The biomes of the eastern Cape with emphasis on their conservation

Abstract

The four major phytochoria of southern Africa, the Cape. Tongoland-Pondoland. Karoo-Namib and Afromontane regions, converge in the complex transition zone of the eastern Cape. The area is rich in species and communities with a complex vegetation in which are represented all the major vegetation formations of southern Africa — Cape Fynbos. Cape Transitional Shrublands, Subtropical Thicket. Karoo, Savanna, Afromontane Forest, Grasslands and Littoral Strand Vegetation. Our results support previous findings that, although species-rich and of great diversity, the flora has fewer endemics (205 or 5,6%) than the Cape (73%) or Karoo-Namib (35%). The communities with the largest proportion of endemics (30%), and threatened plants (18%) are those of the Subtropical Thicket. On the basis of these data and an index of conserv ation status, the Subtropical Thicket was determined to be highest on the priority list for conservation in the eastern Cape. Subtropical Thicket is being cleared at an increasing rate and is most vulnerable due to changing farming practice.

Invasive alien woody plants of the eastern Cape

“…These changes have occurred largely since the settlement of European farmers in this region in about 1770 (Jacot Guillarmod 1988). The deterioration of the indigenous vegetation has been associated with overgrazing, poor management practices, bush-clearing and alien plant invasion (Lubke et al 1986;Roux & Van der Vyver 1988;Teague 1988). …”

The Genus Aloe L. (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

“…The Eastern Cape is the place in South Africa where the major vegetation units of southern Africa converge. Most biomes of southern Africa (except for the Desert biome) extend into the Eastern Cape (Fig 1) from either the east, north or west, but none are confined to the region and none extend in both directions from the province (Gibbs Russell and Robinson 1981;Lubke 1986). The Albany Thicket Biome is almost restricted to the Eastern Cape, but has outliers in the Western Cape Province (Mucina and Rutherford 2006).…”

“…Furthermore, five phytochoria (from phytogeography; a geographic area with a relatively uniform composition of plant species) meet in the province. The Eastern Cape therefore has a mosaic of plant communities, each with different chorological affinities, as well as chorologically mixed communities representing all the major vegetation formations of southern Africa (Cowling 1983;Lubke 1986). …”

“…Along with the Little Karoo and Namaqualand-Richtersveld region, the Eastern Cape is one of the richest centers of succulent diversity and endemism in South Africa (Cowling 1982;Van Wyk and Smith 2001). The largest proportion of endemics and threatened plants in the Eastern Cape is found in Subtropical Thicket vegetation of the Pondoland-Maputaland region (Lubke 1986). Despite the low number of endemics, there are four centers of endemism in the Eastern Cape, namely the Cape Floristic Region, the Pondoland Centre, the Drakensberg Alpine Centre and the Albany Centre, the only one confined to the Eastern Cape.…”

Trend Analysis of Climate Variability over the West Bank - East London Area, South Africa (1975-2011)

“…The station (Figure 1) is situated at latitude: -33.0330S and longitude: 27.8330E, to monitor the entire West Bank-East London area. The study area has an ecosystem characterised with ecologically sensitive vegetation species (see; Lubke, 1986). The area is situated between the Indian Ocean to the South, bounded by the Igoda River to the West, East London city to the East, and Buffalo River.…”