The Karoo: Ecological Patterns and Processes

by Edited by W. Richard J. Dean , Suzanne Milton

• ISBN13: 9780521126878
• ISBN10: 0521126878
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-12-03
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

The Succulent and Nama Karoo form part of the arid southwestern zone of Africa, a vast region of rugged landscapes and low treeless vegetation. Studies of this unique biome have yielded fascinating insights into the ecology of its flora and fauna. This book is the first to synthesize these studies, presenting information on biogeographic patterns and life processes, form and function of animals and plants, foraging ecology, landscape-level dynamics, and anthropogenic influences. The contributions offer novel analyses of the factors distinguishing the Karoo from other temperate deserts and challenge generalizations about semi-arid ecosystems.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgements

The Driving Variables

The climate of the Karoo - a functional approach

Soils of the arid south-western zone of Africa

Paleoenvironments

Plant biogeography, endemism and diversity

Biogeography, endemism and diversity of animals

Form and Function

Form and function in perennial plants

Functional aspects of annual and biennial plants

Plant reproductive ecology

Animal form and function

Animal foraging and food

Dynamics

Population-level dynamics

Community patterns and dynamics

Modelling populations and community dynamics in Karoo ecosystems

Spatially explicit computer simulation models - tools for understanding vegetation dynamics and supporting rangeland management

Human Impacts

Hunters and herders in the Karoo landscape

Historical and contemporary land use and the desertification of the Karoo

Alien plant invaders of the Karoo: attributes, impacts and control

Comparison of ecosystem processes in the Nama Karoo and other deserts

The Succulent Karoo in a global context: plant structural and functional concepts comparison with North American winter rainfall deserts

The Karoo: past and present

References

Index

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