Vegetation type endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa
The Spider Orchid, a geophyte found in Swartland Shale Renosterveld vegetation
Swartland Shale Renosterveld (West Coast Renosterveld) is a critically endangered vegetation type of the Western Cape , South Africa .[1]
Distribution [ ]
This unique type of Renosterveld vegetation occurs over the Swartland and Boland areas, on the West Coast lowlands to the north of Cape Town. It extends from north of Piketberg , southwards as far as Somerset West . Around 10 percent of this area lies within the Cape Town metropol (where historically it was the most widespread form of Renosterveld, especially concentrated on the Tygerberg Hills in the northern suburbs) and, overall, over 90 percent of this vegetation has been destroyed for farming and other development. The remaining patches are threatened by invasive alien plants and further development, making this vegetation type critically endangered.[2]
Description [ ]
Undisturbed, it forms tall, open shrubland over undulating valleys and plains. It usually grows in clay soils that are derived from the Malmesbury Group Shales. Termite mounds create large, round hummocks called “heuweltjies”, that are a prominent feature of this vegetation type, appearing as pale spots on the landscape. Indigenous trees and older thicket often occur around these features. The Renosterbos is relatively common in this vegetation, but this may be due to recent overgrazing – the renosterbos is rather inedible and consequently livestock tend to avoid it.[3]
Threats and conservation [ ]
Swartland Shale Renosterveld at
Tygerberg Nature Reserve , Cape Town
The vast majority of Swartland Shale Renosterveld has been lost (the target of saving 26% is now unattainable, as 90% is already completely transformed for farming). Remnants survive in tiny isolated patches within farmland, usually only on rougher, steeper ground that cannot be cultivated. Only a few pockets are actually protected, and most surviving areas are threatened by invasive alien plants such as Acacia saligna (“Port Jackson”) , Acacia mearnsii and a variety of other invasive trees, grasses and herbs.[4] [5]
List of some endemic plants [ ]
There are a great many plant species within this ecosystem which are totally endemic - existing in this vegetation type and nowhere else in the world. A partial list is included below.
List of some plant endemics
Gallery [ ]
, an indigenous Renosterveld flower
Swartland Shale Renosterveld in flower, at Tienie Versveld Reserve near the town of Darling.
See also [ ]
Biodiversity of Cape Town
List of nature reserves in Cape Town
Peninsula Shale Renosterveld
Renosterveld
References [ ]
Biodiversity of South Africa
National taxon checklists
Plants Flowering plants
Acorales
Alismatales
Apiales
Aquifoliales
Arecales
Asparagales
Asterales
Boraginales
Brassicales
Bruniales
Buxales
Canellales
Caryophyllales
Celastrales
Ceratophyllales
Commelinales
Cornales
Crossosomatales
Cucurbitales
Dioscoreales
Dipsacales
Ericales
Escalloniales
Fabales
Fagales
Gentianales
Geraniales
Gunnerales
Huerteales
Icacinales
Lamiales
Laurales
Liliales
Magnoliales
Malpighiales
Malvales
Myrtales
Nymphaeales
Oxalidales
Pandanales
Piperales
Poales
Proteales
Ranunculales
Rosales
Santalales
Sapindales
Saxifragales
Solanales
Vahliales
Vitales
Zingiberales
Zygophyllales
Animals Arthropods
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Entognatha
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Harvestmen
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Insects
Alderflies, dobsonflies and fishflies
Beetles
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Butterflies and moths
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Cockroaches and termites
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Scorpionflies
Silverfish and firebrats
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Molluscs Vertebrates
Seaweeds Fungi Related
Regional taxon checklists and other minor lists
Biodiversity hotspots and Centres of diversity
Cape Floristic Region
Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot
Succulent Karoo
Succulent Karoo
Cape Floristic Region
Ecoregions
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Montane grasslands and shrublands Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
Albany thickets
Lowland fynbos and renosterveld
Montane fynbos and renosterveld
Deserts and xeric shrublands
Kalahari xeric savanna
Nama Karoo
Succulent Karoo
Tundra Mangroves
Southern Africa mangroves
Marine ecoregions
Agulhas ecoregion
Benguela ecoregion
Delagoa ecoregion
Natal ecoregion
Southeast Atlantic ecoregion
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Biomes and Vegetation classification
List of vegetation types of South Africa
Protected areas of South Africa
Index of protected areas of South Africa
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Coastal
Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area
Amathole Marine Protected Area
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Hluleka Marine Protected Area I
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Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary
Offshore
Agulhas Bank Complex Marine Protected Area
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Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area
Amathole Offshore Marine Protected Area
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Cape Canyon Marine Protected Area
Childs Bank Marine Protected Area
iSimangaliso Offshore Marine Protected Area
Namaqua Fossil Forest Marine Protected Area
Orange Shelf Edge Marine Protected Area
Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area
Protea Banks Marine Protected Area
Southeast Atlantic Seamounts Marine Protected Area
Southwest Indian Seamounts Marine Protected Area
Port Elizabeth Corals Marine Protected Area
uThukela Banks Marine Protected Area
Management organisations
CapeNature
City of Cape Town
Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
Department of Science and Innovation
Eastern Cape Parks
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality
South African National Parks
Biodiversity research in SA
Research organisations Research projects
National Biodiversity Assessment
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Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology Virtual Museum
Botanical gardens
Durban Botanic Gardens
Free State National Botanical Garden
Garden Route Botanical Garden
Hantam National Botanical Garden
Harold Porter National Botanical Garden
Johannesburg Botanical Garden
Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden
Lowveld National Botanical Garden
Makana Botanical Gardens
Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden
North-West University Botanical Garden
Pretoria National Botanical Garden
Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden
University of KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Garden
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Taxonomists
List of authors of South African botanical taxa
List of authors of South African animal taxa
Related
Biodiversity
Biosphere
Ecotourism
Encyclopedia of Life
Environmental impact of recreational diving
Low impact diving
International Union for Conservation of Nature
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Scuba diving tourism
World Register of Marine Species
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Regional biodiversity
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List of nature reserves in Cape Town
Legislation
Marine Living Resources Act, 18 of 1998
National Environmental Management Act, 1998
Publications
Categories: Biodiversity of South Africa
Index