Abstract
Colophospermum mopane is the dominant tree or shrub within mopane woodland in the subtropical areas of southern Africa’s savanna ecosystems. This article provided a review on the adaptation capabilities of mopane against fire, browsing activity and environmental stresses. It further reviewed and tested the extent to which rainfall, temperature, altitude and soil types had an effect on the distribution of mopane in southern Africa. Mopane is adapted to survive moisture stresses, low nutrient environments and even disturbances caused by fire and browsing by large herbivores through its physical, physiological and chemical responses. Adaptation of mopane to various stresses enables it to dominate the low-lying areas of southern Africa’s savannas. The distribution of mopane is best associated with low to moderate rainfall (R2 = 0.38), high temperature (R2 = 0.42), low altitudes (R2 = 0.44) and a variety of soil types. An increase in the annual rainfall ( 800 mm) and altitude ( 800 m.a.s.l.), coupled with a reduction in the minimum temperature and acidic soil, limits the distribution of mopane. Mopane in South Africa occurs under similar environmental conditions to those in Zimbabwe and Zambia, but quite different from those in Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi and Botswana where mopane occurs.
Highlights
IntroductionColophospermum mopane (Kirk ex Benth.) Kirk ex J.Léonard, commonly known as mopane, is the dominant tree or shrub within mopane woodland in the subtropical areas of southern Africa’s savanna ecosystems, between latitudes 9° S and 25° S (Henning 1976; Mapaure 1994; Sebego 1999; Werger & Coetzee 1978; White 1983)
Estimates show that mopane woodland accounts for about 30% – 35% of the 1.5 million km2 of savannas in southern Africa (Mapaure 1994; White 1983), which represents more than a quarter of land area in the region
Mopane is distributed in the hot, dry, valley bottoms and adjacent plains of southern Angola and northern Namibia, across Botswana and Zimbabwe to central and southern Mozambique, and from the Luangwa valley in Zambia and central Malawi to northern South Africa (Mapaure 1994; Porter 1968; Siebert 2012; Timberlake, Chidumayo & Sawadogo 2010; Werger & Coetzee 1978; White 1983) (Figure 1)
Summary
Colophospermum mopane (Kirk ex Benth.) Kirk ex J.Léonard, commonly known as mopane, is the dominant tree or shrub within mopane woodland in the subtropical areas of southern Africa’s savanna ecosystems, between latitudes 9° S and 25° S (Henning 1976; Mapaure 1994; Sebego 1999; Werger & Coetzee 1978; White 1983). Previous studies have demonstrated that rainfall, altitude and soil types influence the distribution of mopane in southern Africa Mopane occurs in areas receiving low to moderate annual rainfall ranging from 400 mm to 800 mm (Madams 1990; Thompson 1960; Werger & Coetzee 1978). These are normally areas at altitudes ranging from 200 m.a.s.l. to 600 m.a.s.l. The species is known to occupy both shallow and deep soils, containing significant amounts of exchangeable sodium (Madams 1990; Thompson 1960; Werger & Coetzee 1978)
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