.%, Biosphere to CCOSYstems Scope Topic Breakdown of topic Biosphereto | Concept of the biosphere, Inter-connectedness with and ecosystem —_| components of global ecosystems: hydrosphere, lithosphere, ‘atmosphere 56 Marks, Biomes, Terrestrial and aquatic biomes of Southern Africa: how climate, soils and vegetation influence the organisms found in each. Location of different biomes in South Africa Environment Concept of environment to show human activities in and Interactions with the natural environment. Abiotic and biotic factars. Effects on the community Ecosystems Concept of ecosystem Structure and ecosystem functioning Abiotic factors -physiographic factors (aspect, slope, altitude) -soil (pH, humus content, texture, water retention capacity, air content) light (day length, seasonal changes) -temperature (effect of day/night, seasons) -water (water cycle, importance of wetlands) -atmospheric gases -wind loti -producers -consumers -decomposers Enerey flow Energy flow through ecosystems and relationship to trophic structure (food pyramids) Trophic levels: producers, consumers (herbivores and carnivores: and omnivores, decomposers Cycles Flow charts of the following: -water -Oxygen -carbon -nitrogenbiosphere to ccosystems The concept; Biosphere A biosphere is a global ecosystem composed of living organisms (biotic) and the nonliving factors (abiotic) from which they derive energy and nutrients. Components + Atmosphere + Lithosphere + Hydrosphere Atmosphere The layer of gas surrounding the earth is known as atmosphere. It has the ability to absorb ultraviolet rays from the sun allowing life on earth. ‘Atmosphere Example: Water Vapor in the air The three spheres interact to form the Lithosphere biosphere, A disturbance in one The rocky part of the earth is known as the sphere can affect life. lithosphere, Made of the crust and upper mantle. Example: Solid rock & Soil Hydrosphere Water in all its forms makes up the hydrosphere. Example: Water in lakes, rivers or the ocean. Interactions of the spheres Lithosphere & Atmosphere: Volcanic eruptions shooting dust into the air Hydrosphere & Lithosphere: Water run of f causing soil erosion Atmosphere & Hydrosphere: Wated evaporation into the air Biosphere: Plants & Animals in the ecosystem 3 StudySmartlyBiosphere to ceosystems biomes A biome is a collection of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the environment they exist in. These biomes have distinct biological 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 porticular place. Types of biomes + Terrestrial - is an area of land with a similar climate that includes similar communities of plants as trees, shrubs, grasses and animals, + Aquatic = is divided into freshwater (ponds, lakes & rivers) and marine regions (oceans, coral reefs & estuaries) Terrestrial biomes in SA South Africa has nine biomes, based on vegetation types that share similar ecological characteristics. Each biome has a characteristic climate envelope, or a range and pattern of temperature and rainfall patterns, within which it occurs. 1) Grassland. 2) Savannah. 3) Arid Savannah 4) Succulent Karoo. 5) Nama Karoo. 6) Forest. Details on each biome not examined however you shauld know 7) Fynbos. — Savannah is the largest biome & has game farms 8) Desert. — Fynbos is rich in flora/flowers & known for having the protea 9) Thicket. — Forest is characterised by having large trees and shade - loving shrubs How Climate, Soils ang vegetation influence organisms Climates affect soil (dry/drought & Wet/floods) affecting the plants & animals found there. Vegetation can affect climate and weather patterns due to the release of water vapour during photosynthesis. ad StudySmartlyBiosphere to ceosystems The concept: Environment The environment is the natural world, encompassing the interaction of all living species, climate, weather and natural resources that affect human survival and economic activity. The concept: Ecosystem An ecosystem is a community of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in an area that interact with each other. Some examples of ecosystems are a river, a grassland or even a fallen rock. Components of the ecosystem Biotic factors are living organisms such as plants, animals and microorganisms. Abiotic factors are non-living such as soil, water, temperature and sunlight. Ecology is the study of biotic & abiotic factors, their interactions with each other together with the environment. StudySmartlyBiotic & Abiotic factors tex Abiotic factors Physiographic factors Physiographic factors are the physical geography of an area, including aspect, slope and altitude. Aspect is the direction in which an area faces in relation to the direction of the sun. The slope of the land is how steep or gentle the gradient is Altitude is the height above sea level. ‘Aspect ‘Slope Aspect refers to the position of The slope of a mountain ‘* Areas high above sea level an area in relation to the sun determines the rate of water experience extreme * In South Africa north-facing run-off weather conditions e.g slopes receive more sunlight © The run-off of water ona strong winds and snow than south-facing slopes steep slope is faster and soil ‘© Plants and animals that are + North-facing slopes are warmer erosion will occur more found high above sea level and drier frequently will differ from those closer South -facing slopes are cooler * The soil ona steep slope is to sea level and wetter and shade plants e.g usually shallow and infertile ferns grow well in such areas and few plants and animals (ill be present. Soil/Edaphic factors Soil is important for plant growth as it provides water and minerals, and holds plants firmly in the ground. The type of soil in anarea will determine the kinds of plants that will grow there. Characteristics of soil: Soll texture Solar Water-retention”] Humor content co capacity + Thereare3 types | Spaces * Sandy oilhasalow [+ Humusis _|w enveglerts ofsoili.e. clay, between soil | water-retention decayed plant | proteas grow loam and sand particles are capacity because of | and animal betterin acidic sil © Clay consists of filled with air | the large spaces matter (low pt) small soil and water between sol particles | © Humus increases | « Succulent plants particles, loam | Sandysoithas |» Claysoithasahigh | soilfertity and | grow better in has slighty bigger | biggerspaces | water-retention water-retention | alkaline soil igh particles and between soil ‘capacity ‘capacity pH) sandy soll has particles andis | * Loam hasamedium | + Soilwithhumus | « Most plants grow large particles well aerated water-retention 'snormaly dark | well soll witha * Claysilis capacity and is the in colour neutral pH (pH of poorly aerated | most suitable soil for n slant exowth 33 StudySmartlyBiotic & Abiotic factors Abicfic: pouctovy Light + Plants need light for photosynthesis + The ef fect of day length on the growth of a plant is called photoperiodism. + Short-day plants only flower when the day length is shorter than 12 hours + Long -day plants need a day length of more than 12 hours - Neutral plants are plants that are not affected by day length + Some animals e.g, moths and bats are nocturnal (active at night). Temperature + The temperature that plants and animals are exposed to varies between day and night and between summer and winter e.g. ectothermic animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles) become inactive during cold winter temperatures, deciduous trees lose their leaves in autumn to limit photosynthesis and growth. water + Water is one of the most important factors in any ecosystem. Hydrophytes Mesophytes: Xerophytes Plants that grow in Plants that grow in ‘Plants that grow in water e.g. water lilies ‘areas with moderate extremely dry water supply €.9. fruit conditions e.g. aloe trees, wheat etc. Wetlands: Is an area of land that is mostly covered with water. Wetlands are essential ecosystems because: O- They act as natural filters trapping nutrients, soil, disease-causing bacteria and pollutants. O-They slow down floodwaters, as they act like a sponge and store water. This reduces erosion and flood damage. It also maintains a steady flow of water during the year. 0+ Wetlands are rich in plant life and provide food and shelter for many organisms. Atmospheric gases Composition of the atmosphere: 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 0,04% Carbon dioxide and some water vapour. Willd Moving air is called wind. Wind is greater at high altitudes and this can effect the growth of trees. ad StudySmartlyBiotic & Abiotic factors loUl \o "iso peatry Producers ‘Consumers Decomposers ‘© Green plants are called producers because they contain chlorophyll and can produce their own organic food through photosynthesis. ‘+ Producers are autotrophic organisms ‘Animals are consumers because they cannot produce their own organic food but they use the food produced from the plants. ‘Consumers are referred to as heterotrophic organisms. Primary consumers e.g. sheep, rabbits, locusts ete. feed directly on the producers (plants). Primary consumers are also called herbivores. Secondary consumers e.g. lions, owls, dogs, humans etc. feed on the primary consumers and include carnivores and ‘omnivores. Carnivores e.g. lion, owls etc. feed on animal matter. ‘Omnivores e.g. humans feed on both animal and plant matter. Tertiary consumers e.g. snakes feed on secondary consumers and are all carnivores. ‘© Decomposers e.g. saprophytic bacteria and fungi feed on dead organic matter. © They break down organic ‘compounds into simple inorganic ‘compounds that are released back into the environment. ‘* Decomposers are also heterotrophic organisms. Temperature + Plants need light for photosynthesis + The effect of day length on the growth of a plant is called photoperiodism. + Short-day plants only flower when the day length is shorter than 12 hours + Long -day plants need a day length of more than 12 hours - Neutral plants are plants that are not affected by day length + Some animals e.g, moths and bats are nocturnal (active at night). & StudySmartlyas Energy eM StudySmartly The flow of energy in ecosystems is important to the life on Earth. 4® trophic level: Tertiary consumers rd trophic level. Secondary ae wr ar a em coma ‘st trophic level: Producers autotrophic organisms that can photosynthesize and produce their own [SED indicsiethetiowcieern: | bryan food MIE cate tre ow of energy Nearly all of the energy in Earth's ecosystems originates from the Sun, The energy is distributed in the ecosystem through the food chains and food webs. Living organisms occur at different feeding levels in an ecosystem (food chains or food webs). These feeding levels are called trophic levels. Foog chain The transfer of energy from the sun through the green plants and the various consumers is known as a food chain, Toog web 4 Pe A series of food chains “Teaws Caterpilar interlinked is called a food web 7 ae ae sy eh: Blue, ooEnergy flow ie a Ecological pyramids The different trophic levels are often represented as ecological pyramids. There are three types of ecological pyramids i.e. pyramids of number, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of energy. Tertary consumers Pyramid of \ ccsese off a0em \\ soos oman Numbers ao Primary consumers Pyramids of numbers show the actual number of organisms on each trophic level. 300 grass blades aooees) Pyr 4 mid of Tertiary consumers decrease i omass sorte [horn 200 ce Pai total mass of the organisms at 3000 kg plants Eleducers. each trophic level. Pyramid of secu n any nergy Pyramids of energy show the amount of energy on each trophic level Tertiary consumers Skcalhalyear ‘Secondary consumers SO keathalyeer ee Een a = 500 keaihalyear 5000 kcalhalyear AS StudySmartlyCYCles Hate water cycle The water cycle shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere. It is a complex system that includes many different processes. Oxygen cycle Oxygen is essential for cellular respiration, It is used in the breakdown of glucose to release energy. Energy is required for growth and metabolic activities in living organisms. Oxygen Cycle atmosphere 3 Fiat Industrial combustion s § 2 = respiration Sunlight Animal reapuation coCycles Carbon cycle ee omer) The carbon cycle involves the following processes: 1. Photosynthesis 2. Feeding 3. Death and decay 4. Respiration 5. Compaction ant Nitrogen cycle The nitrogen cycle converts free nitrogen to nitrates (soluble form of nitrogen that living things can absorb) This is done by nitrogen fixing bacteria & lightning. Nitrogen is used to make proteins. Decomposers (eerobic and anaerobic Dactria end fungi te @) Coe I) ‘Smartly+ Abiotic + Ammonification + Altitude + Atmosphere + Aspect + Aquatic Biome + Biosphere + Biome + Biotic + Climate + Condensation * Consumer + Deamination + Decomposer + Ecology + Ecosystem + Edaphic + Energy pyramid + Environment + Evaporation + Food chain + Food web + Lithosphere + Humus + Hydrosphere + Hydrophyte + Mesophyte. + Nitrate + Nitrogen-fixing bacteria + Nitrification + pH + Precipitation + Producer + Slope + Terrestrial biome + Transpiration + Trophic level + Water holding capacity * Weather Ad + Xerophyte. ¥ Biosphere to ecosyste aM on