Tundra

Biome where plant growth is hindered by frigid temperatures

For other uses, see Tundra (disambiguation).

Tundra

Tundra in Greenland

extent of the Arctic tundra

Geography
Area| 11,563,300[1] km2 (4,464,600 sq mi)
Climate type| ET

In physical geography, a tundra (/ˈtʌndrə, ˈtʊn-/) is a type of biome where tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures and short growing seasons. There are three regions and associated types of tundra: Arctic,[2] Alpine,[2] and Antarctic.[3]

Tundra vegetation is composed of dwarf shrubs, sedges, grasses, mosses, and lichens. Scattered trees grow in some tundra regions. The ecotone (or ecological boundary region) between the tundra and the forest is known as the tree line or timberline. The tundra soil is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus.[2] The soil also contains large amounts of biomass and decomposed biomass that has been stored as methane and carbon dioxide in the permafrost, making the tundra soil a carbon sink. As global warming heats the ecosystem and causes soil thawing, the permafrost carbon cycle accelerates and releases much of these soil-contained greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, creating a feedback cycle that contributes to global warming.

## Etymology

[edit]

The term is a Russian word adapted from the Sámi languages.[4]

## Arctic

[edit]

See also: Arctic vegetation

Arctic tundra occurs in the far Northern Hemisphere, north of the taiga belt. The word "tundra" usually refers only to the areas where the subsoil is permafrost, or permanently frozen soil. (It may also refer to the treeless plain in general so that northern Sápmi would be included.) Permafrost tundra includes vast areas of northern Russia and Canada.[2] The polar tundra is home to several peoples who are mostly nomadic reindeer herders, such as the Nganasan and Nenets in the permafrost area (and the Sami in Sápmi).

Tundra in Siberia

Arctic tundra contains areas of stark landscape and is frozen for much of the year.[5] The soil there is frozen from 25 to 90 cm (10 to 35 in) down, making it impossible for trees to grow there. Instead, bare and sometimes rocky land can only support certain kinds of Arctic vegetation, low-growing plants such as moss, heath (Ericaceae varieties such as crowberry and black bearberry), and lichen.[6][7]

There are two main seasons, winter and summer, in the polar tundra areas. During the winter it is very cold, dark, and windy with the average temperature around −28 °C (−18 °F), sometimes dipping as low as −50 °C (−58 °F). However, extreme cold temperatures on the tundra generally do not drop as low as those experienced in taiga areas further south (for example, Russia's, Canada's, and Alaska's lowest temperatures were recorded in locations south of the tree line). During the summer, temperatures rise somewhat, and the top layer of seasonally-frozen soil melts, leaving the ground very soggy. The tundra is covered in marshes, lakes, bogs, and streams during the warm months. Generally daytime temperatures during the summer rise to about 12 °C (54 °F) but can often drop to 3 °C (37 °F) or even below freezing. Arctic tundras are sometimes the subject of habitat conservation programs. In Canada and Russia, many of these areas are protected through a national Biodiversity Action Plan.

Vuntut National Park in Canada

Tundra tends to be windy, with winds often blowing upwards of 50–100 km/h (31–62 mph). However, it is desert-like, with only about 150–250 mm (6–10 in) of precipitation falling per year (the summer is typically the season of maximum precipitation). Although precipitation is light, evaporation is also relatively minimal. During the summer, the permafrost thaws just enough to let plants grow and reproduce, but because the ground below this is frozen, the water cannot sink any lower, so the water forms the lakes and marshes found during the summer months. There is a natural pattern of accumulation of fuel and wildfire which varies depending on the nature of vegetation and terrain. Research in Alaska has shown fire-event return intervals (FRIs) that typically vary from 150 to 200 years, with dryer lowland areas burning more frequently than wetter highland areas.[8]

A small herd of muskoxen in the Kakagrak Hills, Alaska

The biodiversity of tundras is low: 1,700 species of vascular plants and only 48 species of land mammals can be found, although millions of birds migrate there each year for the marshes.[9] There are also a few fish species. There are few species with large populations. Notable plants in the Arctic tundra include blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), reindeer lichen (Cladonia rangiferina), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum).[10] Notable animals include reindeer (caribou), musk ox, Arctic hare, Arctic fox, snowy owl, ptarmigan, northern red-backed voles, lemmings, the mosquito,[11] and even polar bears near the ocean.[10][12] Tundra is largely devoid of poikilotherms such as frogs or lizards.

Due to the harsh climate of Arctic tundra, regions of this kind have seen little human activity, even though they are sometimes rich in natural resources such as petroleum, natural gas, and uranium. In recent times this has begun to change in Alaska, Russia, and some other parts of the world: for example, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug produces 90% of Russia's natural gas.

### Relationship to climate change

[edit]

See also: Permafrost carbon cycle § Carbon release from the permafrost

Permafrost thawing can cause slumping in the landscape

A severe threat to tundra is global warming, which causes permafrost to thaw. The thawing of the permafrost in a given area on human time scales (decades or centuries) could radically change which species can survive there.[13] It also represents a significant risk to infrastructure built on top of permafrost, such as roads and pipelines.

In locations where dead vegetation and peat have accumulated, there is a risk of wildfire, such as the 1,039 km2 (401 sq mi) of tundra which burned in 2007 on the north slope of the Brooks Range in Alaska.[14] Such events may both result from and contribute to global warming.[15]

Carbon emissions from permafrost thaw contribute to the same warming which facilitates the thaw, making it a positive climate change feedback. The warming also intensifies Arctic water cycle, and the increased amounts of warmer rain are another factor which increases permafrost thaw depths.[16]

The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report estimates that carbon dioxide and methane released from permafrost could amount to the equivalent of 14–175 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per 1 °C (1.8 °F) of warming.[17] For comparison, by 2019, annual anthropogenic emission of carbon dioxide alone stood around 40 billion tonnes.[17] A 2018 perspectives article discussing tipping points in the climate system activated around 2 °C (3.6 °F) of global warming suggested that at this threshold, permafrost thaw would add a further 0.09 °C (0.16 °F) to global temperatures by 2100, with a range of 0.04–0.16 °C (0.07–0.29 °F)[18]

## Antarctic

[edit]

Tundra on the Kerguelen Islands.

Antarctic tundra occurs on Antarctica and on several Antarctic and subantarctic islands, including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the Kerguelen Islands. Most of Antarctica is too cold and dry to support vegetation, and most of the continent is covered by ice fields or cold deserts. However, some portions of the continent, particularly the Antarctic Peninsula, have areas of rocky soil that support plant life. The flora presently consists of around 300–400 species of lichens, 100 mosses, 25 liverworts, and around 700 terrestrial and aquatic algae species, which live on the areas of exposed rock and soil around the shore of the continent. Antarctica's two flowering plant species, the Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis), are found on the northern and western parts of the Antarctic Peninsula.[19] In contrast with the Arctic tundra, the Antarctic tundra lacks a large mammal fauna, mostly due to its physical isolation from the other continents. Sea mammals and sea birds, including seals and penguins, inhabit areas near the shore, and some small mammals, like rabbits and cats, have been introduced by humans to some of the subantarctic islands. The Antipodes Subantarctic Islands tundra ecoregion includes the Bounty Islands, Auckland Islands, Antipodes Islands, the Campbell Island group, and Macquarie Island.[20] Species endemic to this ecoregion include Corybas dienemus and Corybas sulcatus, the only subantarctic orchids; the royal penguin; and the Antipodean albatross.[20]

There is some ambiguity on whether Magellanic moorland, on the west coast of Patagonia, should be considered tundra or not.[21] Phytogeographer Edmundo Pisano called it tundra (Spanish: tundra Magallánica) since he considered the low temperatures key to restrict plant growth.[21] More recent approaches have since recognized it as a temperate grassland, restricting southern tundra to coastal Antarctica and its islands.[22][23][24]

The flora and fauna of Antarctica and the Antarctic Islands (south of 60° south latitude) are protected by the Antarctic Treaty.[25]

## Alpine

[edit]

Main article: Alpine tundra

Alpine tundra in the North Cascades of Washington, United States

Alpine tundra does not contain trees because the climate and soils at high altitude block tree growth.[26]: 51 The cold climate of the alpine tundra is caused by the low air temperatures, and is similar to polar climate. Alpine tundra is generally better drained than arctic soils.[7] Alpine tundra transitions to subalpine forests below the tree line; stunted forests occurring at the forest-tundra ecotone (the treeline) are known as Krummholz. Alpine tundra can be affected by woody plant encroachment.[27]

Alpine tundra occurs in mountains worldwide. The flora of the alpine tundra is characterized by plants that grow close to the ground, including perennial grasses, sedges, forbs, cushion plants, mosses, and lichens.[28] The flora is adapted to the harsh conditions of the alpine environment, which include low temperatures, dryness, ultraviolet radiation, and a short growing season.

## Climatic classification

[edit]

Main articles: Tundra climate and Alpine climate

Tundra region with fjords, glaciers and mountains. Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen.

Tundra climates ordinarily fit the Köppen climate classification ET, signifying a local climate in which at least one month has an average temperature high enough to melt snow (0 °C (32 °F)), but no month with an average temperature in excess of 10 °C (50 °F).[29] The cold limit generally meets the EF climates of permanent ice and snows; the warm-summer limit generally corresponds with the poleward or altitudinal limit of trees,[30] where they grade into the subarctic climates designated Dfd, Dwd and Dsd (extreme winters as in parts of Siberia), Dfc typical in Alaska, Canada, mountain areas of Scandinavia, European Russia, and Western Siberia (cold winters with months of freezing).[31]

Despite the potential diversity of climates in the ET category involving precipitation, extreme temperatures, and relative wet and dry seasons, this category is rarely subdivided. Rainfall and snowfall are generally slight due to the low vapor pressure of water in the chilly atmosphere, but as a rule potential evapotranspiration is extremely low, allowing soggy terrain of swamps and bogs even in places that get precipitation typical of deserts of lower and middle latitudes.[6] The amount of native tundra biomass depends more on the local temperature than the amount of precipitation.[32]

## See also

[edit]

* Alas
* Fellfield
* List of tundra ecoregions from the WWF
* Mammoth steppe
* Park Tundra

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ecoregions". World Wildlife Fund. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
2. ^ a b c d "The Tundra Biome". The World's Biomes. University of California, Berkeley. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2006.
3. ^ "Terrestrial Ecoregions: Antarctica". Wild World. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
4. ^ Aapala, Kirsti. "Tunturista jängälle" [From fell to mountain] (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 1 October 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
5. ^ "Tundra Biome". National Geographic. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
6. ^ a b "Tundra". Earth Observatory. NASA. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
7. ^ a b "The tundra biome". University of California Museum of Paleontology. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
8. ^ Higuera, Philip E.; Chipman, Melissa L.; Barnes, Jennifer L.; Urban, Michael A.; et al. (December 2011). "Variability of tundra fire regimes in Arctic Alaska: millennial-scale patterns and ecological implications". Ecological Applications. 21 (8): 3211–3226\. Bibcode:2011EcoAp..21.3211H. doi:10.1890/11-0387.1. ISSN 1051-0761.
9. ^ "Great Plain of the Koukdjuak". Ibacanada.com. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
10. ^ a b "Tundra". Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. NPS. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
11. ^ "Where Are Arctic Mosquitoes Most Abundant in Greenland and Why?". Ecological Society of America. 4 August 2020.
12. ^ "Tundra". Blue Planet Biomes. Retrieved 5 March 2006.
13. ^ "Tundra Threats". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2008.
14. ^ Gillis, Justin (16 December 2011). "As Permafrost Thaws, Scientists Study the Risks". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
15. ^ Mack, Michelle C.; Bret-Harte, M. Syndonia; Hollingsworth, Teresa N.; Jandt, Randi R.; et al. (28 July 2011). "Carbon loss from an unprecedented Arctic tundra wildfire" (PDF). Nature. 475 (7357): 489–492\. Bibcode:2011Natur.475..489M. doi:10.1038/nature10283. PMID 21796209. S2CID 4371811. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
16. ^ Douglas, Thomas A.; Turetsky, Merritt R.; Koven, Charles D. (24 July 2020). "Increased rainfall stimulates permafrost thaw across a variety of Interior Alaskan boreal ecosystems". npj Climate and Atmospheric Science. 3 (1): 5626. Bibcode:2020npCAS...3...28D. doi:10.1038/s41612-020-0130-4.
17. ^ a b Fox-Kemper, B; et al. (2021). "Chapter 9: Ocean, Cryosphere and Sea Level Change" (PDF). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 1237\. doi:10.1017/9781009157896.011.
18. ^ Schellnhuber, Hans Joachim; et al. (2018). "Trajectories of the Earth System in the Anthropocene". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 115 (33): 8252–8259\. Bibcode:2018PNAS..115.8252S. doi:10.1073/pnas.1810141115. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 6099852. PMID 30082409.
19. ^ "Terrestrial Plants". British Antarctic Survey: About Antarctica. Retrieved 5 March 2006.
20. ^ a b "Antipodes Subantarctic Islands tundra". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
21. ^ a b Longton, R.E. (1988). Biology of Polar Bryophytes and Lichen. Studies in Polar Research. Cambridge University Press. p. 20\. ISBN 978-0-521-25015-3.
22. ^ Olson, David M.; et al. (2011). "Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth". BioScience. 51 (11): 933–938\. doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2.
23. ^ Dinerstein, Eric; et al. (2017). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience. 67 (6): 534–545\. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix014. PMC 5451287. PMID 28608869.
24. ^ "Patagonia Steppe & Low Mountains Bioregion". One Earth.
25. ^ "Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty". British Antarctic Survey: About Antarctica. Retrieved 5 March 2006.
26. ^ Elliott-Fisk, D.L. (2000). "The Taiga and Boreal Forest". In Barbour, M.G.; Billings, M.D. (eds.). North American Terrestrial Vegetation (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-55986-7.
27. ^ Marsman, Floor; Nystuen, Kristin O.; Opedal, Øystein H.; Foest, Jessie J.; Sørensen, Mia Vedel; De Frenne, Pieter; Graae, Bente Jessen; Limpens, Juul (January 2021). Pugnaire, Francisco (ed.). "Determinants of tree seedling establishment in alpine tundra". Journal of Vegetation Science. 32 (1). Bibcode:2021JVegS..32E2948M. doi:10.1111/jvs.12948. hdl:11250/2733966. ISSN 1100-9233.
28. ^ Körner, Christian (2003). Alpine Plant Life: Functional Plant Ecology of High Mountain Ecosystems. Berlin: Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-00347-2.
29. ^ Kottek, Markus; Grieser, Jürgen; Beck, Christoph; Rudolf, Bruno; Rubel, Franz (2006). "World Map of the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated". Meteorol. Z. 15 (3): 259–263\. Bibcode:2006MetZe..15..259K. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130.
30. ^ "Tundra". geodiode.com. September 2011.
31. ^ Peel, M.C.; Finlayson, B.L.; McMahon, T.A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11 (5): 1633–1644\. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. S2CID 9654551.
32. ^ Keuper, F.; Parmentier, F.J.; Blok, D.; van Bodegom, P.M.; Dorrepaal, E.; van Hal, J.R.; van Logtestijn, R.S.; Aerts, R. (2012). "Tundra in the rain: differential vegetation responses to three years of experimentally doubled summer precipitation in Siberian shrub and Swedish bog tundra". Ambio. 41 Suppl 3(Suppl 3) (Suppl 3): 269–80\. Bibcode:2012Ambio..41S.269K. doi:10.1007/s13280-012-0305-2. PMC 3535056. PMID 22864700.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Allaby, Michael; Moore, Peter D.; Day, Trevor; Garratt, Richard (2008). Tundra. Facts on File. ISBN 978-0-8160-5934-8. "Tundra."
* Bliss, L. C; O. W. Heal; J. J. Moore (1981). Tundra Ecosystems: A Comparative Analysis. International Biological Programme Synthesis Series (No. 25). ISBN 978-0-521-22776-6.
* Warhol, Tom (2007). Tundra. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark. ISBN 978-0-7614-2193-1.
* Yu I, Chernov (1998). The Living Tundra;Studies in Polar Research. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-35754-8.

## External links

[edit]

* WWF Tundra Ecoregions Archived 23 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
* The Arctic biome at Classroom of the Future
* Arctic Feedbacks to Global Warming: Tundra Degradation in the Russian Arctic
* British Antarctica Survey
* Antarctica: West of the Transantarctic Mountains
* World Map of Tundra

Tundra at Wikipedia's sister projects:

* Definitions from Wiktionary
* Media from Commons
* Travel guides from Wikivoyage

* v
* t
* e

Biogeographic regions

Biomes|

| Terrestrial
biomes|

| Polar/montane|

* Tundra
* Taiga
* Montane grasslands and shrublands
* Alpine tundra

|

Temperate|

* Coniferous forests
* Broadleaf and mixed forests
* Deciduous forests
* Grasslands, savannas, and shrublands

Tropical and
subtropical|

* Tropical forest
* Rainforest
* Seasonal forest
* Coniferous forests
* Moist broadleaf forests
* Dry broadleaf forests
* Grasslands, savannas, and shrublands

Dry|

* Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
* Deserts and xeric shrublands
* Steppe

Wet|

* Flooded grasslands and savannas
* Riparian
* Wetland
* Mangrove

Aquatic
biomes|

* Pond
* Littoral
* Intertidal
* Mangroves
* Kelp forests
* Coral reefs
* Neritic zone
* Pelagic zone
* Benthic zone
* Hydrothermal vents
* Cold seeps
* Demersal zone

Other biomes|

* Endolithic zone

Biogeographic
realms|

| Terrestrial|

* Afrotropical
* Antarctic
* Australasian
* Holarctic
* Nearctic
* Palearctic
* Indomalayan
* Neotropical
* Oceanian

|

Marine|

* Antarctic/Southern Ocean
* Arctic
* Central Indo-Pacific
* Eastern Indo-Pacific
* Temperate Australasia
* Temperate Northern Atlantic
* Temperate Northern Pacific
* Temperate South America
* Temperate Southern Africa
* Tropical Atlantic
* Tropical Eastern Pacific
* Western Indo-Pacific

Subdivisions|

* Biogeographic provinces
* Bioregions
* Ecoregions
* Lists of ecoregions
* Global 200 ecoregions

See also|

* Altitudinal zonation
* Ecological classification
* Floristic kingdoms
* Vegetation classifications
* Wallace Line
* Zoogeography

* v
* t
* e

Earth's landforms

List of landforms

Mountainous|

* Butte
* Flat
* Hill
* Mountain
* range
* Plateau
* Ridge
* Tableland
* Valley

Continental plain|

* Ice sheet
* Plain
* Steppe
* Tundra

Fluvial|

* Alluvial fan
* Beach
* Canyon
* Cave
* Channel
* Cliff
* Floodplain
* Lake
* island
* Levee
* Meander
* Oasis
* Pond
* Rapids
* River
* delta
* mouth
* Strait
* Swamp
* Valley
* Waterfall

Glacial|

* Arête
* Cirque
* Esker
* Fjord
* Glacier
* Ice field
* Tunnel valley

Oceanic and
coastal landforms|

* Atoll
* Bay
* Cape
* Channel
* Coast
* Continental shelf
* Coral reef
* Estuary
* Island
* Isthmus
* Lagoon
* Mid-ocean ridge
* Oceanic trench
* Peninsula
* Seamount
* Volcanic island

Volcanic|

* Caldera
* Geyser
* Guyot
* Lava dome
* Lava field
* Submarine volcano
* Volcanic crater
* Volcanic crater lake
* Volcanic dam
* Volcanic island
* Volcanic plateau
* Volcanic plug
* Volcano
* Wall rock

Aeolian|

* Desert
* Dry lake
* Dune
* Sandhill
* Tundra

Artificial|

* Artificial island
* Artificial reef
* Bridge
* Building
* Canal
* Dam
* Ditch
* Land reclamation
* Levee
* Polder
* Quarry
* Reservoir
* Road
* Tunnel

* See also: Geographical feature

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

Climate types under the Köppen climate classification

Class A|

* Tropical rainforest (Af)
* Tropical monsoon (Am)
* Tropical savanna (Aw, As)

Class B|

* Desert (BWh, BWk)
* Semi-arid (BSh, BSk)

Class C|

* Humid subtropical (Cfa, Cwa)
* Oceanic (Cfb, Cwb, Cfc, Cwc)
* Mediterranean (Csa, Csb, Csc)

Class D|

* Humid continental (Dfa, Dwa, Dsa, Dfb, Dwb, Dsb)
* Subarctic (Dfc, Dwc, Dsc, Dfd, Dwd, Dsd)

Class E|

* Tundra (ET)
* Ice cap (EF)
* Alpine (ET, EF)

* v
* t
* e

Periglacial environment

Landforms|

* Blockfield
* Bratschen
* Cryoplanation terrace
* Glacial erratic
* Kurum
* Lithalsa
* Paha
* Palsa
* Periglacial lake
* Pingo
* Protalus rampart
* Rock glacier
* Strandflat
* Glaciokarst
* Thermokarst

| Patterned ground|

* Frost boil
* Polygons
* Solifluction lobes and sheets
* Sorted stripe
* Stone ring

|

Processes|

* Cryoplanation
* Cryosuction
* Cryoturbation
* Fluvio-thermal erosion
* Frost heave
* Frost weathering
* Gelifluction
* Ice segregation
* Methane release
* Nivation
* Solifluction
* Syngenetic permafrost growth
* Zero-curtain effect

Soils and deposits|

* Active layer
* Gelisols
* Ice wedge
* Loess
* Peat
* Permafrost
* Stratified slope deposit
* Talik
* Yedoma

Biomes and ecotones|

* Arctic tundra
* Arctic tree line
* Antarctic oasis
* Golets
* Antarctic tundra
* Montane grasslands and shrublands
* Alpine tundra
* Alpine tree line (Massenerhebung effect)
* Taiga (Drunken trees)

Climate|

* Alpine
* Polar
* Subpolar

* Category:Periglacial landforms
* Template:Glaciers

* v
* t
* e

Arctic topics

History|

* Arctic exploration
* Arctic research
* History of whaling

Government|

* Arctic Council
* Arctic cooperation and politics
* Arctic Ocean Conference
* Chief Directorate of the Northern Sea Route
* Ilulissat Declaration
* Inuit Circumpolar Council
* Saami Council
* Territorial claims in the Arctic
* United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Geography|

* Arctic Archipelago
* Arctic Circle
* Arctic Cordillera
* Arctic ecology
* Arctic Ocean
* Arctic Cyclone
* Greenland ice sheet
* Impact craters of the Arctic
* Innuitian Region
* Nordicity
* North Pole
* Populated places in the Arctic
* Subarctic
* Tundra

Geology|

* Canadian Arctic Rift System
* Eurekan orogeny
* Greenland Plate
* Innuitian orogeny
* Queen Elizabeth Islands Subplate
* Southeast Bathurst Fault Zone
* Ungava Fault Zone

Regions|

* Arctic Alaska
* British Arctic Territories
* Canadian Arctic Archipelago
* Finnmark
* Greenland
* Iceland
* Inuvialuit
* Karelia
* Komi
* Northern Canada
* Northwest Territories
* Nunavik
* Nunavut
* Nunatsiavut
* Russian Arctic
* North
* Sakha
* Sápmi
* Yukon
* North American Arctic

Climate|

* Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
* Arctic dipole anomaly
* Arctic haze
* Arctic oscillation
* Arctic sea ice
* decline
* ecology and history
* Arctic methane emissions
* Climate change in the Arctic
* Climate of Alaska
* Effects of global warming on marine mammals
* Polar climate
* Polar amplification
* Polar vortex

Fauna|

* Arctic fox
* Beluga whale
* Bowhead whale
* Lemming
* Muskox
* Narwhal
* Polar bear
* Reindeer
* Seal
* bearded
* harp
* hooded
* ribbon
* ringed
* Snowy owl
* Walrus

Flora|

* Arctic ecology
* Arctic vegetation
* Tundra

Culture|

* Arctic peoples
* Subarctic peoples
* Chukchi
* Chukotka
* Evenks
* Karelians
* Komi
* Icelandic
* Inuit
* Gwich'in
* Khanty
* Koryaks
* Nenets
* Northern indigenous Russian peoples
* Sami
* Selkup
* Yakuts
* Yukaghir
* Arctic Winter Games
* First sunrise
* Quviasukvik (New Year's Day)

Economy|

* Natural resources
* Petroleum exploration
* Arctic Refuge drilling controversy
* Pollution in the Arctic Ocean
* Protected areas
* Transportation

Transport|

* Arctic Bridge
* Arctic shipping routes
* Northeast Passage
* Northwest Passage
* Northern Sea Route
* Polar air route
* Transpolar Sea Route
* Search and rescue

* Category
* WikiProject

* v
* t
* e

Antarctica

Geography|

* South Pole
* Antarctic sea ice
* Climate
* Climate change
* Heat waves
* Ice shelves
* Geology
* Glaciers
* Mountains
* Tundra
* Volcanoes

| Regions|

* Biogeographic realm
* Antarctic Peninsula
* East Antarctica
* ice sheet
* shield
* Extreme points
* Floristic kingdom
* Islands
* Ridge A
* South Pole (region)
* South magnetic pole
* West Antarctica
* ice sheet

|

Bodies of water|

* Antarctic/Southern Ocean
* Lake CECs
* Lake Mercer
* Lake Vostok
* List of rivers
* McMurdo Sound
* Ross Sea
* Weddell Sea

Life|

* Flora
* Microorganisms
* Wildlife
* Birds
* Mammals
* Krill

History|

* Expeditions
* Heroic Age
* World War II
* Colonization
* COVID-19 pandemic
* Years

Politics|

* Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs
* Military activity
* National programs
* Territorial claims
* Treaty System

Society|

* Antarctica Day
* Antarctic English
* Crime
* Cuisine
* Demographics
* Economy
* Field camps
* Firefighting
* Flags
* Gateway cities
* Midwinter Day
* Protected areas
* Religion
* Research stations
* Telecommunications
* Time
* Tourism
* Transport
* Women
* Antarctica Weather Danger Classification

Famous explorers|

* Roald Amundsen
* Richard E. Byrd
* Douglas Mawson
* Ui-te-Rangiora (legendary)
* James Clark Ross
* Robert Falcon Scott
* Ernest Shackleton

* Category
* Commons
* Index

* v
* t
* e

Biodiversity of South Africa

* Afrotropical realm
* Marine biodiversity of South Africa
* Temperate Southern Africa
* Western Indo-Pacific
* Wildlife of South Africa

National taxon checklists

| Plants|

* Conifers
* Cycads
* Hornworts
* Liverworts
* Lycophytes
* Mosses
* Pteridophytes

| Flowering
plants|

* Acorales
* Alismatales
* Apiales
* Apiaceae
* Aquifoliales
* Arecales
* Asparagales
* Asphodelaceae
* Hyacinthaceae
* Iridaceae
* Orchidaceae
* Asterales
* Asteraceae
* Boraginales
* Brassicales
* Bruniales
* Buxales
* Canellales
* Caryophyllales
* Aizoaceae
* Celastrales
* Ceratophyllales
* Commelinales
* Cornales
* Crossosomatales
* Cucurbitales
* Dioscoreales
* Dipsacales
* Ericales
* Escalloniales
* Fabales
* Fagales
* Gentianales
* Apocynaceae
* Rubiaceae
* Geraniales
* Gunnerales
* Huerteales
* Icacinales
* Lamiales
* Acanthaceae
* Lamiaceae
* Scrophulariaceae
* Laurales
* Liliales
* Magnoliales
* Malpighiales
* Euphorbiaceae
* Malvales
* Myrtales
* Nymphaeales
* Oxalidales
* Pandanales
* Piperales
* Poales
* Poaceae
* Proteales
* Ranunculales
* Rosales
* Santalales
* Sapindales
* Saxifragales
* Solanales
* Vahliales
* Vitales
* Zingiberales
* Zygophyllales

|

Animals|

* Ascidians
* Bryozoans
* Comb jellies
* Echinoderms
* Nematodes
* Polychaetes
* Marine cnidarians
* Marine flatworms
* Sponges
* Tardigrades

| Arthropods|

* Marine crustaceans
* Sea spiders
* Centipedes
* Millipedes
* Entognatha

| Arachnids|

* Harvestmen
* Microwhip scorpions
* Pseudoscorpions
* Scorpions
* Shorttailed whipscorpions
* Solifugae
* Araneae
* Ixodida
* Whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions

|

Insects|

* Alderflies, dobsonflies and fishflies
* Beetles
* Booklice, barklice and barkflies
* Butterflies and moths
* Caddisflies
* Cockroaches and termites
* Dragonflies and damselflies
* Earwigs
* Fleas
* Flies
* Jumping bristletails
* Lice
* Mantises
* Mayflies
* Net-winged insects
* Notoptera
* Orthoptera
* Sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants
* Scorpionflies
* Silverfish and firebrats
* Stick and leaf insects
* Stoneflies
* Strepsiptera
* Termites
* Thrips
* True bugs
* Webspinners

Molluscs|

* Non-marine molluscs
* Marine molluscs
* Marine gastropods
* Marine heterobranch gastropods

Vertebrates|

* Amphibians
* Birds
* Freshwater fishes
* Marine fishes
* Marine bony fishes
* Marine spiny-finned fishes
* Marine Perciform fishes
* Mammals
* Reptiles

Seaweeds|

* Green seaweeds
* Brown seaweeds
* Red seaweeds

Fungi|

* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z

Related|

* List of bacteria of South Africa
* List of invasive species in South Africa
* List of invasive plant species in South Africa
* List of Oomycetes of South Africa
* List of slime moulds of South Africa
* List of Southern African indigenous trees and woody lianes
* List of botanists by author abbreviation

Regional taxon checklists and other minor lists

* List of marine invertebrates of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
* List of marine vertebrates of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
* List of green seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
* List of brown seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
* List of red seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
* Related:
* Timber trees of Gauteng

Biodiversity hotspots and Centres of diversity

* Cape Floristic Region
* Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot
* Succulent Karoo

* Succulent Karoo
* Cape Floristic Region
* Griqualand West Centre
* Albany Centre
* Drakensberg Alpine Centre
* Soutpansberg Centre
* Wolkberg Centre
* Sekhukhuneland Centre
* Barberton Centre
* Maputaland-Pondoland Region

Ecoregions

* List of ecoregions in South Africa

| Tropical and subtropical
moist broadleaf forests|

* Knysna–Amatole montane forests
* KwaZulu–Cape coastal forest mosaic
* Maputaland coastal forest mosaic

|

Tropical and subtropical grasslands,
savannas, and shrublands|

* Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea woodlands
* Southern Africa bushveld
* Zambezian and mopane woodlands

Montane grasslands
and shrublands|

* Drakensberg alti-montane grasslands and woodlands
* Drakensberg montane grasslands, woodlands and forests
* Highveld grasslands
* Maputaland–Pondoland bushland and thickets

Mediterranean forests,
woodlands, and scrub|

* Albany thickets
* Lowland fynbos and renosterveld
* Montane fynbos and renosterveld

Deserts and xeric shrublands|

* Kalahari xeric savanna
* Nama Karoo
* Succulent Karoo

Tundra|

* Southern Indian Ocean Islands tundra

Mangroves|

* Southern Africa mangroves

Marine ecoregions|

* Agulhas ecoregion
* Benguela ecoregion
* Delagoa ecoregion
* Natal ecoregion
* Southeast Atlantic ecoregion
* Southwest Indian ecoregion

Biomes and Vegetation classification

* List of vegetation types of South Africa

| Savanna|

* Andesite Mountain Bushveld
* Aoub Duneveld
* Barberton Serpentine Sourveld
* Bhisho Thornveld
* Cathedral Mopane Bushveld
* Central Sandy Bushveld
* Delagoa Lowveld
* Dwaalboom Thornveld
* Dwarsberg-Swartruggens Mountain Bushveld
* Eastern Valley Bushveld
* Gabbro Grassy Bushveld
* Gauteng Shale Mountain Bushveld
* Ghaap Plateau Vaalbosveld
* Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld
* Gordonia Duneveld
* Gordonia Kameeldoring Bushveld
* Gordonia Plains Shrubland
* Granite Lowveld
* Gravelotte Rocky Bushveld
* Kaalrug Mountain Bushveld
* Kathu Bushveld
* Kimberley Thornveld
* Koranna-Langeberg Mountain Bushveld
* Kuruman Mountain Bushveld
* Kuruman Thornveld
* Kuruman Vaalbosveld
* KwaZulu-Natal Hinterland Thornveld
* KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld
* Lebombo Summit Sourveld
* Legogote Sour Bushveld
* Limpopo Ridge Bushveld
* Limpopo Sweet Bushveld
* Loskop Mountain Bushveld
* Loskop Thornveld
* Lowveld Rugged Mopaneveld
* Madikwe Dolomite Bushveld
* Mafikeng Bushveld
* Makatini Clay Thicket
* Makhado Sweet Bushveld
* Makuleke Sandy Bushveld
* Malelane Mountain Bushveld
* Mamabolo Mountain Bushveld
* Marikana Thornveld
* Molopo Bushveld
* Moot Plains Bushveld
* Mopane Basalt Shrubland
* Mopane Gabbro Shrubland
* Musina Mopane Bushveld
* Ngongoni Veld
* Norite Koppies Bushveld
* Northern Lebombo Bushveld
* Northern Zululand Sourveld
* Nossob Bushveld
* Nwambyia-Pumbe Sandy Bushveld
* Ohrigstad Mountain Bushveld
* Olifantshoek Plains Thornveld
* Phalaborwa-Timbavati Mopaneveld
* Pilanesberg Mountain Bushveld
* Polokwane Plateau Bushveld
* Postmasburg Thornveld
* Poung Dolomite Mountain Bushveld
* Pretoriuskop Sour Bushveld
* Roodeberg Bushveld
* Schmidtsdrif Thornveld
* Schweizer-Reneke Bushveld
* Sekhukhune Mountain Bushveld
* Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld
* South Eastern Coastal Thornveld
* Southern Lebombo Bushveld
* Soutpansberg Mountain Bushveld
* Springbokvlakte Thornveld
* Stella Bushveld
* Swaziland Sour Bushveld
* Tembe Sandy Bushveld
* Thukela Thornveld
* Thukela Valley Bushveld
* Tsende Mopaneveld
* Tshokwane-Hlane Basalt Lowveld
* Tzaneen Sour Bushveld
* Vaalbos Rocky Shrubland
* VhaVenda Miombo
* Waterberg Mountain Bushveld
* Western Maputaland Clay Bushveld
* Western Maputaland Sandy Bushveld
* Western Sandy Bushveld
* Zeerust Thornveld
* Zululand Coastal Thornveld
* Zululand Lowveld

|

Grassland|

* Aliwal North Dry Grassland
* Amathole Mistbelt Grassland
* Amathole Montane Grassland
* Amersfoort Highveld Clay Grassland
* Barberton Montane Grassland
* Basotho Montane Shrubland
* Bedford Dry Grassland
* Besemkaree Koppies Shrubland
* Bloemfontein Dry Grassland
* Bloemfontein Karroid Shrubland
* Carletonville Dolomite Grassland
* Central Free State Grassland
* Drakensberg Afroalpine Heathland
* Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland
* Drakensberg-Amathole Afromontane Fynbos
* East Griqualand Grassland
* Eastern Free State Clay Grassland
* Eastern Free State Sandy Grassland
* Eastern Highveld Grassland
* Egoli Granite Grassland
* Frankfort Highveld Grassland
* Income Sandy Grassland
* Ithala Quartzite Sourveld
* KaNgwane Montane Grassland
* Karoo Escarpment Grassland
* Klerksdorp Thornveld
* KwaZulu-Natal Highland Thornveld
* Leolo Summit Sourveld
* Lesotho Highland Basalt Grassland
* Low Escarpment Moist Grassland
* Lydenburg Montane Grassland
* Lydenburg Thornveld
* Mabela Sandy Grassland
* Midlands Mistbelt Grassland
* Mooi River Highland Grassland
* Mthatha Moist Grassland
* Northern Drakensberg Highland Grassland
* Northern Escarpment Afromontane Fynbos
* Northern Escarpment Dolomite Grassland
* Northern Escarpment Quartzite Sourveld
* Northern Free State Shrubland
* Northern KwaZulu-Natal Moist Grassland
* Northern KwaZulu-Natal Shrubland
* Northern Zululand Mistbelt Grassland
* Paulpietersburg Moist Grassland
* Queenstown Thornveld
* Rand Highveld Grassland
* Sekhukhune Montane Grassland
* Senqu Montane Shrubland
* Southern Drakensberg Highland Grassland
* Southern KwaZulu-Natal Moist Grassland
* Soutpansberg Summit Sourveld
* Soweto Highveld Grassland
* Steenkampsberg Montane Grassland
* Stormberg Plateau Grassland
* Strydpoort Summit Sourveld
* Tarkastad Montane Shrubland
* Tsakane Clay Grassland
* Tsomo Grassland
* uKhahlamba Basalt Grassland
* Vaal Reefs Dolomite Sinkhole Woodland
* Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland
* Vredefort Dome Granite Grassland
* Wakkerstroom Montane Grassland
* Waterberg-Magaliesberg Summit Sourveld
* Western Free State Clay Grassland
* Western Highveld Sandy Grassland
* Western Lesotho Basalt Shrubland
* Winburg Grassy Shrubland
* Wolkberg Dolomite Grassland
* Woodbush Granite Grassland
* Xhariep Karroid Grassland
* Zastron Moist Grassland

Fynbos|

* Agulhas Limestone Fynbos
* Agulhas Sand Fynbos
* Albertinia Sand Fynbos
* Algoa Sandstone Fynbos
* Atlantis Sand Fynbos
* Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos
* Boland Granite Fynbos
* Breede Alluvium Fynbos
* Breede Quartzite Fynbos
* Breede Sand Fynbos
* Breede Shale Fynbos
* Canca Limestone Fynbos
* Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
* Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos
* Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Central Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
* Central Inland Shale Band Vegetation
* De Hoop Limestone Fynbos
* Eastern Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
* Eastern Inland Shale Band Vegetation
* Elgin Shale Fynbos
* Elim Ferricrete Fynbos
* Garden Route Granite Fynbos
* Garden Route Shale Fynbos
* Graafwater Sandstone Fynbos
* Greyton Shale Fynbos
* Grootrivier Quartzite Fynbos
* Hangklip Sand Fynbos
* Hawequas Sandstone Fynbos
* Hopefield Sand Fynbos
* Kamiesberg Granite Fynbos
* Kango Conglomerate Fynbos
* Knysna Sand Fynbos
* Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Kouebokkeveld Alluvium Fynbos
* Kouebokkeveld Shale Fynbos
* Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos
* Kouga Sandstone Fynbos
* Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos
* Loerie Conglomerate Fynbos
* Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos
* Matjiesfontein Quartzite Fynbos
* Matjiesfontein Shale Fynbos
* Montagu Shale Fynbos
* Namaqualand Sand Fynbos
* North Hex Sandstone Fynbos
* North Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos
* North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos
* North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos
* North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos
* North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos
* North Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Northern Inland Shale Band Vegetation
* Olifants Sandstone Fynbos
* Overberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Peninsula Granite Fynbos
* Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos
* Piketberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Potberg Ferricrete Fynbos
* Potberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Robertson Granite Fynbos
* South Hex Sandstone Fynbos
* South Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos
* South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos
* South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos
* South Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos
* South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos
* South Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Southern Cape Dune Fynbos
* Stinkfonteinberge Quartzite Fynbos
* Suurberg Quartzite Fynbos
* Suurberg Shale Fynbos
* Swartberg Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos
* Swartberg Shale Fynbos
* Swartland Alluvium Fynbos
* Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos
* Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos
* Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos
* Western Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos
* Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
* Winterhoek Sandstone Fynbos

Renosterveld|

* Baviaanskloof Shale Renosterveld
* Breede Alluvium Renosterveld
* Breede Shale Renosterveld
* Central Mountain Shale Renosterveld
* Central Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
* Ceres Shale Renosterveld
* Eastern Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
* Hantam Plateau Dolerite Renosterveld
* Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld
* Kango Limestone Renosterveld
* Langkloof Shale Renosterveld
* Matjiesfontein Shale Renosterveld
* Montagu Shale Renosterveld
* Mossel Bay Shale Renosterveld
* Namaqualand Granite Renosterveld
* Nieuwoudtville Shale Renosterveld
* Nieuwoudtville-Roggeveld Dolerite Renosterveld
* Peninsula Shale Renosterveld
* Robertson Granite Renosterveld
* Roggeveld Shale Renosterveld
* Ruêns Silcrete Renosterveld
* Swartberg Shale Renosterveld
* Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld
* Swartland Granite Renosterveld
* Swartland Shale Renosterveld
* Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld
* Uniondale Shale Renosterveld
* Vanrhynsdorp Shale Renosterveld
* Western Ruêns Shale Renosterveld

Succulent
Karoo|

* Aggeneys Gravel Vygieveld
* Agter-Sederberg Shrubland
* Anenous Plateau Shrubland
* Bushmanland Inselberg Shrubland
* Central Knersvlakte Vygieveld
* Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland
* Citrusdal Vygieveld
* Die Plate Succulent Shrubland
* Doringrivier Quartzite Karoo
* Eastern Little Karoo
* Eenriet Plains Succulent Shrubland
* Goariep Mountain Succulent Shrubland
* Hantam Karoo
* Kamiesberg Mountains Shrubland
* Klawer Sandy Shrubland
* Knersvlakte Dolomite Vygieveld
* Knersvlakte Quartz Vygieveld
* Knersvlakte Shale Vygieveld
* Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo
* Kosiesberg Succulent Shrubland
* Lekkersing Succulent Shrubland
* Little Karoo Quartz Vygieveld
* Namaqualand Arid Grassland
* Namaqualand Blomveld
* Namaqualand Coastal Duneveld
* Namaqualand Heuweltjie Strandveld
* Namaqualand Heuweltjieveld
* Namaqualand Inland Duneveld
* Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland
* Namaqualand Shale Shrubland
* Namaqualand Spinescent Grassland
* Namaqualand Strandveld
* Northern Knersvlakte Vygieveld
* Northern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld
* Northern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld
* Oograbies Plains Sandy Grassland
* Piketberg Quartz Succulent Shrubland
* Platbakkies Succulent Shrubland
* Prince Albert Succulent Karoo
* Richtersveld Coastal Duneveld
* Richtersveld Red Duneveld
* Richtersveld Sandy Coastal Scorpionstailveld
* Riethuis-Wallekraal Quartz Vygieveld
* Robertson Karoo
* Roggeveld Karoo
* Rooiberg Quartz Vygieveld
* Rosyntjieberg Succulent Shrubland
* Southern Namaqualand Quartzite Klipkoppe Shrubland
* Southern Richtersveld Inselberg Shrubland
* Southern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld
* Southern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld
* Steytlerville Karoo
* Stinkfonteinberge Eastern Apron Shrubland
* Swartruggens Quartzite Karoo
* Tanqua Escarpment Shrubland
* Tanqua Karoo
* Tatasberg Mountain Succulent Shrubland
* Umdaus Mountains Succulent Shrubland
* Upper Annisvlakte Succulent Shrubland
* Vanrhynsdorp Gannabosveld
* Vyftienmyl se Berge Succulent Shrubland
* Western Bushmanland Klipveld
* Western Gwarrieveld
* Western Little Karoo
* Willowmore Gwarrieveld

Albany
Thicket
and
Strandveld|

* Albany Arid Thicket
* Albany Bontveld
* Albany Mesic Thicket
* Albany Valley Thicket
* Baviaans Valley Thicket
* Bethelsdorp Bontveld
* Blombos Strandveld
* Buffels Mesic Thicket
* Buffels Valley Thicket
* Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
* Crossroads Grassland Thicket
* Doubledrift Karroid Thicket
* Eastern Gwarrieveld
* Elands Forest Thicket
* Escarpment Arid Thicket
* Escarpment Mesic Thicket
* Escarpment Valley Thicket
* Fish Arid Thicket
* Fish Mesic Thicket
* Fish Valley Thicket
* Gamka Arid Thicket
* Gamka Valley Thicket
* Geluk Grassland Thicket
* Goukamma Dune Thicket
* Gouritz Valley Thicket
* Grahamstown Grassland Thicket
* Grassridge Bontveld
* Groot Brak Dune Strandveld
* Hamburg Dune Thicket
* Hartenbos Dune Thicket
* Kasouga Dune Thicket
* Koedoeskloof Karroid Thicket
* Lambert's Bay Strandveld
* Langebaan Dune Strandveld
* Mons Ruber Fynbos Thicket
* Motherwell Karroid Thicket
* Nanaga Savanna Thicket
* Oudshoorn Karroid Thicket
* Overberg Dune Strandveld
* Saldanha Flats Strandveld
* Saldanha Granite Strandveld
* Saldanha Limestone Strandveld
* Saltaire Karroid Thicket
* Sardinia Forest Thicket
* St Francis Dune Thicket
* Subtropical Dune Thicket
* Sundays Arid Thicket
* Sundays Mesic Thicket
* Sundays Valley Thicket
* Thorndale Forest Thicket
* Umtiza Forest Thicket
* Vanstadens Forest Thicket
* Western Gwarrieveld
* Willowmore Gwarrieveld

Nama
Karoo
and
desert|

* Albany Broken Veld
* Blouputs Karroid Thornveld
* Bushmanland Arid Grassland
* Bushmanland Basin Shrubland
* Bushmanland Sandy Grassland
* Eastern Lower Karoo
* Eastern Upper Karoo
* Gamka Karoo
* Kalahari Karroid Shrubland
* Lower Gariep Broken Veld
* Lower Karoo Gwarrieveld
* Northern Upper Karoo
* Upper Karoo Hardeveld
* Western Upper Karoo
* Alexander Bay Coastal Duneveld
* Eastern Gariep Plains Desert
* Eastern Gariep Rocky Desert
* Helskloof Canyon Desert
* Kahams Mountain Desert
* Kwaggarug Mountain Desert
* Namib Lichen Fields
* Noms Mountain Desert
* Northern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert
* Richtersberg Mountain Desert
* Richtersveld Sheet Wash Desert
* Southern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert
* Western Gariep Hills Desert
* Western Gariep Lowland Desert
* Western Gariep Plains Desert

Azonal|

* Albany Alluvial Vegetation
* Albany Dune Strandveld
* Algoa Dune Strandveld
* Arid Estuarine Salt Marshes
* Bushmanland Vloere
* Cape Estuarine Salt Marshes
* Cape Inland Salt Pans
* Cape Lowland Alluvial Vegetation
* Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetlands
* Cape Seashore Vegetation
* Cape Vernal Pools
* Drakensberg Wetlands
* Eastern Temperate Freshwater Wetlands
* Fynbos Riparian Vegetation
* Highveld Alluvial Vegetation
* Highveld Salt Pans
* Lesotho Mires
* Lower Gariep Alluvial Vegetation
* Muscadel Riviere
* Namaqualand Riviere
* Namaqualand Salt Pans
* Namaqualand Seashore Vegetation
* Namib Seashore Vegetation
* Southern Kalahari Mekgacha
* Southern Kalahari Salt Pans
* Southern Karoo Riviere
* Subantarctic Kelp Bed Vegetation
* Subtropical Alluvial Vegetation
* Subtropical Dune Thicket
* Subtropical Estuarine Salt Marshes
* Subtropical Freshwater Wetlands
* Subtropical Salt Pans
* Subtropical Seashore Vegetation
* Tanqua Wash Riviere
* Upper Gariep Alluvial Vegetation

Forest
and
Coastal
belt|

* KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt
* Maputaland Coastal Belt
* Maputaland Wooded Grassland
* Pondoland-Natal Sandstone Coastal Sourveld
* Transkei Coastal Belt
* Ironwood Dry Forest
* Lowveld Riverine Forest
* Mangrove Forest
* Northern Afrotemperate Forest
* Northern Coastal Forest
* Northern Mistbelt Forest
* Sand Forest
* Scarp Forest
* Southern Afrotemperate Forest
* Southern Coastal Forest
* Southern Mistbelt Forest
* Swamp Forest

Subantarctic
biome|

* Subantarctic Biotic Herbfield and Grassland
* Subantarctic Cinder Cone Vegetation
* Subantarctic Coastal Vegetation
* Subantarctic Drainage Line Vegetation
* Subantarctic Fellfield
* Subantarctic Fernbrake Vegetation
* Subantarctic Mire
* Subantarctic Polar Desert

not on
VEGMAP|

* List of forests of South Africa
* List of forests of the Eastern Cape
* Forests of KwaZulu-Natal
* KwaZulu-Natal Dune Forest
* KwaZulu-Natal coastal lowland forest
* List of forests of the Western Cape

Protected areas of South Africa

* Index of protected areas of South Africa

| South
African
National
Parks|

* Addo Elephant National Park
* Agulhas National Park
* Augrabies Falls National Park
* Bontebok National Park
* Camdeboo National Park
* Garden Route National Park
* Tsitsikamma National Park
* Wilderness National Park
* Golden Gate Highlands National Park
* Karoo National Park
* Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
* Kruger National Park
* Mapungubwe National Park
* Marakele National Park
* Mokala National Park
* Mountain Zebra National Park
* Namaqua National Park
* Table Mountain National Park
* Tankwa Karoo National Park
* West Coast National Park
* ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

|

Biosphere
reserves|

* Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve
* Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve
* Kogelberg Nature Reserve
* Kruger to Canyons Biosphere
* Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve
* Waterberg Biosphere

Marine
protected
areas of
South
Africa|

| Coastal|

* Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area
* Amathole Marine Protected Area
* Betty's Bay Marine Protected Area
* Bird Island Marine Protected Area
* De Hoop Marine Protected Area
* Dwesa-Cwebe Marine Protected Area
* Goukamma Marine Protected Area
* Helderberg Marine Protected Area
* Hluleka Marine Protected AreaI
* iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area
* Jutten Island Marine Protected Area
* Langebaan Lagoon Marine Protected Area
* Malgas Island Marine Protected Area
* Marcus Island Marine Protected Area
* Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area
* Pondoland Marine Protected Area
* Robben Island Marine Protected Area
* Rocherpan Marine Protected Area
* Robberg Marine Protected Area
* Sardinia Bay Marine Protected Area
* Sixteen Mile Beach Marine Protected Area
* Stilbaai Marine Protected Area
* Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area
* Trafalgar Marine Protected Area
* Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area
* uThukela Banks Marine Protected Area
* Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary

|

Offshore|

* Agulhas Bank Complex Marine Protected Area
* Agulhas Front Marine Protected Area
* Agulhas Muds Marine Protected Area
* Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area
* Amathole Offshore Marine Protected Area
* Benguela Bank Marine Protected Area
* Benguela Muds Marine Protected Area
* Browns Bank Complex Marine Protected Area
* Browns Bank Corals Marine Protected Area
* Cape Canyon Marine Protected Area
* Childs Bank Marine Protected Area
* iSimangaliso Offshore Marine Protected Area
* Namaqua Fossil Forest Marine Protected Area
* Orange Shelf Edge Marine Protected Area
* Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area
* Protea Banks Marine Protected Area
* Southeast Atlantic Seamounts Marine Protected Area
* Southwest Indian Seamount Marine Protected Area
* Port Elizabeth Corals Marine Protected Area
* uThukela Banks Marine Protected Area

Management
organisations|

* CapeNature
* City of Cape Town
* Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
* Department of Science and Innovation
* Eastern Cape Parks
* Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
* iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority
* Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality
* South African National Parks

Biodiversity research in SA

* Bolus Herbarium
* Iziko South African Museum
* National Research Foundation
* South African National Collection of Fungi

| Research
organisations|

* Animal Demography Unit
* BirdLife South Africa
* South African Association for Marine Biological Research
* South African Environmental Observation Network
* South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
* South African National Biodiversity Institute

|

Research
projects|

* African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme
* National Biodiversity Assessment
* National Vegetation Map Project
* Reef Atlas Project
* SeaKeys

Citizen science
databases|

* iNaturalist
* iSpot
* Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology Virtual Museum

Botanical
gardens|

* Durban Botanic Gardens
* Free State National Botanical Garden
* Garden Route Botanical Garden
* Hantam National Botanical Garden
* Harold Porter National Botanical Garden
* Johannesburg Botanical Garden
* Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden
* Kwelera National Botanical Garden
* Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
* KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden
* Lowveld National Botanical Garden
* Makana Botanical Gardens
* Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden
* North-West University Botanical Garden
* Pretoria National Botanical Garden
* Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden
* Thohoyandou National Botanical Garden
* University of KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Garden
* Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden

Taxonomists|

* List of authors of South African botanical taxa
* List of authors of South African animal taxa

Related

* Biodiversity
* Biosphere
* Ecotourism
* Encyclopedia of Life
* Environmental impact of recreational diving
* Low impact diving
* International Union for Conservation of Nature
* Marine protected area
* National park
* Nature conservation
* Nature reserve
* Scuba diving tourism
* South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative
* World Register of Marine Species
* World Wide Fund for Nature

| Regional biodiversity|

* Biodiversity of Cape Town
* List of nature reserves in Cape Town

|

Legislation|

* Marine Living Resources Act, 18 of 1998
* National Environmental Management Act, 1998
* National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 10 of 2004
* National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 24 of 2008
* National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003

Publications|

* List of field guides to South African biota

* Categories: Biodiversity of South Africa
*   * Index

Authority control databases: National |

* Germany
* United States
* Japan
* Czech Republic
* Israel

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template