What Is The Fynbos Biome?
The Fynbos Biome makes up the largest part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which is the smallest of the world's six floral kingdoms. The Fynbos Biome in particular is noted for its high levels of biodiversity (the highest in world) and endemism, which in turn results in a high number of threatened and endangered species. The Cape Floral Kingdom was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004.
2 Discussion
Fynbos is found predominantly in the the South Western Cape in an area extending from just south of Namaqualand in the north west to roughly around Port Elizabeth in the south east. It occurs in the winter rainfall region, where the average annual rainfall exceeds 400mm. In areas where the rainfall is very high, or falls all year round (such …show more content…
Over 7000 plant species occur throughout the Fynbos Biome, of which about 1700 – 75% of all the plant species in the South African Red Data Book – are found in the Fynbos region (Rebelo,
1996). However, while plant biodiversity is high, animal biodiversity is much lower, mostly comprising of smaller animals, particularly amphibians, reptiles, birds and insects. Due to the unique nature of the Fynbos Biome, endemism amongst these animal species remains relatively high.
According to Rebelo (1996), the Fynbos Biome consists of the presence of one or more of three main components: restioid, proteoid and ericoid. The restioid and proteoid components are made up of two families: Restionaceae (Restios) and Proteaceae
(Proteas) respectively. The ericoid component (or heath) consists of several families of fine-leaved plants that have given Fynbos its name (originally from the Dutch word
"fijnbosch"); predominantly Ericaceae (Ericas or Heaths) and Asteraceae (Daisies).
FIGURE 2: Two examples of Protea species: Protea lorifolia (left) and Protea compacta (right).
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Because of the great variation of habitats within the Fynbos Biome, the …show more content…
FIGURE 3: Cape Flats Sand Fynbos in Lower Tokai Park.
Fynbos is a fire-driven ecosystem, requiring regular burning to rejuvenate and survive. Fynbos should ideally be burnt every 15 years, and preferably later in summer.
This burns the moribund vegetation, returns the nutrients to the soil and triggers the germination of seeds. Some plants achieve this when the fire triggers dead flower heads to release dormant seeds, while other seeds remain dormant in the ground until they are
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triggered by the heat of the fire. Some Fynbos plants resprout from the burnt stems.
FIGURE 4: Mountain Fynbos at Quariga in the Langeberg in December 2009, prior to burning.
FIGURE 5: The same location as Figure 4 in April 2010, two months after a fire.
FIGURE 6: Taken in September 2011. Nineteen months after the fire.
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Fire can, however, also pose a threat to Fynbos if the fires are too frequent. This will destroy species, especially climax species, that have not yet had time to seed. This
2 Discussion
Fynbos is found predominantly in the the South Western Cape in an area extending from just south of Namaqualand in the north west to roughly around Port Elizabeth in the south east. It occurs in the winter rainfall region, where the average annual rainfall exceeds 400mm. In areas where the rainfall is very high, or falls all year round (such …show more content…
Over 7000 plant species occur throughout the Fynbos Biome, of which about 1700 – 75% of all the plant species in the South African Red Data Book – are found in the Fynbos region (Rebelo,
1996). However, while plant biodiversity is high, animal biodiversity is much lower, mostly comprising of smaller animals, particularly amphibians, reptiles, birds and insects. Due to the unique nature of the Fynbos Biome, endemism amongst these animal species remains relatively high.
According to Rebelo (1996), the Fynbos Biome consists of the presence of one or more of three main components: restioid, proteoid and ericoid. The restioid and proteoid components are made up of two families: Restionaceae (Restios) and Proteaceae
(Proteas) respectively. The ericoid component (or heath) consists of several families of fine-leaved plants that have given Fynbos its name (originally from the Dutch word
"fijnbosch"); predominantly Ericaceae (Ericas or Heaths) and Asteraceae (Daisies).
FIGURE 2: Two examples of Protea species: Protea lorifolia (left) and Protea compacta (right).
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Because of the great variation of habitats within the Fynbos Biome, the …show more content…
FIGURE 3: Cape Flats Sand Fynbos in Lower Tokai Park.
Fynbos is a fire-driven ecosystem, requiring regular burning to rejuvenate and survive. Fynbos should ideally be burnt every 15 years, and preferably later in summer.
This burns the moribund vegetation, returns the nutrients to the soil and triggers the germination of seeds. Some plants achieve this when the fire triggers dead flower heads to release dormant seeds, while other seeds remain dormant in the ground until they are
3
triggered by the heat of the fire. Some Fynbos plants resprout from the burnt stems.
FIGURE 4: Mountain Fynbos at Quariga in the Langeberg in December 2009, prior to burning.
FIGURE 5: The same location as Figure 4 in April 2010, two months after a fire.
FIGURE 6: Taken in September 2011. Nineteen months after the fire.
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Fire can, however, also pose a threat to Fynbos if the fires are too frequent. This will destroy species, especially climax species, that have not yet had time to seed. This