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Environmental studies

Topic 8: Biosphere to ecosystems

(pg. 173)

The study of interactions between living

organisms and their interaction with their
physical and chemical environment.

Levels of organisation
in Ecology

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Unit 1: The biosphere & biomes

What is the biosphere?

 The part of earth where
living things occur (Bio= life)

 Sum of all ecosystems

 Made up of 3 components:
➢ Hydrosphere
➢ Lithosphere
➢ Atmosphere

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Atmosphere
 Layer of air above and surrounding the Earth.

➢ Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour

FUNCTIONS:
➢ Contains gases essential for
photosynthesis and respiration
➢ Protection against UV-rays from the sun

Hydrosphere
 All water found on Earth (75% of Earth’s surface)

 FUNCTIONS:
➢ Most important component of all living organisms
➢ Natural habitat (freshwater & marine)

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Lithosphere
 Outer layer of Earth’s surface.

 FUNCTIONS:
➢ Habitat for soil organisms
➢ Provides essential minerals to organisms
➢ Anchor for roots of plants

Levels of biological organisation

 Cell: smallest unit of life
 Tissue: group of cells perform same function
 Organ: group of different tissues which perform own function, but also
perform common function as a group
 System: group of different organs that each perform own function, but also
perform common function as a group
 Organism: individual that Consists of different systems that function
together
 Population: Group of organisms, SAME SPECIES, in a particular area
 Community: group of populations in a particular area
 Ecosystem: All communities (living) that interact with one another, as well
as non-living (abiotic) factors in a particular area

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What is a biome?
 Collection of ecosystems that have similar
characteristics (vegetation, climate) and
are found in particular geographic regions.

 Named after the dominant type of

vegetation.

 2 main categories:
➢ Terrestrial
➢ Aquatic

Unit 2: Biomes of South Africa (pg. 176)

 Terrestrial SA biomes:  Aquatic SA biomes:
 Grassland  Marine
 Savannah  Freshwater
 Forest Wetlands

 Nama-Karoo River systems

 Succulent Karoo
 Thicket
 Fynbos

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Terrestrial biomes of South Africa

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Grassland

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Savannah
Climate:
Less summer rainfall
Higher summer and winter
temps.

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Forest
Climate:
Temperate
Rainfall all year round
Small changes in temp. between
Winter and Summer

Animal life:
Colourful birds
soil: Small animals (bushpigs,
Fertile duikers)
Enriched with decaying plant Large predators (leopards,
material crowned eagles)

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Nama-Karoo
Climate:
Semi-desert
Low rainfall (>400mm per yr.)
Summer HOT, winter COLD
(frost)

soil: Vegetation:
Thin soil, rich in lime, not Small shrubs, grasses
very fertile.

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Succulent Karoo

Animal life:
Bat-eared fox
Climate: Suricate/ meerkat, common
Winter rainfall. barking gecko
Extremely dry summers Vegetation:
(over 40 degrees C)
Succulent plants, thick fleshy
leaves, store water
Small leaves or spines
soil:
No leaves
Soil similar to Nama-Karoo
Seeds – dry season

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Thicket
Vegetation:
Replaces forest, lacks
significant grass cover
Shrubs, low evergreen trees
Spines, thorns

Climate:
Low rainfall winter or
summer

Animal life:
soil:
Elephants, kudu, vervet
Dune sand, sandy\clay soils
monkey, bushbuck

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Fynbos
soil:
Poor soils, lack minerals and
organic matter, slightly
acidic
Climate:
Winter rainfall
Summer – hot, dry

Animal life:
Grysbok, geometric tortoises.
Cape sugarbird, protea
seedeaters
Vegetation:
Mountains – baboons, eagles,
Evergreen plants, tiny hard leaves
porcupines,grey rheboks
Proteas, ericas, restios
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Aquatic biomes of SA
Marine biomes:
 Divided into estuaries, sandy beaches, rocky
shores, coral reefs, kelp beds and open oceans.
 Rainfall – evaporation from oceans
 Climate and wind patterns – temp. of oceans
 Oxygen source & Carbon sink – marine algae

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Aquatic biomes of SA
Freshwater biomes:
 Wetlands – shallow water, vegetation growing in
and on waters edge
➢ prevent flooding, purify water, biodiverse

 Rivers and streams – flowing water in one

direction
➢ @source – high oxygen, clearer, cooler
➢ Middles – biodiverse,
➢ @mouth – murky from sediments, less light,
fewer plants, low oxygen

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The value of wetlands

 Air quality
 Stabilise global levels
 Available nitrogen
 Atmospheric sulfur
 Carbon dioxide
 methane

 Storm abatement
 Wetlands act as buffer of storm surges & wave
energy
 Sustain minimal damage
 Shelter inland property
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The value of wetlands

 Water quality
 Hydrological conditions can be modified by:
 Nutrient availability
 Remove toxic materials
 Soil salinity (salt content)
 Sediment properties (sand, mud, clay, soil)
 pH (acid/alkaline)

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The value of wetlands

 Water quality continued
 Vegetation can control water conditions through:
 Peat building (fertile soil)
 Sediment trapping (sand & minerals)
 Nutrient retention
 Water shading and temp. regulation
 Transpiration

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The value of wetlands

 Erosion control
 Shoreline stabilization
 Sediment transport reduced
 Habitat
 Ecosystem diversity and stability
 Spawning habitat
 Nursery habitat
 Food production
 Variety of habitats increases: Species diversity;
Species richness; Species numbers

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Unit 3: Ecosystems

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Components of an ecosystem
 Ecosystem = unit of nature in which living and
non-living things interact

 BIOTIC FACTORS = Living organisms

 ABIOTIC = Non-living factors important for living

organisms (light, soil, water, temperature,
physiographic factors)

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Unit 4: The environment

 Environment = any biotic or abiotic factor that
has an influence on living organisms

 Human activities that affect the environment:

➢ Air pollution and global warming
➢ Agriculture
➢ Industry and urbanisation
➢ Population growth
➢ Poaching

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Unit 5: Ecotourism
 Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves
the environment and sustains or even improves
the well-being and welfare of local people.

 Go through opportunities, economics and ethics of

ecotourism (page 184 and 185)

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