EGS Pippin 3. Biomes of Southern Africa Flashcards
- There are () main biomes in Southern Africa, based on () & () of ().
- There are (), definition depending
- There are 7 main biomes in Southern Africa, based on dominance & co-dominance of plant life forms
- There are more biomes, definition depending.
7 Main biomes of Southern Africa P1/
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
- Savanna
- Nama Karoo
- Grassland
- Desert
- Succulent Karoo
- Fynbos
- Forest
7 Main Biomes of Southern Africa P2/
- Savanna -
- Nama Karoo -
- Grassland -
- Desert -
- Succulent Karoo -
- Fynbos -
- Forest -
Percentage area of SA
- Savanna - 53.7%
- Nama Karoo - 22.7%
- Grassland - 13.1%
- Desert - 4.2%
- Succulent Karoo - 3.7%
- Fynbos - 2.7%
- Forest - < 0.1%
- In your head, imagine a biome map of Southern Africa
- Where is the savanna biome?
- Where is the nama karoo biome?
- Where is the grassland biome?
- Where is the desert biome?
- Where is the succulent karoo biome?
- Where is the fynbos biome?
- Where is the forest biome?
When describing a biome what are the factors you need to take into account?
- B
- C
- E
- S
- S
- V
* NB not apart of defining biome boundaries!!!
- Biome Name
- Climate
- Elevation
- Soil
- Species Diversity
- Vegetation Description
Savanna Biome:
(1) Climate:
(2) Elevation:
(3) Soil:
(4) Species Diversity:
(5) Vegetation Description:
C (6); E (1); Soil (4); Species D (1); Veg D (4)
(1) Climate:
* Summer rainfall.
* Hot wet season of 4 – 8 months, followed by warm dry season.
* Temps vary across biome
* Frost free
* Summer: ~ 20 – 32 ° C
* Winter: ~ 12 – 18 ° C
(2) Elevation:
* 1500 -1800 m
(3) Soil:
* Variable &
* High diversity of soils
* Almost every soil type,
* but Mostly Leptosols (shallow profile, under developed soils)
(4) Species Diversity:
* 5788 species (Southern African savanna)
(5) Vegetation Description:
* 2 layers: 1. Tree layer w. discontinuous crown (2– 10 m) & 2. Understorey grassy layer (0.5–2 m)
* Broad-leaf savanna (nutrient poor, moist) & Fine-leaf savanna (nutrient rich, arid).
* C4 grasses dominate -hot growing season
* Largest biome in Southern Africa
Nama Karoo Biome:
(1) Climate:
(2) Elevation:
(3) Soil:
(4) Species Diversity:
(5) Vegetation Description:
C (4); E (2); Soil (2); Species D (1); Veg D (4)
(1) Climate:
* Summer rainfall
* 60 – 400 mm p.a.
* Gradient: decreasing rainfall from East to West.
* Annual temp range = 9 – 24 ° C.
(2) Elevation:
* 500 – 2000 m asl
* Though veg. splits across escarpment into 2 classes, dividing @ ~ 900 m asl
(3) Soil:
* Lime-rich
* Weakly developed soil over rock.
(4) Species Diversity:
* Low diversity w. little endemism (compared to other southern African biomes)
(5) Vegetation Description:
* Dwarf open shrubland w. small to large shrubs & succulents (of all forms)
* Dominated by Asteraceae, Poaceae, Mesembryanthemaceae, Scrophulariaceae etc.
* Lots of sheep
* Interesting relationships w. other biomes (borders all 6)
Grassland Biome:
(1) Climate:
(2) Elevation:
(3) Soil:
(4) Species Diversity:
(5) Vegetation Description:
C (4); E (3); Soil (1); Species D (2); Veg D (5)
(1) Climate:
* Summer rainfall.
* Rainfall 400-2500 mm.
* Winter: drops below freezing &
* Summer: can go + 40 ° C
(2) Elevation:
* From sea level to > 3300 m asl (more than)
* Flat & rolling
* Includes escarpment.
(3) Soil:
* Relatively high nutrient soils of Basalt & Dolerite
(4) Species Diversity:
* 3800 species
* Has a wealth of species limited to Southern Africa due to its elevated interior plateau
(5) Vegetation Description:
* Single layer of grasses (C4 dominated)
* Herbaceous plants & Geophytes.
* Sourveld: higher rainfall, acid soils & high biomass.
* Sweetveld: lower rainfall, more eutrophic soils & low biomass
* Smaller biome in SA but v. large globally
Desert Biome
(1) Climate:
(2) Elevation:
(3) Soil:
(4) Species Diversity:
(5) Vegetation Description:
C (5); E (1); Soil (4); Species D (2); Veg D (4)
(1) Climate:
* Extreme aridity due to high pressure system.
* Two gradients: 1. Tropical temperate (N-S) & 2. Coastal to Inland (E-W).
* Rainfall varies year to year
* but Average 5 mm p.a. (West) to 85 mm ( East).
* Temps. moderate on Coast (16 – 25°C ) & more extreme to East (5 –> 40°C).
(2) Elevation:
* Gradual ascent to the escarpment to about 200 m
(3) Soil:
* Vast dune fields, esp. Southern Namibia.
* Duricrusts of diff. compositions
* Quartz pebble field & Gypsum crusts.
* Granite outcrops in the Richtersveld to the South.
(4) Species Diversity:
* Species richness high compared to other similar deserts (esp. Richtersveld) =
* A function of old age.
(5) Vegetation Description:
* Mostly represented by the Namib desert
* Ranging from almost bare dunes to relatively thick cover of grass & shrub to the South.
* Steep climate gradients -> changed vegetation cover
* Annuals & ephemerals dominate.
Succulent Karoo Biome
(1) Climate:
(2) Elevation:
(3) Soil:
(4) Species Diversity:
(5) Vegetation Description:
Climate (4); E (1); Soil (2); Species D (4); Veg D (6)
(1) Climate:
* Winter rainfall (20 – 290 mm p.a.)
* Rainfall dependable, low coefficient of variation
* Temp = (Moderate) average 17°C BUT can reach 40°C in Summer.
* Strong maritime influences
(2) Elevation:
* Western edge great escarpment = < 1000 m asl (less than).
(3) Soil:
- Occurs on intrusive igneous rock
- soils from fine-grained sedimentary rocks on alluvial deposits
(4) Species Diversity:
- ~5000 species
- highest species richness for semi-arid region globally,
- >50% are endemic
- Not as high as Fynbos but also very impressive
(5) Vegetation Description:
* High concentration of Succulents (Mesembryanthemaceae, Crassulaceae), Geophytes & Dwarf shrubs, some grass
* Short plants
* No cacti
* Namaqualand flowers → annual plants
◦ Actually do well in degraded/plowed land
* Includes the Richtersveld & Namaqualand
Fynbos Biome
(1) Climate:
(2) Elevation:
(3) Soil:
(4) Species Diversity:
(5) Vegetation Description:
Climate (4); E (1); Soil (3); Species D (4); Veg D (4)
(1) Climate:
* Winter rainfall (200 - 3000 mm p.a.)
* rainfall tightly Seasonal in the West & Non-seasonal in East
* Temp = 16 – 20°C. (mild)
(2) Elevation:
* Moderate up to 2000 m
(3) Soil:
* Nutrient poor & sandy
* Cape Supergroup
* Some richer shale elements
(4) Species Diversity:
* 7300 plant species
* 80% endemic
* Very high diversity
* Smallest of world’s 6 floristic kingdoms
(5) Vegetation Description:
* Evergreen
* Fire-prone shrubland of fine-leaved plants
* Characterised by Restionaceae, Proteaceae, & Ericaceae.
* 2 other major veg. types: Renosterveld & Strandveld
Forest Biome
(1) Climate:
(2) Elevation:
(3) Soil:
(4) Species Diversity:
(5) Vegetation Description:
C (3); E (1); Soil (4); Species D (1); Veg D (5)
(1) Climate:
* Summer & Winter rainfall.
* Lower limit = 525 mm p.a. in Winter rainfall zone, & 725 mm p.a. in Summer rainfall zone.
* Temp ave ~ 25° C
(2) Elevation:
* Scattered along Eastern & South Eastern margins of great escarpment
(3) Soil:
* Variable,
* But often Infertile Sandstone derived soils,
* presence of Clay.
- High rainfall -> water logging -> particular rooting
(4) Species Diversity:
* 1438 species across a no. of forest types
(5) Vegetation Description:
* Evergreen forest
* Closed stands trees >5 m (less than).
- Variety of forest types
- Home to herbaceous species, & Ratio of woody to herbaceous varies by type.
