Chapter+Questions

=__//**UN Project Chapter Questions**//__=

**__Chapter 1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability__** 1. What is its location, neighboring countries, and major types of topography? South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa at the bottom. Nambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland and Mozambique are the neighboring countries of South Africa. Lesotho is a country located on the inside boundries of South Africa. The Great Escarpment Mountains, the highest is Mt. Injasuti, are part of South Africas landscape. Transvaal is famous for its gold and silver deposits.

2. Draw its flag and indicate its major languages. The 11 major languages are Afrikaans, English, Sepidi, IsiNdebele, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, SiSwati, Tshivenda, and Xitsonga.

3. Is it a LDC or MDC? What are some clues? South Africa is a well developed country, its the economic center of Africa. It leads the continent in mineral production and in industrial output. South Africa also generates the majority of Africas electricity.

4. Is there economic growth and if so, is it sustainable? There is economic, there has been since September of 1999. The countries growth rate is 4% each year. South Africas economic growth is sustainable because of its macroeconomic structure.

5. What is the average ecological footprint? Do the citizens suffer from affluenza? The Ecological Footprint of South Africa is 2.4. The country does suffer from affluanza just as most other well developed countries do.

6. Draw or download a picture of sample native costume(s).

**__Chapter 2: Science, Matter, Energy, and Systems__** 1. What is the major form of energy used to fuel the economy? Electricity is the main power source and it's where most of South Africas money comes from.

2. Are the four scientific principles of sustainability be used? Explain.

**__Chapter 3: Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?__** 1. Describe a typical food web. Grass absorbs light from the Sun. Antelope eats the grass, Cheetah eats the Antelope, then human kills the Cheetah fro meat and skin. 2. What type of gross and net primary productivity is found?

3. Describe some producers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, decomposers, and scavengers. Some producers are shrubs, grass and small trees. Herbivores are elephants and antelopes. Omnivores are the humans that live there. Carnivores are lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

4. What are some of the human based effects on the major nutrient cycles? From the burning of fossil fuels in the country to make electricity, and from cars excess amounts of co2 are added to the atmosphere.Increasing threats from overgrazing, land clearing, invasive plant species and unsustainable or illegal resource harvest.

5. Are there any types of research being used to study its ecosystems? Field studies are being done about the biodiversity, affects of humans, and the plant life inhabitants.
 * __Chapter 4: Biodiversity and Evolution__ **

1. Are there any hotspots of biodiversity? Kogelberg Nature Reserve is one of the worlds most famous hot spots of biodiversity. It has over 1650 different species of plants, including the endangered rare Rose Marsh. Home to indigenous forms of rare trees such as the Yellowood, Stinkbark, and Boekenhout. Different species of Eagels are also found there.

2. Has any evidence (fossils) of evolution been found? Describe it.In 2008 a skull was unearthed in a cave in South Africa that belongs to a previously unclassified species of hominid. This skull promises insights into early human origins about 1.95 million years ago. 3. What climate conditions have influenced the natural selection in the major biomes? Global warming has altered the phenology and distribution of many plant and animal species, resulting in changes of the species populations. Increased temperatures have affected population dynamics and have advanced events such as leaf unfolding, flowering emergence, and breeding. Whereas leaf fall has become delayed, leading to an extended growing season. 4. Were there any major extinctions? What were the causes? No major extinctions. 5. Describe some unique indicator, keystone, foundation, nonnative, and specialist species. Elionurus muticus is a indicator species of south africas grassland, Elionurus muticus is a type of grass that when it matures the curls back into a sickel shape with tiny silvery colored hairs on it. Ground Hornbills are a keystone species with large bodies, far-carrying calls, large beaks, and striking black and white feathers.The Ground Hornbill is also one of the specialist species of South Africa because it is near extiction. Acaciam, Hakes, and Pinus trees are the princiapl of the invasive species.