Biodiversity & Classification

• Classification is a system of organising
• TAXA with examples

  • Domain. -Eukaryote
  • Kingdom -Animala
  • Phylum. - Chardata
  • Class. - Mammalia
  • Order. - Carnivora
  • Family. - Canidae
  • Genus. - Caris
  • Species. - Familliaris
• Domain

  • Eukaryote: Cells have a true nucleus where they store their genetic information
  • Prokaryote: Calls do not gave a true nucleus to contain DNA
  • Unicellular: Organisms made up of only one cell that carries out all of the functions needed by the organism
  • bacteria, amoeba, paramecium, chlyamdomones
  • Multicellular: Organisms composed of more than one cell, with groups of cells differentiating to take on specialised functions
  • Octopus, petromyzan
• 5 Kingdoms

  1. Animala - Eukaryote
  2. Plantae - Eukaryote
  3. Fungi - Eukaryote
  4. Protista - Eukaryote
  5. Monera - Prokaryote
• Biodiversity

  Refers to a large variety of living organisms with different ecosystems on Earth (and the interactions between them)
• 3 ways to describe biodiversity

  1. Species diversity - millions of different species
  2. Genetic diversity - differences within a species
  3. Ecosystem diversity - different environments
• • Indigenous species - occur naturally in certain areas
  • Endemic species - indigenous species only found in one specific area
  • Exotic/alien species - does not occur naturally in an area
• Prokaryotes

  • don't have a true nucleus
  • DNA is free within the cytoplasm
  • don't have true organelles

  Eukaryotes

  • have a true nucleus
  • DNA found in the nucleus
  • have true organelles
• Biosphere - all living things on earth

  Atmosphere - interacts with different spheres
• Components of biosphere:

  • Hydrosphere: layers of water: seas, rivers, streams, lakes; where aquatic organisms live
  • Lithosphere: soil and rock layer: forms continents, where terrestrial organisms live
  • Atmosphere: layers of gasses surrounding the earth
• Biomes:

  A large geographical area defined by a specific; climate, soil, and adapted plants and animals - which all interact with eachother
• Biomes of South Africa

  A) Forest

  B) Fynbos

  C) Grassland

  D) Nama Karoo

  E) Savannah

  F) Succulent Karoo

  G) Thicket

  
• Grassland:

  • Location: High veld
  • Climate: Summer- rainfall, Winter - cold & frost
  • Soil and geography: soil has rich fertile upper layers
  • Flora: grass
  • Fauna: grass eating herbivores - rodents are common - they are bird prey
• Savannah

  • Location: Limpopo, Northern Cape, Free State, North-West and KwaZulu Natal
  • Climate: Summer - Hot and wet, Winter - Cool with little rain and frost
  • Soil and geography: Mainly red soil - often sandy
  • Flora: Bushveld - herbaceous and woody plants
  • Fauna: Big game species - Kudu, Springbok, lion, buffalo, elephants
• Succulent Karoo

  • Location: Western Cape, West of northern cape
  • Climate: Summer - hot, Winter - low rainfall, lots of fog
  • Soil and geography: Lime-rich, weakly developed soil
  • Flora: Namaqualand - Succulents
  • Fauna: Sheep and Goats
• Nama Karoo

  • Location: Northern cape, KwaZulu natal, Eastern cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga
  • Climate: rain
  • Soil and geography: many soil types, range in altitude
  • Flora: Yellow wood, herbaceous
  • Fauna: insects, birds, mammals
• Fynbos

  • Location: Western Cape,
  • Climate: Summer - hot and dry, Winter - Cold and wet
  • Soil and geography: acid and course - grained soil, poor
  • Flora: Proteas, 'silver trees', 'pincushions', Fynbos species,
  • Fauna: birds insects, small mammals
• Thicket

  • Location: KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape
  • Climate: Fairly high rainfall, with dry periods
  • Soil and geography: occur in river valleys - fertile
  • Flora: short tree, shrubs and vines
  • Fauna: Kudu, monkey, bushbuck, elephants
• Desert

  • Location: Namibia
  • Climate: dry, low rainfall, humidity and high temp
  • Soil and geography: sand, gravel, rocks
  • Flora: little vegitation
  • Fauna: insects and reptiles
• Environment: All living and non-living parts occurring and interacting together
• Ecosystem: Defined area that contains living organisms that are affected by non-living parts
• Living - biotic

  Non-living - abiotic
• Biotic components - all living things

  • Producer
  • Consumer
  • Decomposer

  Each biotic factor needs energy to do work and for proper growth. Organisms either produce their own energy or interact with other organisms by consuming them.