Grade 10, Environmental studies South Africa Curriculum

1. Environmental Studies
Term 3
Grade 10 (LIFE SCIENCES)
Mr Simelane

2. OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTER
BIOSPHERE BIOME ECOSYSTEM

3. Biosphere
Thin layer of air, water and land around
the earth that support life.
Earth System
Atmosphere – Layer of Gases that surround the
Earth
Hydrosphere – portion of the earth’s surface that
consist of water
Lithosphere – Soil and rocks that form part of the
earth

4. Biomes
Physical environment that usually extends over a large area,
usually have a certain climate, plants and animals.
Terrestrial Biomes of South Africa
South Africa have nine (9) biomes
 Fynbos
 Grassland
 Savannah
 Nama Karoo
 Succulent Karoo
 Forest
 Thicket
 Desert
 Mediterranean

5. Map of SA Biomes

6. Ecosystem
An area in which animals interact with one another
and with plants and with physiographic factors –
made up of biotic and abiotic factors.
 Community
 Population
 And Habitat
BIOTIC FACTORS
Living Components of the ecosystem
ABIOTIC FACTORS
Non-living components of the ecosystem

7. Biotic Factors - Living
 Producer – plants only
Green plants have chlorophyll that absorbs
sunlight for Photosynthesis.
 Consumer
o Primary – eat plants only (HERBIVORES)
o Secondary – eat both plants and animals (OMNIVORES)
o Tertiary – Eat on dead animals (CARNIVORES)
 Decomposers
They feed on dead, decaying matter to get
the energy they need.

8. Abiotic Factors – Non-living
Physiographic Factors
 Aspect – direction in which a slope is facing
 Slope – How steep or gentle the gradient is
 Altitude – Height above sea level

9. Soil (Edaphic) Factors
 Sandy
Clay
 Fertile

10. Climatic Factors
Light
Temperature
Water
Atmospheric Gases
Wind

11. SUMMARY
BIOSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE LITHOSPHERE
BIOMES (9) SA ECOSYSTEM
ATMOSPHERE
ECOSYSTEM
BIOTIC
PRODUCERS
CONSUMERS
DECOMPOSERS
ABIOTIC
PHYSIOGRAPHIC
FACORS
CLIMATIC
FACORS