Interactions between biotic and abiotic organisms Biotic and abiotic organisms - KNP • The kruger national park is in an area that receives mostly summer rainfall. Precipitation normally deports and cause cause heavy showers. It is very hot and sticky in summer, winters are mild and warm but you will, however, need a light jersey. • The kruger national park is a savanna biome and these biomes are known to have tropical/subtropical grassland landscapes and they take place as transitional ecosystems between forests and deserts. • The kruger national park is known for its various and enormous amounts of animal species. There are: • 53 species of fish • 505 species of birds • 35 species of amphibians • 118 species of reptiles • 1 990 taxa of plants • 148 species of mammals The estimated amount of mammals in the KNP • Lion 1 620 – 1 750 • Leopard 1000 • Cheetah 120 • Wild dog 120 • Spotted hyena 5 340 • Elephant 13 750 • Burchell’s zebra 23 700 – 35 300 • Hippopotamus 3 100 • Warthog 3 100 – 5 700 • Giraffe 6 800 – 10 300 • Buffalo 37 130 • Eland 460 • Roan antelope 90 • Sable antelope 290 • Greater kudu 11 200 – 17 300 • Nyala 300 • Waterbuck 3 100 – 7 800 • Reedbuck 300 • Mountain reedbuck 150 • Blue wildebeest 6 400 – 13 100 • Tsessebe 220 • Impala 132 300 – 176 400 • Crocodile 4 420 Flora in the KNP Fauna in the KNP Tsitsikamma • The tsitsikamma forest is a rainforest however it very seldomly gets rain. It receives about 945 mm of rain per annum which is extremely low once compared to other rainforests. It gets a lot of summer rainfall which ranges from drizzling to misty days, storms and cloud outbreaks. • The average temperatures are around 23C/17C in summer and 17C/10C in winter. • The tsitsikamma consists of a various animal species such as: • blue duikers • Cape clawless otters • Caracals • Bushbuck • Grysbok • Bushpigs • It has recently been discovered that the Salt river is a “fish – less” system. Endemic aquatic animals have now adjusted to their habitat. According to scientists, they have developed quite abit over these millions of years. • The tsitsikama is also a home to many different bird species. There are 35 different species in the forest whereas in the park you would find about 220 different bird species. In the forest you will most likely find: • Knysna loerie • African emerald cuckoos • Narina trogons • African fish eagles • Olive woodpeckers • Grey cuckoo shrikes • African black oystercatcher • Cormorants • African finfoots • Kelp/pied gulls • Half coloured/giant kingfishers Flora in the Tsitsikamma Fauna in the Tsitsikamma Difference in the animal population • From what we have seen this far it is evident that the KNP animal population is very much larger than that of the Tsitsikamma national park. • The Kruger national park consists of probably millions of animals and the Tsitsikamma is also large but does not consist of such a large animal species. • There much less population of fish in the tsitsikamma compared to the KNP, however the tsitsikamma has a wider variety of bird species. Food webs Human interactions • The KNP is known as the epicentre of rhino poaching as far as the park service is concerned. • However, these statistics have been decreasing ever since 2014 after approximately more than 800 rhinos died because of their horns being poached. • In 2014 a reported mine spillage took place in the KNP which resulted in immense pollution of their rivers. A huge amount of fish were also reported dead which led to major environmental damage as well as a loss of very important animal species. Human interactions • Tsitsikamma was said to have a bad experience with over-fishing and pollution. • Many of their species were at risk which would be terribly damaging to the environment. • It was reported that most of their species are slow growing, late maturing and native to for part of their lives which makes them extremely at risk of mis-use . My conclusion • I have most definitely learnt a lot from this project especially about biotic and abiotic organisms in our national parks. • It was a very interesting thing to do research on as I was not aware of most of the things I found out. • It has given me perspective on how to cherish and conserve our environment and the vital organisms that live within it as well. • Plant and animal life is essential to us human beings and if we want to be happy and make it out alive then we need to take care of our surroundings. resources • https://kruger-nationalpark.weebly.com/abiotic-and-biotic-factors.html • https://www.safaribookings.com/kruger/wildlife • https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/tourism/climate.php#:~:text=Kruger%20is%20in%20a%20summer,drives% 20will%20require%20warm%20clothing • https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/conservation/scientific/ff/biodiversity_statistics.php • https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tsitsikamma_National_Park • https://www.expertafrica.com/south-africa/tsitsikamma--garden-route-national-park/indetail#:~:text=In%20the%20forest%20you're,of%20seabird%20have%20been%20recorded • https://phys.org/news/2014-01-safrica-major-pollution-krugerriver.html#:~:text=South%20African%20authorities%20revealed%20Tuesday,country's%20famed%20Kruger%20Nat ional%20Park.&text=But%20the%20park's%20water%20resources,pointing%20to%20major%20environmental%20 damage • https://www.aoca.org.za/programs/taking-action/tsitsikamma-threat/
