I-Grasslands Biome
I-Vredefort Dome itholakala kuma-Grasslands biome, esiqongolweni esihlangana ne-Highveld kunye ne-Transvaal plateau. Umhlobo wotjani esikhathini esinengi buhlukaniswe ngesigaba se-Bankenveld, kodwana ukuhluka kwelifa lejiyoloji yendawo kugcine kwenza bona kube nokwahlukahlukana okunengi okungakajayeleki. Isibonelo, esikhathini esinengi imihlobo ye-Bushveld etholakala emakhilomitheni alikhulu ukuya etlhagwini akhona, afana ne-Bush Willow, Red Ivory, kunye ne-Tree Ferns. I-riverine bush namanye amadonga we-Vaal nawo angezelela eenlwaneni neentjalweni ezinengi ezihlukahlukeneko ezenzelwe ukulinganisa kuhle ibhoduluko (biodiversity).
Iimbobo ezincani ku-Dome, ama-microhabitats, ama-microclimates kunye nemihlobo yehalabathi zihlala zimila imihlobohlobo yeentjalo. Irhelo elipheleleko leemila zamathuthumbo athileko (flora) ayikabi ukuba khona, kodwana kunemihlobo yeentjalo engaba yi 99 ubuncani ekhona kileya ndawo. Imithi yama-olivi wehlathini minengi khulu begodu yindawo yokuthoma kizozoke zephasi enentjalo zemvelo ezinengi khulu zomhlobo loo (Olea europaea subsp. africana) itholakala e-koopie eduze nangaphandle kwe-Parys. Imihlobo ye-Acacia kunye neye-Protea izele khulu.
Imihlobo Yeentjalo Zakontjhaba
Imihlobo yeentjalo zakontjhaba zimuraro ku-Dome. Imithi ye-Gum ithatha yoke i-floodplain evundileko ye-Vaal. I-Poplar, ama-Weeping Willows neminye imihlobo embalwa yama-Prickly Pear nazo zisunduza imihlobohhlobo yeemila. Amanzi we-hyacinths amraro nawo, njengombana azala khulu ku-Vaal River bekavimbe iindlela ezikhamba amanzi. Umsebenzi omunengi kufanele wenziwe ukulungisa indawo ukuze ibuyele esigeni sayo semvelo.
Iinyoni zinengi khulu, kunemihlobo engaphezulu kuka 200 ukuthabisa abantu abathanda iinyoni. Zifaka hlangana ama: cormorants, herons, egrets, spoonbills, iinkonjani, eagles, kites, falcons, kestrel, guineafowl, lapwings, sandpipers, iinkhova, nightjars, swifts, mousebirds, kingfishers, rollers, barbets, woodpeckers, swallows, martins, cisticolas, starlings, sunbirds, widowbirds, bishops, warblers, chats kunye nama-tits. I- Inlandsee Pan, eseduze ne-Vredefort nayo yindawo yokuhlangana eqakathekileko yeenyoni ezibuya kwamanye amazwe.
Imihlobo ye-Red Data
Nanoma i-Dome isetjenziswa njengekhaya le-Big 5, zoke iinlwane ezikulu bezizingelwa lokha abalimi nabathatha inarha. Nomakunjalo, kuseseneminye imihlobo engaba yi 50 yeenlwane ezincani ezimunyisako ezitholakalako, kufaka hlangana ezibunane zomhlobo wama-“Red Data”. Ingwe, i-rooikat, i-aardwolf, ujakalasi, ama-dassies wematjeni kunye neenyamazana zikhona, namanye amaplasi wezinye iinlwane neendawo zeemvelo zisahlala iinlwane.
I-Vredefort izele ngeenlwanyana ezithusako ezirhurhubako, iinyoka, iinkopiyoni kunye neentjhabalalisi. Kuzele nemihlobo eminengi yamaviyaviyani, ngalokho nangabe umthandi wamaviyaviyani i-lepidopterist ngesikhuwa, indawo lee ungayithanda! Kuthiwa kunemihlobo eminengi yamaviyaviyani e-Dome ukudlula ama-Isles we-Brish woke.
Ngaphandle kwe-Vaal River, i-Dome ihlala ithanjiswa mamanzi wezulu elina nge 625 mm, 500m elina ngeenyanga zehlobo. Noma kunjalo, isomiso, sinokuba khona. Ehlobo, amazinga womtjhiso ayatjhisa, nge-avareji ye 30°C nakaphezulu ukuya ku 15°C nakaphasi emini. Amalanga webusika (angaba ku 18°C) kodwana ebusuku kubamakhaza khulu.
Translated by Busisiwe Skhosana