on earth’s surface
Atmosphere:
. Layer of air surrounding earth, containing various gases.

6. Biotic: Living / Alive E.g: Plants(producers) Animals(consumers)
Microorganisms

7. Abiotic: Non-living You cannot refer to them as DEAD Soil Water Gases
sunlight

8. Ecology:
Study of relationship between living organisms and the environment in which they live.
So these factors are interdependent on each other.

9. Ecology
Environment
ecosystems
Biotic & Abiotic parts
Organisms

10. Biomes: Broad geographic regions Similar animal & plant species.
Specific temperatures & rainfall
Definition: Area with particular climate together with organisms living there.

11. Global biomes: +- 15 Influencing / distinguishing factors:
Ave Temperature
Ave Rainfall
Soil Conditions
Chief vegetation

12. Biomes in Southern Africa:
7 main TERRESTRIAL biomes.
1 Savannah
2 Nama- Karoo
3 Succulent Karoo
4 Fynbos
5 Forest
6 Grassland
7 Thicket

13. Watch:
Spectacular South Africa

14. Grasslands tend to be east
Biomes:
Grasslands tend to be east
Deserts / dry parts
Tend to be west

15. SAVANNAH: Grasslands with occasional trees,
often Acacia sp. Biggest biome,
46%of surface area,
extending into Kalahari,
Bushveld and KwaZulu-Natal,
Bron v toerisme en jag, pilanesberg, krugerwildtuin deel v bioom.

16. SAVANNAH/ SAVANNE: Hot in Summer. Cold in Winter Summer rainfall
Sandy soils
Low nutrient levels
Grassland / bushveld
Shrub tree
1/3 of SA
SAVANNAH/ SAVANNE:
Grasslands with occasional trees,
often Acacia sp. Biggest biome,
46%of surface area,
extending into Kalahari,
Bushveld and KwaZulu-Natal,
Bron v toerisme en jag, pilanesberg, krugerwildtuin deel v bioom.

17. NAMA-KA/ROO:
Oorgang tussen kaapse flora (suid) en tropiese savanne (noorde)/

18. Lime rich ( thin soil over rock)
Hot in summer
Cold in Winter
Low rainfall
Summer rain
Lime rich ( thin soil over rock)
Grassy dwarf shrubs
Second largest biome
Central Plateau of W
NAMA-KA/ROO:
Oorgang tussen kaapse flora (suid) en tropiese savanne (noorde)/

19. SUCCULENT KAROO: West Coast and Karoo Long, dry seasons with
late summer/winter rainfall.
Cold Benguela sea current causes fog,
source of water for many animals.
Extreme daily temperature differences

20. Extreme droughts in summer
Low rainfall
Hot summer
Cold winter
Winter rainfall
Extreme droughts in summer
Limerich
Succulents
Dwarf shrubs
Annuals in spring
SUKKULENTE KAROO:
SUCCULENT KAROO/
West Coast and Karoo
Long, dry seasons with
late summer/winter rainfall.
Cold Benguela sea current causes fog,
source of water for many animals.
Extreme daily temperature differences

21. Drought-escaping xerophytes / annual plants flower and produce seed
in the short rain season and
survive hot, long, dry summer as seed
NAMA KAROO
Drought-escaping xerophytes / annual plants
flower and produce seed
Skade_ skaapboerdery & swak toerisme bestuur
in the short rain season and
survive hot, long, dry summer as seed

22. FYNBOS: Wes kaap Fynbos= small shrubs, fine leaves Sw & s v wes kaap
World heritage site (UN)
0ne of 6 floral kingdoms of world, enigste een slegs in een land.
ekotoerisme

23. Cold winters ( not frost)
Hot summer
Cold winters ( not frost)
Winter rainfall
Well – leached soil
Infertile
Fires and seeding
Cape Peninsula
Floral kingdom
FYNBOS:
Wes kaap
Fynbos= small shrubs, fine leaves
Sw & s v wes kaap
World heritage site (UN)
0ne of 6 floral kingdoms of world, enigste een slegs in een land.
ekotoerisme

24. Fire plays important ecological role in Fynbos:
It gets rid of old and dry vegetation,
giving geophytes an opportunity to flower.
Some seeds germinate only when stimulated by
smoke of Fynbos fire.
FYNBOS AFTER FIRE
Factors determining
effect of fire:
How often?
In which season?
How intense?
Size of area
Fynbos survives as:
1.Underground buds,shoots
2. Bulbs
3. Corms
4. Rhizomes

25. Watch:
Into the fynbos

26. FOREST: Slegs klein deeltjies oor.
Evergreen/ semi deciduous/ semi bladwisselend.
Coastal lowlands/ eskarphange
Smaller than 1000 ha
Suid kaap: Knysna is groter

27. Variable T ( scattered) Some areas winter & others summer rain
Fertile soil
Thick humus
Herbaceous plants
Evergreen trees
Dispersed
FOREST:
Slegs klein deeltjies oor.
Evergreen/ semi deciduous/ semi bladwisselend.
Coastal lowlands/ eskarphange
Smaller than 1000 ha
Suid kaap: Knysna is groter

28. GRASSLANDS: Central plateau of SA, in parts of
Savannah and Nama Karoo biomes,
KZN Midlands and Transkei
24%
Meestal grasse, mostly grasses
Woody plants- rare, absent/ houtplante is skaars of glad nie aanwesig

29. Grasses different between acidity of soil
Warm summer
Cold winter (frost)
Summerrainfall
Sandy soils
Clay & leaching
Grasses different between acidity of soil
escarpment
GRASSLANDS/ GRASVLAKTE:
Central plateau of SA, in parts of
Savannah and Nama Karoo biomes,
KZN Midlands and Transkei
24%
Meestal grasse, mostly grasses
Woody plants- rare, absent/ houtplante is skaars of glad nie aanwesig

30. THICKET:
Found mostly in eastern cape/

31. Characteristics of Savannah & Forest Wide spread so rainfall differs
Nutrient poor soils
KZN - EC
BOSLANDSKAP:
THICKET/
Found mostly in eastern cape/

32. Homework: Activity 2 p 219 No: 4 5 6c,e,f
At least three points per answer.