ISSN:
1573-5052
Keywords:
California
;
Cape Province
;
Chile
;
Convergence
;
Edaphic factors
;
Mediterranean climate
;
South Africa
;
Speeies richness
;
Vegetation structure
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary Plant communities on desert to montane transects in the mediterranean type climatic areas in southern California, central Chile and the Cape, South Africa have been analysed to determine the extent of vegetation convergence. Data on floristic richness, growth form, leaf duration, leaf size, and spineseence, of the woody plants, collected by Parsons & Moldenke (1975) from analogous climatic sites in California and Chile, were compared with data from analogous sites in the Cape. Considerable convergence in vegetation structure between floristically distinct but climatically similar sites in California and Chile has been demonstrated by Parsons & Moldenke (1975). Cape vegetation, however, shows little convergence to these mediterranean regions. In Cape desert communities succulence rather than drought deciduousness is the principal adaptive strategy. Cape fynbos communities show major differences from communities at analogous sites on the other continents. Much of the divergence between fynbos and the vegetation of the other continents can be attributed to the nutrient-poor soils on which fynbos has evolved.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00158749
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