Biodiversity of the Fransmanshoek Area
Biodiversity describes the variety of life in an area, including the number of different species, the genetic wealth within each species, the interrelationships between them, and the natural areas where they occur.
An immensely rich species diversity is found in South Africa. With a land surface area of 1,1 million km2 - representing just 1% of the earth's total land surface - South Africa contains almost 10% of the world's total known bird, fish and plant species, and over 6% of the world's mammal and reptile species. This natural wealth is threatened by growing human populations and their demands on the environment.
WHY SUCH DIVERSITY?
South Africa has a wide range of climatic conditions and many variations in topography (e.g. narrow coastal plain, steep escarpment, large plateau). In combination, climate and topography give rise to broad vegetation zones which, together with their associated animal life, are called biomes. These are the Karoo, fynbos, forest, grassland and savanna biomes. Each of these supports its own collection of plant and animal species. The Karoo, for example, is home to plants and animals well suited to hot, dry conditions such as the gemsbok, and succulent plants. Fynbos is home to a variety of plants that are suited to a mediterranean climate and the poor soils of the south west Cape.
An immensely rich species diversity is found in South Africa. With a land surface area of 1,1 million km2 - representing just 1% of the earth's total land surface - South Africa contains almost 10% of the world's total known bird, fish and plant species, and over 6% of the world's mammal and reptile species. This natural wealth is threatened by growing human populations and their demands on the environment.
WHY SUCH DIVERSITY?
South Africa has a wide range of climatic conditions and many variations in topography (e.g. narrow coastal plain, steep escarpment, large plateau). In combination, climate and topography give rise to broad vegetation zones which, together with their associated animal life, are called biomes. These are the Karoo, fynbos, forest, grassland and savanna biomes. Each of these supports its own collection of plant and animal species. The Karoo, for example, is home to plants and animals well suited to hot, dry conditions such as the gemsbok, and succulent plants. Fynbos is home to a variety of plants that are suited to a mediterranean climate and the poor soils of the south west Cape.