Glossary - Ecology

Term Definition
Ecology The study of the relationships between living organisms and the
nonliving environment. Biotic & abiotic factors
Abiotic factors Non-living components of an ecosystem like temperature, soil type
etc.
Biotic factors Living organisms in an ecosystem.
Biosphere The part of the Earth and its atmosphere where living organisms
are found.
Hydrosphere Oceans, lakes, rivers , underground water and water vapour.
Lithosphere The earth’s crust, including soil and rocks on and below the earth’s
surface.
Atmosphere Layer of gases surrounding the Earth.
Climate The typical weather conditions in a particular area.
Biome A region with a certain climate, soil type and type of vegetation.
Learn the different biomes in South Africa.
Aquatic In water
Terrestrial On land
Arboreal In trees
Indigenous Plants and animals that were always naturally present in an area
and not brought in from another country.
Temperate Climate that is never very hot or very cold.
Canopy The top layer of leaves and branches of trees.
Wetland Areas with a shallow layer of water with vegetation growing in and
on the edges of the water. Rich in flora and fauna.
Fauna Animal life
Flora Plant life
Species diversity The variety of different types of living organisms found in an area.
Sediment Layers of sand and other small particles that settle at the bottom of
rivers, lakes and dams.
Poaching Illegal catching or killing of animals or gathering of plants for profit.
Extinction The death of all individuals of a species.
Urbanisation / urban Growth of cities into natural environments.
sprawl
Ecotourism Responsible travel to natural areas that does not harm the
environment and benefits local people.
Ecologist A scientist that studies the relationships of living organisms with the
environment. Study B.Sc. (ecology). They collect samples outdoors
and then write reports.
Producer / Plants that turn radiant energy from the sun into glucose.
Autotroph Producers are always at the start of a food chain or food web.
Heterotroph / Organisms that are not able to make their own food and thus need
Consumer to eat other organisms.
Decomposer / Organisms that feed on dead organic matter. They return nutrients
Saprophyte back to the soil.
Silt Very fine particles of rock.
Humus The organic material in soil formed by the decomposition of organic
matter.
Water-holding The amount of water that soil can hold. Sand has the lowest water-
capacity holding capacity and clay the highest.
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Wetland An area covered with shallow water for most of the year.
Photosynthesis The process of using sunlight to make food.
Photoperiod The number of hours of light that a plant gets every day.
Diurnal Active during the day and inactive at night.
Nocturnal Active during the night but not during the day.
Migration The seasonal movement of animals from one area to another in
response to climatic conditions.
Hibernation The slowing down of body processes when temperatures drop and
food becomes scarce.
Aestivation The slowing down of body processes and activity in response to
high temperatures.

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 Spekboom aka elephant bush, dwarf jade and porkbush
The spekboom is an indigenous succulent plant that grows in the thicket biome of the
Eastern Cape. It has the ability to absorb great quantities of carbon dioxide. Farmers are
encouraged to plant spekboom to reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to reduce
global warming.
The plant is also referred to as elephant’s food (and hence the name elephant bush) as it is
what elephants love most and forms part of their vast diet. The Afrikaans work “spekboom”
directly translates to bacon tree, which how the name pork bush came about.
Spekboom leaves can be added directly to salads and stews to add delicious flavour.
The plant also has the following additional values:
 Sucking a leaf to quench thirst, treat exhaustion, dehydration and heatstroke.
 Using crushed leaves to provide relief for blisters.
 Chewing leaves can treat a sore throat and mouth infections.
 Juiced leaves are used as an antiseptic and to soothe skin ailments such as pimples, rashes,
insect stings and sunburn.
 In certain areas, the stems are used to help build huts/homes. The stems are dried and used
as thatch for rooves of the huts/homes.
 In Mozambique, breastfeeding mothers eat spekboom leaves to increase their milk supply.
 During famine, the Zulus eat the leaves raw

Close up photo of spekboom leaves. The Elephants in the Addo National Park eating
branches are usually red. spekboom.

[Adapted from https://www.shamwari.com/5-amazing-facts-about-spekboom/]

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The tsamma melon
The tsamma melon or makataan is an edible, indigenous wild melon that grows as a creeper
in the Kalahari. The fruit is an important source of water in the dry months. The fruit is cut
open and the inside is mashed to a pulp with a stick.

The makataan is used to make watermelon preserve

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