The name of biome in which the reserve
is located:
Fynbos Biome (Cowling 1992).
General description of biome and
morphology
The Fynbos Biome is subdivided into two
physiographic elements, each with its own
geology. These are the Cape Fold Belt
and the Coastal Foreland (Lambrects
1979). Rocks of different ages and types
are represented in the biome and a more
in-depth description of the geology is
given in Theron (1983 vide Deacon et al.
1992). The oldest are the sediments of the
Malmesbury, Kango, Kaaimans and
Gamtoos groups. Malmesbury Group
rocks are exposed over an extended in the
south-western Cape, but exposures of
other groups associated with fault lines
are more restricted. On the surface of
these older rocks, subsistence and
accumulation of the great thickness of
detrital materials that go to make up the
rocks of the Cape Supergroup initiated a
new cycle of sedimentation. Three groups
are recognized. From the oldest to the
youngest, they are the Table Mountain
Group, the Bokkeveld Group and the
Witteberg Group.
Dominant lithological class in biome
Sandstones of the Peninsula Formation of
the table Mountain Group (Deacon et al
1992).
Number of lithological classes in biome
Four broad lithological classes, namely
granites, shales, sandstones and
limestone (Low and Rebelo 1996)
Dominant broad soil pattern class in
biome
Quartzite (Mac Vicar et al. 1977)
List of Historical Indigenous Vertebrate
Species
Incidence of Fire
Natural Processes
Number of soil pattern classes in biome
Ten broad associations have been
recognized (Mac Vicar et al. 1977):
·
Quartzites with very little soils.
·
Quartzites with varying amounts of
shallow, sandy soils.
·
Quartzites with varying amounts of
deeper, sandy soils.
·
Quartzites with varying amounts of
deeper, loamy soils.
·
Deep, acid, sandy soils, mainly
along the coast.
·
Calcareous, sandy soils, mainly
along the coast.
·
Heavily textured, red and yellow
granite soils.
·
Heavily textured, highly leached
soils from slates and phyllites.
·
Heavily textured, moderate to
poorly leached soils from slates and
phyllites.
·
Dominantly duplex soils.
General description of biome vegetation.
The Fynbos Biome is characterised by its
high richness in plant species ( over 7 000
species) and its high endemicity – over
80% (Low and Rebelo 1996). The main
physiognomic features of the vegetation
are the prevalent sclerophyllous shrub
form, the scarcity of trees and the relative
minor importance of grasses and of
evergreen succulent shrubs (Kruger
1979). Fynbos is characterised by the
presence of three elements: a restioid; an
ericoid; and proteoid component.
Dominant veld type in biome and
percentage area
Mountain Fynbos (Veld Type 69, Acocks;
Vegetation Type 64, Low and Rebelo
1996), covering 66% of the biome.
Number of South African vegetation
types represented in the biome
Low and Rebelo (1996) recognise 5 major
vegetation types within the Fynbos Biome:
1/ Mountain Fynbos
2/ Laterite Fynbos
3/
Grassy Fynbos
4/ Limestone Fynbos
© Vogelgat Private Nature Reserve Design: Webwits
© Vogelgat Private Nature Reserve Design: Webwits
© Vogelgat Private Nature Reserve
BIOME
BIOPHYSIOGRAPHICAL
REGION
On this page you will find:
Name of biome in which
the reserve is located
General description of
biome and morphology
Dominant lithological class
Number of Lithological
classes in biome
Dominant broad soil
pattern class in biome
Number of soil pattern
classes in biome
General description of
biome vegetation
Dominant veld type in
biome and percentage of
area
Number of South African
vegetation types
represented in the biome
Average annual
precipitation in biome
Drainage regions within
which the biome falls
Annual water yield in
catchments of biome
Dominant current land-use
pattern in biome
Under these pages you will
find:
History
Vegetation
Indigenous Plant Species
Vegetation Communities
Description of Vegetation
Types
Dominant Vegetation Types
Second most dominant
vegetation type
Number of Vegetation
Types
Fauna
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles and Amphibians
Dragonflies and
Damselflies
Spiders
Butterflies
Fish
Geology and
Geomorphology
Stratigraphy
Lithology
Dominant Broad Soil
Patterns
Soils in Vogelgat
Number of Broad Soil
Types
Dominant lithological
classes
Number of lithological
classes
Climate
Mean Annual Precipitation
Wettest 3 Months
Driest 3 Months
Snowfalls
Precipitation form of Mist
Absolute Maximum
Temperature
Absolute Minimum
Temperature
Warmest Months
Coldest Months
Wind Direction
Drainage Region
Annual Water Yield
Number of Rivers
Quantity
Water
Highest & Lowest Elevation
Alien Plant species
List of Alien Vertebrate
species
List of Historical
Indigenous Vertebrate
Species
Incidence of Fire
Natural Processes
Average precipitation in
biome
Rainfall varies from 200mm to
2000mm per year. Below
200mm, Fynbos is replaced by
Succulent Karoo.
Drainage regions within which
the Biome falls (King and Day
1979)
A.
West Coast
B.
Olifants
C.
Berg and south-west
Cape
D.
Breede
E.
Gouritz
F.
Southern Cape
G.
Gamtoos
Annual water yield in
catchments of biome
The principal drainage
systems contribute 14% of the
country’s total mean annual
runoff, with a mean flow of 5
839 400 megalitres (King and
Day 1979).
Dominant current land-use
pattern in biome
Agriculture.
Design: Webwits Graciously sponsored by: Dr Gerrit Wyma & Nosy Rosy
