Where is the fynbos biome?
South Africa
Fynbos vegetation can be found throughout Table Mountain National Park, Western Cape, South Africa. Although the Fynbos is known for its plants, the region is also home to a diverse number of unique animal species.
What type of biome is fynbos?
This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean climate and rainy winters. The fynbos ecoregion is within the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.
What are the characteristics of a fynbos biome?
This area is characterised by hot, dry summers, high-speed winds, intense recurring fires and soils which are low in nutrients. The Fynbos biome includes four veld types: Mountain Fynbos is found on sea level hills and mountain slopes, in winter rainfall areas.
What is fynbos for kids?
Fynbos is a unique mixture of natural vegetation in southwestern South Africa. It is also known as scrubland or heathland. About 9,000 species, or types, of plants grow in the fynbos region.
Why is the fynbos biome so important?
Fynbos also plays a vital role in the water cycle: some of the wettest places in Africa being wild, moisture-rich mountain tops populated by rare proteas and because their water needs are low, fynbos allows up to 80% of the rainwater to run off and fill our rivers and reservoirs, which means that one in five glasses of …
Is fynbos an ecosystem?
South African Fynbos Ecosystem One of the most biologically diverse and endangered of all the world’s ecosystems is the fynbos shrublands of the southwestern and southern Cape of South Africa.
Is fynbos a biome?
Fynbos Biome. Fynbos covers only about 6.7% of South Africa (about 85 000 km2) but has the largest number of plant species of any biome in the country (about 7500). Most Fynbos is found along the coast and in the Cape Fold Mountains between Nieuwoudtville in the north-west and Port Elizabeth in the east.
How do you identify fynbos?
The presence of a flower is a huge step towards identifying a fynbos plant and is easier than you think. Plants are put into their respective families – Protea, Erica, Daisy – based on their flower structure. Forget what the plant itself looks like – it’s the flower that determines what they are.
Why is the fynbos unique?
It is unique also because of its abundance of plant species (roughly 8700 species) and its significant endemicity, with 68% of fynbos species belonging exclusively to the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Why is the fynbos regarded as rich biome?
Fynbos tends to grow on poor soil and is extremely rich in plant species. Renosterveld grows on richer soil and can support more animals. Most of the Renosterveld has been ploughed up to plant crops suited to a Mediterranean climate, e.g. wheat, grapes and olives.
What is fynbos used for?
Fynbos has many uses It’s found in many gardens or in beds along the streets. The juice from the leaves serve as a natural antiseptic and is a great partner in treating mouth and throat infections as well as wounds and burns.
What are the threats to the fynbos biome?
Aliens are thus the major threat to Fynbos vegetation and its plant diversity, especially in the mountains. On the lowlands and on the less steep slopes the major threat is agriculture – new technologies, fertilisers and crops are steadily eating into our floral reserves. Another important threat is the misuse of fire.
What animals live in fynbos areas?
Very few large animals live in Sand Fynbos. This is because the plants grow in poor soil and are also poor in nutrition. Most of the animals found in Fynbos are small, like insects, birds, skinks, snakes, frogs, mice and mongooses. Burrowing animals like molerats & gerbils are common.
What biomes are found in South Africa?
The savanna biome is the predominant biome in southern Africa covering approximately 46% of the area, in regions such as Botswana , Namibia and Zimbabwe it is the dominant vegetation form, and is well developed in South Africa in the Kalahari and the lowveld .
What biome is Africa in?
The savanna biome is rich with herbivores such as elephants, zebras, gazelles, and buffalo. The largest part of the savanna biome is located in Africa. Almost half of Africa is considered a savanna.