Characteristics of South African Biomes

Muscle marking morphology and labour intensity in prehistoric Khoisan foragers

“…The forest biome 2 is characterized by high inedible (woody) plant biomass in the form of closed evergreen and semideciduous cover [55], and by absolutely lower animal biomass and diversity than the other zones. Epiphytes are common [55], and geophytes rare relative to the fynbos.…”

“…Average net annual above-ground pro-ductivity is relatively low (250 g/m 2 ) [55], and much of this productivity goes into the generation and maintenance of woody tissue [56]. Plant foods available to foragers in this context are primarily restricted to geophytes (with an emphasis on Gladiolus corms) and berries (in particular tortoise berry, Nylandtia spinosa) [39].…”

“…The fynbos 2 is characterized by sclerophyllous scrub and heath, including Restionacea, Compositae, Ericaceae and Kranz plant species [53][54][55]. Average net annual above-ground pro-ductivity is relatively low (250 g/m 2 ) [55], and much of this productivity goes into the generation and maintenance of woody tissue [56].…”

How Important was the Presence of Elephants as a Determinant of the Zhizo Settlement of the Greater Mapungubwe Landscape?

“…They are the local vegetation communities (e.g., sweet veld; Mucina & Rutherford 2006), the large wildlife populations that inhabit savannah biomes (see Huntley 1984) and the network of tributaries bisecting the landscape and perennial rivers such as the Limpopo, Motloutse and possibly the Shashe. These rivers also replenish the soils with nutrients, further supported by evidence of colluvial action over the relatively flat landscape (Hanisch 1981).…”

Distribution of Lucidophyll Oak-Laurel Forest Formation in Asia and Other Areas.

“…Conifer laurel forests introduced by Brockmann-Jerosch and Rtibel (1912) is southernmost afromontane forest which is now found along the Drakensberg escarpment, in the Natal' eastern Cape midlands and on the coast of the southem Cape (Huntley, 1984)' In South Africa montane forest (werger, 1978) is found between 1280 m and 1830 m, and dominated by Podocarpus latifulius (White, 1978). Common genera of montane forests to other afromontane forests were Podocarpus, Olea, Ilex, Pittosporwn, Rapanea,Xymnlos, and only one laurel specie s, Ocotea bullata.…”