Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrubMediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub is a biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. The biome is generally characterized by dry summers and rainy winters, although in some areas rainfall may be uniform. Summers are typically hot in low-lying inland locations, but can be cool near colder seas; while winters are typically mild to cool in low-lying locations, but can be cold in inland and higher locations.
ShrublandShrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetationdominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity, but in the latter case the terms shrubbery or bushes are more commonly used.
South AfricaSouth Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. The country consists of nine provinces, and is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 miles) of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. South Africa also encloses Lesotho.
Mediterranean climateA Mediterranean climate ( MED-ih-tə-RAY-nee-ən), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as Cs, is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 45 north and south latitude). Such climates typically have dry summers and wet winters, with summer conditions being hot and winter conditions typically being mild.
Western CapeThe Western Cape (Afrikaans: Wes-Kaap [ˈvɛskɑːp]; Xhosa: eNtshona-Kapa; Khoekhoe: Huri!hub) is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is geographically the fourth largest of the country's nine provinces, with an area of 129,449 square kilometres (49,981 sq mi), and the third most populous, with an estimated 7.43 million inhabitants in 2022.
The bush"The bush", a term mostly used in the English vernacular of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, is largely synonymous with hinterlands or . The fauna and flora contained within the bush is typically native to the region, although exotic species may also be present.
BiomeA biome ( ) is a distinct geographical region with specific climate, vegetation, animal life, and an ecosystem. It consists of a biological community that has formed in response to its physical environment and regional climate. In 1935, Arthur Tansley added the climatic and soil aspects to the idea, calling it ecosystem. The International Biological Program (1964–74) projects popularized the concept of biome.
Eastern CapeThe Eastern Cape (Afrikaans: Oos-Kaap [ˈuəs.kɑːp]; Xhosa: eMpuma-Kapa; Khoekhoe: Aiǂoas!hub) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, and its largest city is Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). Due to its temperate climate and Victorian towns, it is a common location for tourists.
EcoregionEcoregions (ecological regions) are ecological and geographical areas that exist on multiple different levels, defined by type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural communities and species. The biodiversity of ecosystems, fauna, and flora that characterise an ecoregion tends to be distinct from that of other ecoregions.
BiogeographyStudy of distribution of speciesFrontispiece to Alfred Russel Wallace's book The Geographical Distribution of AnimalsBiogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and throughout geological time. Organisms and biological communities often vary in a regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area.
BiodiversityVariety and variability of life formsAn example of the biodiversity of fungi in a forest in North Saskatchewan (in this photo, there are also leaf lichens and mosses).Biodiversity is the variability of life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels, for example, genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity, and phylogenetic diversity.
HeathA heath () is a shrublandhabitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and is characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a cooler and damper climate. Heaths are widespread worldwide but are rapidly disappearing and considered a rare habitat in Europe.
fynbosRelated word or term.fynboschRelated word or term.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.