Skip to main content
Disciplines
Automotive Business IT + Informatics Construction + Real Estate Electrical Engineering + Electronics Energy + Sustainability Insurance + Risk Finance + Banking Management + Leadership Marketing + Sales Mechanical Engineering + Materials
Events
DE
EN
Books
Journals
Topic Page
Marketing
Start single access now
Access for companies
EXTENDED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Published in:
The Development and Context of Geography in South Africa Read chapter Read first chapter

2019 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

7. South African Biomes and Their Changes Over Time

Authors : Jemma M. Finch, Michael E. Meadows

Published in: The Geography of South Africa

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Log in

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

A biome is the largest geographical unit used for biotic classification, based on plant and animal life in conjunction with climate. Here we introduce the biomes of South Africa, and illustrate their changes over time through the use of case studies. An historical context for this analysis is provided by summarising key national vegetation classification schemes, including the most recent classification of nine biomes. Each of these biomes is briefly introduced, describing their location, characteristics, climate, ecology and conservation importance. Longer-term vegetation changes linked to climate and human activity in the Succulent Karoo/Fynbos ecotone are explored using palaeoecological evidence. Recent bush encroachment in the grassy biomes is reviewed, drawing on results from a range of methodologies. Finally, we review future projections for the ecologically important Fynbos biome under anthropogenic climate change, based on bioclimatic modelling. These studies demonstrate the dynamic nature of South African biomes, and the range of natural and anthropogenic drivers which influence their composition and distributions.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now
previous chapter The Holocene Climates of South Africa
next chapter Ecosystem Services in South Africa
Literature
Acocks JPH (1953) Veld types of South Africa. Mem Bot Surv S Afr 28:1–192
Adamson RS (1938) The vegetation of South Africa. British Empire Vegetation Committee, London, 235ppCrossRef
Adie H, Rushworth I, Lawes MJ (2013) Pervasive, long-lasting impact of historical logging on composition, diversity and above ground carbon stocks in Afrotemperate forest. For Ecol Manag 310:887–895CrossRef
Altwegg R, West A, Gillson L, Midgley G (2014) Impacts of climate change in the Greater Cape Floristic Region. In: Allsop N, Colville JF, Verboom GA (eds) Fynbos: ecology, evolution and conservation of a megadiverse region. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 299–320CrossRef
Baxter AJ, Davies BR (1994) Palaeoecological insights for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems in dryland environments: a case study of the Verlorenvlei system, South Africa. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshwat Ecosyst 4(3):255–271CrossRef
Baxter AJ, Meadows ME (1994) Palynological evidence for the impact of colonial settlement within lowland fynbos: a high resolution study from the Verlorenvlei, southwestern Cape Province, South Africa. Hist Biol 9(1–2):61–70CrossRef
Baxter AJ, Meadows ME (1999) Evidence for Holocene sea level change at Verlorenvlei, Western Cape, South Africa. Quat Int 56(1):65–79CrossRef
Bergh NG, Verboom GA, Rouget M, Cowling RM (2014) Vegetation types of the Greater Cape Floristic Region. In: Allsop N, Colville JF, Verboom GA (eds) Fynbos: ecology, evolution and conservation of a megadiverse region. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 1–26
Bond WJ (2008) What limits trees in C grasslands and savannas? Ann Rev Ecol Evol Syst 39(1):641–659CrossRef
Bond WJ, Midgley GF (2012) Carbon dioxide and the uneasy interaction of trees and savannah grasses. Phil Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 367(1588):601–612CrossRef
Britz M-L, Ward D (2007) Dynamics of woody vegetation in semi-arid savanna, with a focus on bush encroachment. Afr J Range Forage Sci 24(3):131–140CrossRef
Buitenwerf R, Bond WJ, Stevens N, Trollope WSW (2012) Increased tree densities in South African savannas: >50 years of data suggests CO2 as a driver. Glob Chang Biol 18(2):675–684CrossRef
Carbutt C, Tau M, Stephens A, Escott B (2011) The conservation status of temperate grasslands in southern Africa. Grassroots 1(1):17–23
Carr AS, Boom A, Chase BM, Meadows ME, Grimes HL (2015) Holocene sea level and environmental change on the west coast of South Africa: evidence from plant biomarkers, stable isotopes and pollen. J Paleolimnol 53(4):415–432CrossRef
Castley JG, Kerley GIH (1996) The paradox of forest conservation in South Africa. For Ecol Manag 85(1–3):35–46CrossRef
Chase BM, Meadows ME (2007) Late Quaternary dynamics of southern Africa’s winter rainfall zone. Earth Sci Rev 84(3–4):103–138CrossRef
Chen I-C, Hill JK, Ohlemüller R, Roy DB, Thomas CD (2011) Rapid range shifts of species associated with high levels of climate warming. Science 333(6045):1024–1026CrossRef
Cowling RM, Richardson DM, Mustart PJ (2003) Fynbos. In: Cowling RM, Richardson DM, Pierce SM (eds) Vegetation of Southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 91–98
Cowling RM, Procheş Ş, Vlok JHJ, van Staden J (2005) On the origin of southern African subtropical thicket vegetation. S Afr J Bot 71(1):1–23CrossRef
Cox CB (2001) The biogeographic regions reconsidered. J Biogeogr 28(4):511–523CrossRef
Desmet P, Cowling RM (2004) Succulent Karoo. In: Mittermeier RA, Hoffmann M, Pilgrim JD, Brooks TB, Mittermeier CG, Lamoreux JL, da Fonseca G (eds) Hotspots revisited: earth’s biologically richest and most endangered ecoregions. Cemex, Mexico City, pp 134–138
Driver A, Sink KJ, Nel JN, Holness S, Van Niekerk L, Daniels F, Jonas Z, Majiedt PA, Harris L, Maze K (2012) National biodiversity assessment 2011: an assessment of South Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems, synthesis report. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, 200pp
Gillson L, Dawson TP, Jack S, McGeoch MA (2013) Accommodating climate change contingencies in conservation strategy. Trends Ecol Evol 28(3):135–142CrossRef
Grossman D, Gandar MV (1989) Land transformation in South African savanna regions. S Afr Geogr J 17(1):38–45CrossRef
Guo D, Midgley GF, Araya YN, Silvertown J, Musil CF (2016) Climate change impacts on hydrological niches of Restionaceae species in Jonkershoek, South Africa. J Water Resour Hydraul Eng 5(1):20–28CrossRef
Hannah L, Midgley G, Hughes G, Bomhard B (2005) The view from the Cape: extinction risk, protected areas, and climate change. Bioscience 55(3):231–242CrossRef
Heydenrich B (1993) Circles in the landscape: a look at centre-pivot irrigation. Veld Flora 79:108–110
Hoare DB, Mucina L, Rutherford MC, Volk JHJ, Euston-Brown DIW, Palmer AR, Powrie LW, Lechmere-Oertel RG, Procheş ŞM, Dold AP, Ward RA (2006) Albany thicket biome. In: Mucina L, Rutherford MC (eds) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp 541–567
Huntley BJ (1984) Characteristics of South African biomes. In: Booysen P d V, Tainton NM (eds) Ecological effects of fire in South African ecosystems. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–17
Jürgens N (2006) Desert biome. In: Mucina L, Rutherford MC (eds) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp 301–323
Jürgens N, Burke A, Seely MK, Jacobson KM (2003) Desert. In: Cowling RM, Richardson DM, Pierce SM (eds) Vegetation of Southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 189–214
Lawes MJ, Midgley JJ, Chapman CA (2004a) South Africa’s forests: the ecology and sustainable use of indigenous timber resources. In: Lawes MJ, Eeley HAC, Shackleton CM, Geach BGS (eds) Indigenous forests and woodlands in South Africa. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, Scottsville, pp 227–276
Lawes MJ, Obiri JAF, Eeley HAC (2004b) The uses and value of indigenous forest resources in South Africa. In: Lawes MJ, Eeley HAC, Shackleton CM, Geach BGS (eds) Indigenous forests and woodlands in South Africa. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, Scottsville, pp 31–76
Lee ATK, Barnard P (2015) Endemic birds of the Fynbos biome: a conservation assessment and impacts of climate change. Bird Conserv Int 26(1):52–68CrossRef
Lovegrove B (1993) The living deserts of southern Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeberg, 224pp
Low AB, Rebelo AG (1996) Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, 85pp
Masubelele ML, Hoffman MT, Bond WJ (2015) Biome stability and long-term vegetation change in the semi-arid, south-eastern interior of South Africa: a synthesis of repeat photo-monitoring studies. S Afr J Bot 101:139–147CrossRef
Meadows ME (2000) The ecological resource base: biodiversity and conservation. In: Fox R, Rowntree K (eds) The geography of South Africa in a changing world. Oxford University Press, Cape Town, pp 361–389
Meadows ME, Asmal O (1996) Chronology, sedimentology and geochemistry of sediments at Verlorenvlei (Western Cape Province, South Africa) as evidence of anthropogenically-induced land degradation. Z Geomorphol Suppl 107:45–62
Meadows ME, Baxter AJ (1999) Late Quaternary palaeoenvironments of the southwestern Cape, South Africa: a regional synthesis. Quat Int 57/58:193–206CrossRef
Meadows ME, Baxter AJ, Adams T (1994) The late Holocene vegetation history of lowland fynbos, Verlorenvlei, southwestern Cape Province, South Africa. Hist Biol 9(1–2):47–59CrossRef
Midgley GF, Thuiller W (2011) Potential responses of terrestrial biodiversity in Southern Africa to anthropogenic climate change. Reg Environ Chang 11(Supplement 1):127–135CrossRef
Midgley GF, Hannah L, Millar D, Rutherford MC, Powrie LW (2002) Assessing the vulnerability of species richness to anthropogenic climate change in a biodiversity hotspot. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 11(6):445–451CrossRef
Midgley JJ, Cowling RM, Seydack AHW, van Wyk GF (2003a) Forest. In: Cowling RM, Richardson DM, Pierce SM (eds) Vegetation of Southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 278–299
Midgley GF, Hannah L, Millar D, Thuiller W, Booth A (2003b) Developing regional and species-level assessments of climate change impacts on biodiversity in the Cape Floristic Region. Biol Conserv 112(1–2):87–97CrossRef
Milton SJ, Yeaton RI, Dean WRJ, Vlok JHJ (2003) Succulent karoo. In: Cowling RM, Richardson DM, Pierce SM (eds) Vegetation of Southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 131–166
Mittermeier RA, Robles Gil P, Hoffmann M, Pilgrim J, Brooks T, Mittermeier CG, Lamoreux J, da Fonseca GAB (2004) Hotspots revisited: Earth’s biologically richest and most endangered ecoregions. CEMEX, Mexico City, 392pp
Mucina L, Geldenhuys CJ (2006) Afrotemperate, subtropical and azonal forests. In: Mucina L, Rutherford MC (eds) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Strelizia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp 585–614
Mucina L, Rutherford MC (2006) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, 807pp
Mucina L, Jürgens N, Le Roux A, Rutherford MC, Schmiedel U, Esler KJ, Powrie LP, Desmet PG, Milton S (2006a) Succulent Karoo biome. In: Mucina L, Rutherford MC (eds) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp 221–299
Mucina L, Rutherford MC, Palmer AR, Milton S, Scott L, Lloyd W, van der Merwe B, Hoare DB, Bezuidenhout H, Volk JHJ, Euston-Brown DIW, Powrie LW, Dold AP (2006b) Nama-Karoo biome. In: Mucina L, Rutherford MC (eds) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp 325–347
Mucina L, Hoare DB, Lötter MC, du Preez PJ, Rutherford MC, Scott-Shaw CR, Bredenkamp GJ, Powrie LW, Scott L, Camp KGT, Cillers SS, Bezuidenhout H, Mostert TH, Siebert SJ, Winter PJD, Burrows JE, Dobson L, Ward RA, Stalmans M, Oliver EGH, Siebert F, Schmidt E, Kobisi K, Kose L (2006c) Grassland biome. In: Mucina L, Rutherford MC (eds) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp 349–436
Mucina L, Scott-Shaw CR, Rutherford MC, Camp KGT, Matthews WS, Powrie LW, Hoare DB (2006d) Indian Ocean coastal belt. In: Mucina L, Rutherford MC (eds) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp 569–583
Myers N, Mittermeier RA, Mittermeier CG, da Fonseca GAB, Kent J (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403(6772):853–858CrossRef
O’Connor TG, Bredenkamp GJ (2003) Grassland. In: Cowling RM, Richardson DM, Pierce SM (eds) Vegetation of Southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 215–257
O’Connor TG, Crow VRT (1999) Rate and pattern of bush encroachment in Eastern Cape savanna and grassland. Afr J Range Forage Sci 16(1):26–31CrossRef
O’Connor TG, Puttick JR, Hoffman MT (2014) Bush encroachment in southern Africa: changes and causes. Afr J Range Forage Sci 31:67–88CrossRef
O’Farrell PJ, Reyers B, Le Maitre DC, Milton SJ, Egoh B, Maherry A, Colvin C, Atkinson D, De Lange W, Blignaut JN, Cowling RM (2010) Multi-functional landscapes in semi arid environments: implications for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Landsc Ecol 25(8):1231–1246CrossRef
Palmer AR, Hoffman MT (2003) Nama-karoo. In: Cowling RM, Richardson DM, Pierce SM (eds) Vegetation of Southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 167–188
Parmesan C, Yohe G (2003) A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems. Nature 421(6918):37–42CrossRef
Pole Evans IB (1936) A vegetation map of South Africa. Mem Bot Surv S Afr 15:1–23
Potts AJ, Bond WJ, Cowling RM (2015) Understanding biome boundaries in South Africa. S Afr J Bot 101:1–4CrossRef
Raunkiaer C (1934) The life forms of plants and statistical plant geography: being collected papers of C. Raunkiaer (trans: Carter HG, Tansley AG, Fausboll MS). Clarendon Press, Oxford. 632pp
Rebelo AG, Boucher C, Helme N, Mucina L, Rutherford MC (2006) Fynbos biome. In: Mucina L, Rutherford MC (eds) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp 53–219
Rouget M, Richardson DM, Cowling RM, Lloyd JW, Lombard AT (2003) Current patterns of habitat transformation and future threats to biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems of the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. Biol Conserv 112(1–2):62–85
Rouget M, Reyers B, Jonas Z, Desmet P, Driver A, Maze K, Egoh B, Cowling RM (2004) South African National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: technical report. Volume 1: terrestrial component. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, 88pp
Rutherford MC, Westfall RH (1986) Biomes of southern Africa: an objective categorization. Mem Bot Surv S Afr 54:98.
Rutherford MC, Westfall RH (1994) Biomes of southern Africa: an objective characterization, 2nd edn. Mem Bot Surv S Afr 63:94.
Rutherford MC, Mucina L, Lötter MC, Bredenkamp GJ, Smit JHL, Scott-Shaw CR, Hoare DB, Goodman PS, Bezuidenhout H, Scott L, Ellis F, Powrie LW, Siebert F, Mostert TH, Henning BJ, Venter CE, Camp KGT, Siebert SJ, Matthews WS, Burrows JE, Dobson L, van Rooyen N, Schmidt E, Winter PJD, du Preez PJ, Ward RA, Williamson S, Hunter PJH (2006) Savanna biome. In: Mucina L, Rutherford MC (eds) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp 439–538
Rutherford MC, Powrie LW, Husted LB (2012) Herbivore-driven land degradation: consequences for plant diversity and soil in arid subtropical thicket in south-eastern Africa. Land Degrad Dev 25(6):541–553CrossRef
Scholes RJ (2003) Savanna. In: Cowling RM, Richardson DM, Pierce SM (eds) Vegetation of Southern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 258–277
Shackleton CM, Shackleton SE (2004) The use of woodland resources for direct household provisioning. In: Lawes MJ, Eeley HAC, Shackleton CM, Geach BGS (eds) Indigenous forests and woodlands in South Africa. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, Scottsville, pp 195–226
Sinclair SA (1980) The rural settlement of Verlorenvlei in historical perspective. Unpublished MSc thesis. University of Cape Town
Skowno AL, Thompson MW, Hiestermann J, Ripley B, West AG, Bond WJ (2017) Woodland expansion in South African grassy biomes based on satellite observations (1990–2013): general patterns and potential drivers. Glob Chang Biol 23(6):2358–2369CrossRef
Stager JC, Mayewski PA, White J, Chase BM, Neumann FH, Meadows ME, King CD, Dixon DA (2012) Precipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400 yr linked to the austral westerlies. Clim Past 8(3):877–887CrossRef
Steenkamp Y, van Wyk AE, Victor JE, Hoare DB, Dold AP, Cowling RM, Smith GF (2004) Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany. In: Mittermeier RA, Hoffmann M, Pilgrim JD, Brooks TB, Mittermeier CG, Lamoreux JL, da Fonseca G (eds) Hotspots revisited: earth’s biologically richest and most endangered ecoregions. Cemex, Mexico City, pp 218–229
Trollope WSW (1980) Controlling bush encroachment with fire in the savanna areas of South Africa. Proc Ann Congr Grassl Soc S Afr 15(1):173–177
van Luijk G, Cowling RM, Riksen MJPM, Glenday J (2013) Hydrological implications of desertification: degradation of South African semi-arid subtropical thicket. J Arid Environ 91:14–21CrossRef
Vogel JC, Fuls A, Ellis RP (1978) The geographical distribution of Kranz species in southern Africa. S Afr J Sci 11:247–253
Ward D (2005) Do we understand the causes of bush encroachment in African savannas? Afr J Range Forage Sci 22(2):101–105CrossRef
Ward D, Hoffman MT, Collocott SJ (2014) A century of woody plant encroachment in the dry Kimberley savanna of South Africa. Afr J Range Forage Sci 31(2):107–121CrossRef
Wigley BJ, Bond WJ, Hoffman MT (2009) Bush encroachment under three contrasting land-use practices in a mesic South African savanna. Afr J Ecol 47(1):62–70CrossRef
Young AJ, Guo D, Desmet PG, Midgley GF (2016) Biodiversity and climate change: risks to dwarf succulents in Southern Africa. J Arid Environ 129:16–24CrossRef
Metadata
Title
South African Biomes and Their Changes Over Time
Authors
Jemma M. Finch
Michael E. Meadows
Copyright Year
2019
Book
The Geography of South Africa

Print ISBN: 978-3-319-94973-4

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-94974-1

Copyright Year: 2019

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94974-1_7

Premium Partner

    Image Credits