Nature Guide Learner Manual Biomes PDF

'FLAGSHIP' SPECIES OF INDIAN OCEAN COASTAL BELT BIOME Mammals: nyala. Reptiles: Gaboon Adder. Amphibians: Bush squeaker, Natal Tree Frog, Whistling Rain Frog, Plaintive Rain Frog, Spotted Shovel­ nosed Frog, Delicate Leaf-folding Frog, Sharp-nosed Reed Frog, Kloof Frog (endangered). Insec...

'FLAGSHIP' SPECIES OF INDIAN OCEAN COASTAL BELT BIOME Mammals: nyala. Reptiles: Gaboon Adder. Amphibians: Bush squeaker, Natal Tree Frog, Whistling Rain Frog, Plaintive Rain Frog, Spotted Shovel­ nosed Frog, Delicate Leaf-folding Frog, Sharp-nosed Reed Frog, Kloof Frog (endangered). Insects: Starbust Horned Baboon spider. Birds: Grey Gull, Three-banded Sandplover, Sombre Greenbul. Trees and forbs: White Milkwood, Sideroxylon inerme; Natal Strelitzia, Strelitzia nicolai; Wild Date-palm, Phoenix recl inata; Black Mangrove, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza; Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mucronata; White Mangrove, Avicennia marina. Grasses: Cape Cord Grass, Spartina maritime; Giant Turpentine Grass, Cymbopogon validus. FOREST BIOME Nowadays, forests tend to be small and isolated, and very often fragmented, few of which cover areas greater than 1 km2 The largest areas of remaining tall forest are found in the Western Cape, in the Tsitsikama and Knysna regions, while other relatively large tall forests have - Forest Biome survived in the mountains of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu­ Natal and the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. Fig. 6.15 Forest Biome map A narrow strip of almost continuous lower coastal dune forest stretches from immediately south of St Lucia to the northern border of KwaZulu-Natal. There are five main types of Forest in South Africa. These are montane (mountain therefore higher altitude), mistbelt (medium to high altitude) and riverine (along rivers therefore lower altitude) -which are all tall forests -and coastal dune forest, which is generally denser and lower in height. Scarp forests, in sheltered places in valleys and hills, vary in location and tree height. Forests grow on a wide range of geological substrates and the soil forms developed from them. Soil depth, water-holding capacity and nutrient status all vary greatly. Forests only occur in areas with high water availability, although this does not necessarily come from rain. Scarp and riverine forests can develop because of the amount of groundwater that is available. Forests occur in winter, summer and non-seasonal rainfall areas. Irrespective of the type of forest, the central feature is that the canopy cover is continuous, comprising mostly evergreen trees, while the vegetation beneath it is multi-layered. Herbaceous plants, particularly ferns, are only common in the montane forests, whereas lianas and epiphytes are found in all forest types. The ground layer of vegetation is usually patchy due to the areas of dense shade, where there is not enough light for any plant type to grow. Around the edges of main forested areas with total canopy cover, there are distinctive forest fringe or forest margin plants. These woody plants are able to tolerate fire. The centres of forests rarely burn, mainly due to the high humidity, however under extremely hot and dry berg wind conditions, fires may occur and destroy the forest structure. Fig. 6.16 Forest Biome 75