ISSN:
1573-5052
Keywords:
Fynbos
;
Plant species diversity
;
Sclerophyllous shrublands
;
South Africa
;
Species-area relations
;
Species diversity
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary This paper reports the number of plant species on circumscribed fynbos areas (gamma diversity), ranging in size from 0.27 km2 (a site with 364 species) to 471 km2 (2351 species). The composition of the floras of four of these sites was analysed to measure delta diversity, the change in flora from one site to the next. Maximum gamma diversity values fitted a species-area curve log S=2.69+0.25 log A. Gamma diversity is apparently higher than in any of the world's biogeographic zones except perhaps the tropical rain forest, and in other South African sites of areas around 1.0 km2, which have about as many species. High delta diversities are reflected in differences between fynbos floras of 50 to 70 %, in spite of relative proximity; this degree of diversity is apparently unmatched anywhere. The results support the conventional view that fynbos plant diversity is partly a consequence of the peculiar geography of the zone, and of palaeo-climatic change, which have favoured geographic speciation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00121419
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