Fynbos
Lowland fynbos and renosterveld ecoregion
WWF AT1202
Map
Also see Fynbos in the moutains
The fynbos is the Fifth Floral Kingdom and contains about 9'000 vascular plant species, 69% of which are endemic. It is found on the coastal lowlands and interior valleys of the Western Cape, and the southern part of the Eastern Cape.
Fynbos is a general description for a range of plants unique to the southwestern Cape of South Africa and covers 54% of this ecoregion. Renosterveld is dominated by the renosterbos (Elytropappus rhinocerotis, Asteraceae) and covers 46% of this region. With 9'000 species it is one of the most diverse regions in the world -- the highest outside tropical rain forest areas. About 80% of plant species are endemic.
The difference between the Lowland fynbos and renosterveld ecoregion and the Fynbos in mountains (Montane fynbos and renosterveld ecoregion) is obviously that the second region lies in the mountains where the climate is different.
- Location
- Subregions
- Area
- Rivers
- Nature Reserves
- Climate
- Vegetation
- Mammals
- Birds
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
- Bugs
- Freshwater fish
Location
The region covers the southwestern Cape of South Africa.
- North:
- Olifants River near Vanrhynsdorp, Klawer and Vredendal
- Langeberge near Worcester, Swartberge near Oudtshoorn
- Grootriverberge near Willowmore
- East:
- Bokkeveld near Ceres
- Between Cape St Francis and Port Elizabeth
- West: Atlantic Ocean
- South: Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean
Subregions
This ecoregion is divided into the following 9 subregions.
West Coast Forelands
Location
The West Coast Forelands extends from the Cape Flats (south) to the Olifants River (north)
Elevation
from sea level to 300 m
Geology
There are several outcrops of Cape granite.
Coastal areas
acid, aeolian sands, calcareous sands, with limestone underneath
Inland
Malmesbury shales
Rainfall
Winter rainfall: annual
about 200 mm (north) - 500 mm (south)
Warm Bokkeveld
Location
The Warm Bokkeveld is located beween the mountains in the basin at Ceres.
Elevation
500 m - 600 m
Geology
underlying rocks are Cape shales
Rainfall
Winter rainfall: 300 mm - 500 mm annually
Elgin Basin
Location
The Elgin Basin is located beween the mountains in the basin at the train station (called Elgin) of Grabouw.
Elevation
250 m - 350 m
Geology
underlying rocks are Cape shales
Rainfall
Winter rainfall: 500 mm - 750 mm annually
Agulhas Plain
Location
The Agulhas Plain is located on the southwestern coastal lowlands from Danger Point (west) to the Gouritz River (east)
Geology
sandplains and gravelly bottomlands in the west, and extensive limestones and calcareous dunes throughout
Rainfall
West: winter rains - about 600 mm annually
East: rain evenly distributed throughout the year - less than 400 mm annually
Breede River Valley
Location
The Breede River Valley is located between mountains surrounding Worcester.
Elevation
250 m - 300 m
Geology
alluvial deposits (principally gravels and sands) with Cape shales along the valley walls
Rainfall
Winter rainfall: 250 mm - 350 mm annually
South Coast Forelands
Location
The South Coast Forelands is located between Caledon (west) to Mossel Bay (east)
Elevation
150 m - 400 m
Geology
underlain predominantly by Cape shales with occasional silcrete- and ferricrete-capped hills, residual Cretaceous deposits and low hills of Cape sandstone
Rainfall
West: winter rainfall; 300 mm - 500 mm
Eastward it changes into a nonseasonal rains.
Little Karoo
Location
The Little Karoo is located between mountain ranges.
Elevation
400 m - 1'000 m
Geology
shale-derived hills and plains
Rainfall
non-seasonal rainfall of 250 mm to 400 mm annually
Langkloof
Location
Langkloof is located is located between mountain ranges.
Elevation
600 m - 700 m
Geology
underlying shale and sandstone
Rainfall
nonseasonal rainfall: 400 mm - 650 mm annually
Southeastern Coast Forelands
Location
The Southeastern Coast Forelands is located between the Tsitisikamma region (west) and Port Elizabeth (east).
Elevation
ranges from sea level to 500 m, but predominantly between 100 m and 200 m
Geology
shale- and conglomerate-derived (Cretaceous) valleys and plains, extensive sandstone mountain footslopes, sandplains and calcareous coastal dunes
Rainfall
nonseasonal rainfall: 400 mm - 650 mm annually.
Area
32'600 square kilometers
Rivers
- Olifants River
- Berg River
- Breede River
- Olifant River
- Gourits River
- Groot River
- Baviaanskloof River
- Gamtoos River
Nature Reserves
Nature Reserves found in this ecoregion are:
- West Coast National Park - 260 square kilometers
- De Hoop Nature Reserve - 400 square kilometers
Climate
West of Cape Agulhas rain occurs mainly in winter. East of Cape Agulhas rainfall is less seasonal.
- Rainfall
- annual: 300 mm - 750 mm
- Temperature seldom exceeds 30°C, except in the interior valleys
Vegetation
This ecoregion and the Lowland Fynbos and Renosterveld have about 7,000 species. Fynbos covers 54% of the region. Renosterveld is dominated by the renosterbos (Elytropappus rhinocerotis, Asteraceae) and covers 46% of this region.
Fynbos
Fynbos are hard-leaved, evergreen, and fire-prone shrubland and make up four major plant types:
- restioids: evergreen reedlike plants unique to fynbos
- ericoids:
- heathlike small-leafed shrubs from 0.5 m to 2 m tall
- 526 of the world’s 740 Erica species are found here
- proteoids (Proteaceae):
- tallest fynbos shrubs; 2m - 4m; commonly found on the deep and fertile soils at the base of mountains
- 69 of the world’s 112 protea species are found here
- geophytes: bulblike plants which are very visible after fires
Renosterveld
Renosterveld makes up the cross-over region between fynbos and succulent Karoo. It is found in the western and interior mountain regions where the annual rainfall is between 250 mm (interspersed with succulent Karoo) and 650 mm (interspersed with fynbos).
Renosterveld grows in fine-grained and relatively fertile soils associated with shale bands, mountain basins, and footslopes.
Vegetation types
There are 8 major types of vegetation in this region
- Dune Pioneer
- Fynbos/Thicket Mosaic
- Sand Plain Fynbos
- Limestone Fynbos
- Grassy Fynbos
- Fynbos/Renosterveld
- Coast Renosterveld
- Inland Renosterveld
Dune Pioneer
Low growing, largely semi-succulent shrubs and herbs, on moving coastal sands.
Fynbos/Thicket Mosaic
Fynbos mixed with subtropical shrubs on calcareous coastal sands. Fynbos are mainly ericoid shrubs and restioids. Shrubs are mainly Cassine and Maytenus (family Celastraceae) Sideroxylon spp. (family Sapotaceae) Rhus spp. (family Anacardiaceae).
Sand Plain Fynbos
Fynbos with proteas above and ericas below on the sandplains of the West Coast Forelands, and the Agulhas Plain.
Limestone Fynbos
Fynbos on limestone on the Agulhas Plain. This type includes numerous calcicole endemics.
Grassy Fynbos
Fynbos with summer-growing grass (C4) is found in the wtter mountaineous regions.
Fynbos/Renosterveld
Fynbos and Renosterveld are found on shale-derived soils (especially where silcrete/ferricrete material is found) in the Elgin Basin and the mid-Breede River Valley and occurs patchily on the West Coast Forelands, the Agulhas Plain, the Langkloof, and the Southeastern Coast Forelands. Renosterveld often develops as a result of the degradation of fynbos
Coast Renosterveld
This is a grassy form of vegetation occuring in two main blocks: on the West (winter rains) and South Coast Forelands. The east is grassier than the west, has more summer-growing species, and has a lower diversity of bulbs. The west has winter-growing grasses and a high bulb diversity.
Inland Renosterveld
This Renosterveld is found on shale-derived soils of the drier, interior basins (Warm Bokkeveld and Little Karoo). Grass cover is lower than in Coast Renosterveld. The cover and diversity of succulents is higher and shows the change into the Succulent Karoo ecoregion.
Mammals
There are 100 mammal species of which 5 are endemic or near endemic.
- endemic
- bontebok (Damaliscus dorcas dorcas)
- Cape spiny mouse (Acomys subspinosus)
- Cape dune molerat (Bathyergus suillis)
- Duthie’s golden mole (Chlorotelpa duthiae)
- near endemic
- Verraux’s mouse (Myomyscus verrauxii)
Extinct species
- blue antelope (Hippotragus leucophaeus) hunted to extinction by 1800
- quagga (Equus burchelii quagga), hunted to extinction the 1850
Birds
Excluding seabirds, 288 species have been recorded in the region. There are 7 endemic or near-endemic species.
- Victorin’s warbler (Bradipterus victorini)
- Cape rock-jumper (Chaetops frenatus)
- orange-breasted sunbird (Nectarina violacea)
- Cape sugarbird (Promerops cafer)
- Cape siskin (Serinus totta)
- Cape francolin (Francolinus capensis)
Amphibians
There are 38 species of amphibians, 19 are endemic.
Reptiles
There are 109 reptile species, 19 are endemic
Bugs
- freshwater crustaceans
- Phreatoicidea
- Paramelitidae
- cave-dwelling Spelaeogrypus lepidops
- harvestmen
- the endemic Triaenonychidae
- flies
- Pachybates
- Trichantha
- Peringueyomina
- Megaloptera
- Dermaptera
- bugs of the tribe Cephalelini
- caddisflies
- Trichoptera
- beetles
- various
- stagbeetles (Lucanidae) of the genus Colophon
Freshwater fish
The 30 species Barbine fish make up 81% of all the freshwater fish in the region. Endemicity is 50% with 45% of endemics occurring in a single drainage system.