KwaZulu-Natal Dune Forest

KwaZulu-Natal Dune Forest is a subtropical forest type that was once found almost continuously along the coastal dunes of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This vegetation type develops in sheltered areas behind the littoral zone, where with some protection from the salt wind it may develop with canopies as tall as 30 m.[1][2] It still exists in protected areas, but much has been degraded by human activity. Coastal dune forest covers approximately 1% of the land area of KwaZulu-Natal, and is a habitat type seriously threatened from human population pressure and development.[3]

Dune Forest at Pipeline Coastal Park

List of Trees (Incomplete)

Birds

The coastal dune forest is one of the main habitats of the spotted ground-thrush, which is threatened by the decline of these forests.[4]

Invertebrates

During 1995, spiders were sampled from the herbaceous layer of coastal dune forests at Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. Four stands were sampled in rehabilitating dune forest and one stand in a mature forest. Samples were taken for a two-month period and a total of 2955 spiders representing 23 families, 72 genera and 96 species were recorded.[5]

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References
  1. World Wildlife Fund Staff. (2008) WWF Full Report: Maputaland coastal forest mosaic (AT0119).
  2. Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (2005).
  3. Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S. & Wassenaar, T. D. 2006. A checklist of spiders from the herbaceous layer of a coastal dune forest ecosystem at Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Arachnida: Araneae). African Invertebrates 47: 63-70.
  4. Travel South Africa; Spotted Ground Thrush Zoothera guttata http://www.southafricantours.co.za/Birding/Birds/SpottedGroundThrush.htm
  5. Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S. & Wassenaar, T. D. 2006. A checklist of spiders from the herbaceous layer of a coastal dune forest ecosystem at Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Arachnida: Araneae). African Invertebrates 47: 63-70.

Bibliography
  • Pooley, E. (1993). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.
  • Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to Wild Flowers; KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. ISBN 0-620-21500-3.
  • Pooley, T. and Player, I. (1995). KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Destinations. ISBN 1-86812-487-8.

See also

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