Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6 Term 1

Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6 Term 1: Life and Living Ecosystems and Food Webs

Topic 5 Ecosystems and Food Webs Ecosystems (Part 1) Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5

Definition of an ecosystem An Ecosystem is an area where üliving and ünon-living things üdepend on each other üin many different ways. An ecosystem can survive on its own without help or products from other sources. Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5

Types of ecosystems Type 1. Rivers 2. Mountains 3. Seas Plants & animals Reeds, trees, fish, frogs, birds, otters, hippopotamuses, etc. Small trees, dwarf plants, rabbits, mountain goats, etc. Coral, seaweed, turtles, dolphins, sharks, whales, small fish, etc. Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5

Types of ecosystems Coral reef Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5

Types of ecosystems Type 4. Wetlands 5. Ponds 6. Rocky shore Plants & animals Water lilies, reeds, fish, birds, terrapins (looks like a turtle), etc. Reeds, water plants, tadpoles, ducks, water scorpions, etc. Barnacles, algae, seaweeds, penguins, seagulls, crabs, mussels, small fish, etc. Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5

Different types of ecosystems Rocky shore

Types of ecosystems Type Plants & animals 7. Grasslands Small tees, different types of grass, 8. Forests 9. Deserts and semideserts termites, rodents, birds, lions, leopards, zebras and other game. Big trees (many different types), creepers, ferns, insects, mice, birds, duikers, etc. Cacti, grass, rodents, birds, insects, snakes, camels, etc. Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5

Types of ecosystems Type Plants & animals 10. Arctic and üArctic and alpine ecosystems alpine are found in extremely cold tundra regions. üThere are no trees but some shrubs and dwarf plants grow in wet, spongy soil if it is not permanently frozen (they call this permafrost). Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5

Types of ecosystems Snow-capped mountain Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5

Types of ecosystems Type Description 11. Fynbos üSouth Africa’s fynbos ecosystem is unique to the Western Cape, South Africa. üFynbos plants have adapted to survive the Western Cape climatic conditions and frequent fires. üThe king protea, the South African national flower, grows in the fynbos ecosystem. Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5

Types of ecosystems Type Plants and animals 11. Fynbos ü 7, 000 plant species are found in fynbos. üExamples of fynbos plants: king protea, daisies, succulents, needle leaf plants üExamples of animals living in fynbos: mountain zebra, bontebok, red hartebeest Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 5