Rainfall Temperature Geology Soils Vegetation Biotic Factors Abiotic factors
types
Fynbos Winter rainfall Uplands = 12°C Mosaic sandstone Sandy, nutrient Fynbos Pollination Fire
Cool wet 210mm – (mean) (mountains) poor, low pH – Renosterveld Ca. 430 plant Re-sprouters:
winter 3000mm per Lowlands= 19°C Shale (valleys) from sandstone Strandveld species pollinated Many fynbos plants
and hot annum (mean) Smaller areas of granite Clayey, by birds resprout after fire
dry Ave. 480 mm Milder on coast, and limestone nutrient- - 100 spp. Erica Hidden buds beneath
summer Heavily influenced south -facing slopes intermediate, - 79 spp. thick bark
by altitude – high & lower slopes Mostly Cape higher pH – Proteaceae Major adv. – lower
mountains receive High temp. in Supergroup: from shale Ca. 80% Erica spp. competition for
more than summers >45°C Table Pollinated by pollinators, quicker
valleys/coasts Frost and snowfall @ Mountain insects regrowth
high alt. Group (thick Re-seeders
quartzite with Seed dispersal Most fynbos obligate
Strong winds some shale) -Nutrient rich soils: re-seeders
Lightning & hail = Bokkeveld Serotiny – seed Entire plant dies
rare Group realease occurs in Seeds stored in seed
(sandstones & response to env. bank
shale) Trigger Adv. Seeds germinate
Witteberg Fire releases seeds in resource rich,
Group -Nutrient poor competition/predation
(quartzite-rich) soils: poor env.
Myrmechory – Many are serotinous
seed dispersal by
ants Soil nutrients
Ants bury seed in Nutrient poor soils
nest, consume - Lack annuals –
elaiosome nutrient content =
15% species too low
Mainly in fynbos - Sclerophylly –
adaptation to
scarcity
, Rainfall Temperature Important families Bioregions Geology Diversity &
Endemism
Succulent Arid Warm and Aizoaceae 1. Richtersveld Complex & Exceptionally
Karoo 100-200 mm pa temperate =Mesembryanthemaceae - Mountainous diverse diverse
Winter Rainfall Max 44°C = vygies, mesembs, stone - Winter rain -sedimentary 38% species
Fairly predictable Frost inland @ plants - Arid rocks endemic
Fog NB along higher alts – but Crassulaceae 2. Namaqualand Hardeveld - intrusive 17% species on
coast rare Euphorbiaceae - Hilly escarpment igneous rocks Red Data List
= Succulents, also - 30-1700 m alt Granite domes Dwarf leaf-
includes trees, shrubs, - Granite, shallow soils succulents NB
forbs - Massive flower display – 16% of
Iridaceae – geophytes 3. Namaqualand Sandveld worlds
Hyacinthaceae – - Namaqualand coast succulents
geophytes - Sandy plain
Asteraceae – many 4. Knersvlakte
annuals – contribute to - Below escparment
flower display - Quarts fields
5. Trans-escarpment
-High alt plateau
Loamy soils
“bulb” capital of world
6. Rainshadow Valley Karoo
- Higher rain than rest of SK
- Roggeveld escarpment – very
rugged
- Tanqua karoo – extreme arid
- Little Karoo – btw Swartberg &
Langeberg Mountains
*Use notes for threats and conservation
types
Fynbos Winter rainfall Uplands = 12°C Mosaic sandstone Sandy, nutrient Fynbos Pollination Fire
Cool wet 210mm – (mean) (mountains) poor, low pH – Renosterveld Ca. 430 plant Re-sprouters:
winter 3000mm per Lowlands= 19°C Shale (valleys) from sandstone Strandveld species pollinated Many fynbos plants
and hot annum (mean) Smaller areas of granite Clayey, by birds resprout after fire
dry Ave. 480 mm Milder on coast, and limestone nutrient- - 100 spp. Erica Hidden buds beneath
summer Heavily influenced south -facing slopes intermediate, - 79 spp. thick bark
by altitude – high & lower slopes Mostly Cape higher pH – Proteaceae Major adv. – lower
mountains receive High temp. in Supergroup: from shale Ca. 80% Erica spp. competition for
more than summers >45°C Table Pollinated by pollinators, quicker
valleys/coasts Frost and snowfall @ Mountain insects regrowth
high alt. Group (thick Re-seeders
quartzite with Seed dispersal Most fynbos obligate
Strong winds some shale) -Nutrient rich soils: re-seeders
Lightning & hail = Bokkeveld Serotiny – seed Entire plant dies
rare Group realease occurs in Seeds stored in seed
(sandstones & response to env. bank
shale) Trigger Adv. Seeds germinate
Witteberg Fire releases seeds in resource rich,
Group -Nutrient poor competition/predation
(quartzite-rich) soils: poor env.
Myrmechory – Many are serotinous
seed dispersal by
ants Soil nutrients
Ants bury seed in Nutrient poor soils
nest, consume - Lack annuals –
elaiosome nutrient content =
15% species too low
Mainly in fynbos - Sclerophylly –
adaptation to
scarcity
, Rainfall Temperature Important families Bioregions Geology Diversity &
Endemism
Succulent Arid Warm and Aizoaceae 1. Richtersveld Complex & Exceptionally
Karoo 100-200 mm pa temperate =Mesembryanthemaceae - Mountainous diverse diverse
Winter Rainfall Max 44°C = vygies, mesembs, stone - Winter rain -sedimentary 38% species
Fairly predictable Frost inland @ plants - Arid rocks endemic
Fog NB along higher alts – but Crassulaceae 2. Namaqualand Hardeveld - intrusive 17% species on
coast rare Euphorbiaceae - Hilly escarpment igneous rocks Red Data List
= Succulents, also - 30-1700 m alt Granite domes Dwarf leaf-
includes trees, shrubs, - Granite, shallow soils succulents NB
forbs - Massive flower display – 16% of
Iridaceae – geophytes 3. Namaqualand Sandveld worlds
Hyacinthaceae – - Namaqualand coast succulents
geophytes - Sandy plain
Asteraceae – many 4. Knersvlakte
annuals – contribute to - Below escparment
flower display - Quarts fields
5. Trans-escarpment
-High alt plateau
Loamy soils
“bulb” capital of world
6. Rainshadow Valley Karoo
- Higher rain than rest of SK
- Roggeveld escarpment – very
rugged
- Tanqua karoo – extreme arid
- Little Karoo – btw Swartberg &
Langeberg Mountains
*Use notes for threats and conservation
