Life Sciences

Grade 10
Topic: Biosphere to Ecosystem
Sub-topic: Biomes
Lesson 4
Presenter: Ntombi Dladla
 LESSON’S OBJECTIVES
 Definition of a Biome

 Know two different types of biomes

 Location of different types of biomes in South Africa

 The largest biome

 BIOMES
The biosphere is divided into a number of 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 particular place.

• This is referred to as a biome.

 TYPES OF BIOMES
Biomes are grouped into two categories (types)
1. TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
 Is an area of land with a similar climate that includes similar
communities of plants as trees, shrubs, grasses and animals.
2. AQUATIC BIOMES
 is divided into freshwater and marine regions.
SOUTH AFRICAN TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
South Africa has nine biomes, based on vegetation types that
share similar ecological characteristics.
 SOUTH AFRICAN TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
1) Grassland.
2) Savannah.
3) Arid Savannah
4) Succulent Karoo.
5) Nama Karoo.
6) Forest.
7) Fynbos.
8) Desert.
9) Thicket.
NAMA KAROO
SA BIOMES
SA BIOMES
 HOW CLIMATE, SOIL AND VEGETATION INFLUENCE ORGANISMS
The key factors determining climate are average annual precipitation (rainfall)
and temperature.

• The specific conditions of biomes determine the communities

of plants, animals and soil organisms in a particular biome.

• The climate affects the soil. Example: soil can be dried out and rearranged
during droughty or windy weather.

• As the soil dries out, plant growth is reduced, which reduces the stability of
the surface layer and causes more erosion.

• Vegetation can affect climate and weather patterns due to the

release of water vapour during photosynthesis.

 AQUATIC BIOMES
• Freshwater (low salt content), example ponds, lakes, streams, rivers
and wetlands.
AQUATIC BIOMES: Marine (high salt content)
 BIOMES: ACTIVITY 1
Study the map below where South Africa’s terrestrial biomes are indicated with the
letters A to G and answer the questions that follow.
1.1 Define the term biome. (2)

A biome is a collection of plants and animals ✓

that have common characteristics ✓ for

the environment they exist in.

1.2 Name the TWO main types of biomes. (2)

Aquatic Biome ✓ and Terrestrial Biome ✓

 BIOMES: ACTIVITY 1
Study the map below where South Africa’s terrestrial biomes are indicated with the letters A to G
and answer the questions
that follow.
1.3 Identify the biomes A - G. (7)

A - Savannah✓ B - Grassland✓

C - Nama Karoo✓

D - Succulent Karoo✓

E – Fynbos ✓ F - Thicket G -Forest✓

 BIOMES: ACTIVITY 1
1.4 Name the biome which is a main tourist

attraction during spring, when the whole area is

covered with flowers? (1)

Fynbos✓

1.5 Give the biome that attracts tourists to its

many game farms. (1)

Savana biome✓
1.6 State the largest biome. (1)
Savanna Biome✓
 ACTIVITY 2
Study the map below and answer the questions that follow.
1 Name the biomes 1 to 5 on the map. (5)
1 – Fynbos ✓; 2 – Succulent Karoo ✓;
3 – Forest ✓; 4 – Grasslands ✓ ;
5 – Savanna ✓
2 Write down the number ONLY of the biome
that:
a) Has the greatest number of succulent plant

species in the world

2✓
b) Is made up of
indigenous forest (2)
 ACTIVITY 2
3 Describe the climate of the fynbos
In Winter cool✓ and wet✓ and in summer hot and dry✓

4 Name three biomes which are regarded as summer

rainfall regions
- Savannah ✓- Grassland ✓-Nama Karoo ✓