Albany thickets
Encyclopedia
The Albany thickets are an ecoregion
of dense woodland near the southern point of South Africa
, concentrated around the Albany
region of the Eastern Cape
(from whence they get their name).
s grow on well-drained sandy soils in the wide valleys of the Great Fish
, Sundays
and Gamtoos River
in the Eastern Cape
and, going further northwest, in the valleys of the Cape Fold Belt
. Thicket is vulnerable to fire and to grazing so has always been restricted to valley areas where these are less of a threat than on open plains.
The climate is dry, especially as you go further inland, but the shady of the valleys are cooler than the surrounding terrain which is hot in summer, cold in winter and receives irregular rainfall.
Euphorbia species and can be divided into three sections of varying habitat. The thicket is richest and most dense in the river valleys near the coast where it contains thorny shrubs with an undergrowth of creepers and succulent plants. As the river valleys climb inland and upstream the climate is drier and the vegetation less intense. Finally the shrubland in mountain valleys to the northwest consists of predominantly the succulent (Portulacaria
afra) along with Jade plant
(Crassula ovata), the boxthorn
(Lycium austrinum), Jacketplum (Pappea capensis), Euclea undulata, Rhigozum obovatum, Aloe
s and Schotia afra. Along with the fynbos
ecoregions the Albany thickets comprise the Cape Floristic Region
.
, Black-headed Oriole
and two species which are almost endemic to the Cape area, the Orange-breasted Sunbird
and Cape Siskin
. There is one near-endemic mammal Duthie's Golden Mole
(Chlorotalpa duthieae) and in the inland valleys, Addo Elephant National Park
is home to elephant (Loxodonta africana), Black Rhinoceros
(Diceros bicornis) and antelope
s such as Bushbuck
(Tragelaphus scriptus), Grey Rhebok
(Pelea capreolus), Mountain Reedbuck
(Redunca fulvorufula), Common Eland
(Taurotragus oryx), Greater Kudu
(Tragelaphus strepsiceros), Red Hartebeest
(Alcelaphus buselaphus), Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) and Common Duiker
(Sylvicapra grimmia).
on the Swartkops River and the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
of dense woodland near the southern point of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, concentrated around the Albany
Albany, South Africa
Albany, South Africa was a district in the Eastern Cape, South Africa...
region of the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
(from whence they get their name).
Location and description
The thicketThicket
A thicket is a very dense stand of trees or tall shrubs, often dominated by only one or a few species, to the exclusion of all others. They may be formed by species that shed large amounts of highly viable seeds that are able to germinate in the shelter of the maternal plants.In some conditions the...
s grow on well-drained sandy soils in the wide valleys of the Great Fish
Great Fish River
The Great Fish River is a river running through the South African province of the Eastern Cape, it originates east of Graaff-Reinet and runs through Cradock, just south of this the Tarka River joins it...
, Sundays
Sundays River
The Sundays River is a river in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is said to be the fastest flowing river in South Africa. The Khoisan people originally named this river Nukakamma because the river's banks are always green and grassy despite the arid terrain that it runs...
and Gamtoos River
Gamtoos River
Gamtoos River formed by the Kouga and the Groot is situated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is approximately 645 km long with a catchment area of 34,635 km²...
in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
and, going further northwest, in the valleys of the Cape Fold Belt
Cape Fold Belt
The Cape Fold Belt is the folded sedimentary sequence of rocks in the southwestern corner of South Africa. It is related to the Ventana Mountains near Bahía Blanca in Argentina...
. Thicket is vulnerable to fire and to grazing so has always been restricted to valley areas where these are less of a threat than on open plains.
The climate is dry, especially as you go further inland, but the shady of the valleys are cooler than the surrounding terrain which is hot in summer, cold in winter and receives irregular rainfall.
Flora
The thickets contain many endemic plants, in particular the succulentSucculent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
Euphorbia species and can be divided into three sections of varying habitat. The thicket is richest and most dense in the river valleys near the coast where it contains thorny shrubs with an undergrowth of creepers and succulent plants. As the river valleys climb inland and upstream the climate is drier and the vegetation less intense. Finally the shrubland in mountain valleys to the northwest consists of predominantly the succulent (Portulacaria
Portulacaria
Portulacaria is a plant genus.Species include:*Portulacaria afra Jacq.*Portulacaria armiana E. J. Van Jaarsveld*Portulacaria namaquensis Sond.*Portulacaria pygmaea Pillans...
afra) along with Jade plant
Jade plant
Commonly known as jade plant, friendship tree, lucky plant or Money Plant, Crassula ovata is a succulent plant with small pink or white flowers. It is native to South Africa, and is common as a houseplant worldwide...
(Crassula ovata), the boxthorn
Boxthorn
Boxthorn is a genus of the nightshade family , containing about 90 species of plants native throughout much of the temperate and subtropical zones of the world...
(Lycium austrinum), Jacketplum (Pappea capensis), Euclea undulata, Rhigozum obovatum, Aloe
Aloe
Aloe , also Aloë, is a genus containing about 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe"....
s and Schotia afra. Along with the fynbos
Fynbos
Fynbos is the natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate...
ecoregions the Albany thickets comprise the Cape Floristic Region
Cape floristic region
The Cape Floristic Region is a floristic region located near the southern tip of South Africa. It is the only floristic region of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, and includes only one floristic province, known as the Cape Floristic Province.The Cape Floristic Region, the smallest of the six recognised...
.
Fauna
Birds in this area include Black GoshawkBlack Goshawk
The Black Sparrowhawk , sometimes known as the Black Goshawk or Great Sparrowhawk, is the largest African member of the genus Accipiter . Downloaded on 06 October 2011....
, Black-headed Oriole
Black-headed Oriole
The Black-headed Oriole is an African passerine.It has a very striking appearance with a bright yellow body, contrasting black head and flesh-coloured beak....
and two species which are almost endemic to the Cape area, the Orange-breasted Sunbird
Orange-breasted Sunbird
The Orange-breasted Sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea, is the only member of the bird genus Anthobaphes although it is sometimes placed in the genus Nectarinia...
and Cape Siskin
Cape Siskin
The Cape Siskin, Serinus totta, is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is an endemic resident breeder in the southern Cape Province of South Africa...
. There is one near-endemic mammal Duthie's Golden Mole
Duthie's Golden Mole
Duthie's Golden Mole is a species of mammal in the Chrysochloridae family. It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, temperate grassland, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, urban areas, and introduced...
(Chlorotalpa duthieae) and in the inland valleys, Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park is an elephant park situated close to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and is recognized as one of the country's twenty national parks.- History :...
is home to elephant (Loxodonta africana), Black Rhinoceros
Black Rhinoceros
The Black Rhinoceros or Hook-lipped Rhinoceros , is a species of rhinoceros, native to the eastern and central areas of Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Angola...
(Diceros bicornis) and antelope
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
s such as Bushbuck
Bushbuck
The bushbuck is the most widespread antelope in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is found in rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaics and bush savannaforest and woodland. Recently, genetic studies have shown that the bushbuck, is in fact a complex of two geographically and phenotypically...
(Tragelaphus scriptus), Grey Rhebok
Grey Rhebok
The Grey Rhebok or Grey Rhebuck is a species of antelope endemic to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland....
(Pelea capreolus), Mountain Reedbuck
Mountain Reedbuck
The Mountain Reedbuck is an antelope found in mountainous areas of much of Sub-Saharan Africa.The Mountain Reedbuck averages 75 cm at the shoulder, and weighs around 30 kg. It has a grey coat with a white underbelly and reddish-brown head and shoulders...
(Redunca fulvorufula), Common Eland
Common Eland
The common eland , also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is the largest antelope in the African continent...
(Taurotragus oryx), Greater Kudu
Greater Kudu
The Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting....
(Tragelaphus strepsiceros), Red Hartebeest
Red Hartebeest
The Red Hartebeest is a species of even-toed ungulate in the Bovidae family. It is found in Southern Africa. There are more than 130,000 individuals left. The Red Hartebeest is closely related to the Tsessebe and the Topi....
(Alcelaphus buselaphus), Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) and Common Duiker
Common Duiker
The Common Duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia, also known as the Grey or Bush Duiker, is a small antelope with small horns found in west, central, east, and southern Africa- essentially everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the horn of Africa and the rainforests of the central and western...
(Sylvicapra grimmia).
Threats and preservation
A large part of this area has been converted for agriculture or reduced by the grazing, especially of gosts. This is a continuous threat especially in the river valleys near the coast, which are also vulnerable to clearnce for urban areas and tourist resorts. Protected areas include Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth, the Groendal Wilderness Area near UitenhageUitenhage
Uitenhage is a South African town with 275,185 inhabitants in the Eastern Cape Province. It is well known for the Volkswagen factory located there, which is the biggest car factory on the African continent. The town's name is pronounced by English speakers and in Afrikaans...
on the Swartkops River and the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve
Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve
Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve is a protected area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The Baviaanskloof - - lies between the Baviaanskloof and Kouga mountain ranges. The eastern-most point of the valley is some 95 km NW of the coastal city of Port Elizabeth...