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Distribution and Species Diversity of Birds and Plants in Fynbos Vegetation of Mediterranean-Climate Zone, South Africa

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Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 43))

Abstract

The Fynbos Biome corresponds geographically with the Capensis Region delimited by Werger (1978) as one of the plant biogeographical regions of southern Africa. The biome is characterized by four indigenous vegetation types: strandveld, coastal renosterveld, coastal fynbos and mountain fynbos. The main physiognomic features of the vegetation are the prevalent sclerophyllous shrub form, the scarcity of trees, and the relatively minor importance of grasses and evergreen succulent shrubs (Kruger 1979). Important biogeographical features of the flora are the great concentration of species, the high degree of endemism, the characteristic distribution patterns of typical elements, despite a lack of species dominance, and the preponderance of certain families and genera (Taylor 1978).

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© 1983 Springer-Verlag Berlin · Heidelberg

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Siegfried, W.R., Crowe, T.M. (1983). Distribution and Species Diversity of Birds and Plants in Fynbos Vegetation of Mediterranean-Climate Zone, South Africa. In: Kruger, F.J., Mitchell, D.T., Jarvis, J.U.M. (eds) Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems. Ecological Studies, vol 43. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68935-2_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68935-2_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-68937-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-68935-2

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