BIOSPHERE & BIOMES

BIOSPHERE:
The global sum of all ecosystems, where
life exists – consists of the atmosphere,
hydrosphere and lithosphere.

ATMOSPHERE:
• The layer of gases surrounding the
earth
• The atmosphere’s ability to absorb the
UV rays of the sun is what allows life on
earth to survive.
LITHOSPHERE:
• The rocky outer part of the earth.
It is made up of the crust and the
top part of the upper mantle.
• It contains ionic compound which
allow plant and animal life to exist.
HYDROSPHERE:
• The combined mass of water found
on, under and above the surface of
the earth.
Interaction between the earth’s spheres
• These spheres are closely connected.
• The disturbances in one sphere affects the other
spheres
• For example: deforestation (biosphere) results in
increased erosion of soil (lithosphere) into rivers
(hydrosphere)
• Many birds (biosphere) fly through the air
(atmosphere), while water (hydrosphere) often
flows through the soil (lithosphere)
• This means a change in the atmosphere can cause
a change in the hydrosphere, and vise versa
Levels of
organisation

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 • The biosphere is divided up into a number of
biomes
• These biomes have distinct biological
Biomes communities that have formed in response to
a shared physical climate.
• Temperature range, soil type, and the
amount of light and water are unique to a
particular place.
 Biome
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Biomes in South
Africa
What do I need
to know?
• Label the different
biomes on the map
• Biological terms
• Remote learning
worksheets
Types of biomes
Biomes are grouped into two categories (types)
1. TERRESTRIAL
• Is an area of land with a similar climate that includes similar
communities of plats as trees, shrubs, grasses and animals.
2. AQUATIC
• Divided into freshwater and marine regions.
 BIOMES IN SOUTH AFRICA
TERRESTRIAL AQUATIC
Savannah Fresh water: Rivers and
Arid Savannah streams; lakes and ponds;
wetlands
Grasslands Marine:
Nama Karoo Oceans
Succulent Karoo Estuaries
Fynbos Coral reefs
Forest
Thicket
Desert

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How climate, soils and
vegetation influence organisms?
 The key factors determining climate are average
annual precipitation (rainfall) and temperature.
How
climate,
soils and The specific conditions of biomes determine
the communities of plants, animals and soil
vegetation organisms in a particular biome.

influence
The climate affects the soil. Example soil can be dried
organisms? out and rearranged during drought or windy weather.

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 As the soil dries out, plant growth is reduced,
which reduces the stability of the surface layer
How and causes more erosion.
climate,
soils and
vegetation Vegetation can affect climate and weather
influence patterns due to the release of water vapour
during photosynthesis. The release of vapour
organisms? into the air alters the surface energy fluxes and
leads to potential cloud formation/rain.

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BIOMES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (DESERT INCLUDED)

D
e
s Savannah
e
r
t
Grasslands
Arid Savannah

Nama-Karoo
Succulent Karoo

Thicket
Fynbos

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 SAVANNAH (Bushveld)
• Kruger National Park found in this biome
• Mixed grasslands and scattered trees
• “Big five” are found here
• Attract tourists to its many game farms

Largest biome in South-Africa.

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GRASSLAND • Dominated by grasses and other
small flowering plants
• Very few trees

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NAMA-KAROO
(Semi-desert)
• ‘Karoo’= khoi for dry
• Dominated by grassy dwarf
shrubs

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 SUCCULENT KAROO

• Namaqualand is a main tourist

attraction during spring, when
the whole area is covered with
flowers.
• Succulent plants are able to
live through dry seasons by
using water stored in their
leaves or stems.
‘Karoo’ comes from the Khoi word Karusa, which means dry,
barren, thirst land.

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FYNBOS
‘Fynbos’ means fine-leaved
plants

• This biome is only found in

South Africa!
• Biome that includes one of the
world’s richest floral kingdoms
• Largest number of plant species
of any biome in the country

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 FOREST
Biome characterised by having
large trees and shade-loving
shrubs in the undergrowth

Smallest biome in South Africa.

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 THICKET • Not continuous zone – occurs as finger-like
projections
• Vegetation: Varies from shrub land to small
trees that grow close together – often
impenetrable
• Addo National Elephant Park found here

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 Aquatic biomes

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 Aquatic biomes
Water covers a major portion of the Earth’s surface,
so aquatic biomes contain a rich diversity of plants
and animals.

Aquatic biomes are divided into two main groups

depending on the amount of salt present in the
water: freshwater and marine biomes.

1. Freshwater
Freshwater biomes are defined by their low salt
concentration, which is usually less than 1%.
Examples include: ponds, lakes, streams, rivers and
wetlands.
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Marine and
coastal Aquatic
biomes
• Include water bodies
that have a high salt
concentration.
• Cover 75% of the
earth’s atmosphere.
• Ocean is the biggest of
all biomes on earth
WETLANDS AND
ESTUARIES
• Wetlands: Areas covered by
freshwater, or where water
is present at or near the
surface of the soil for at
least part of the year.
• Estuaries represent a
transition from land to sea
and from freshwater to
saltwater.

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