Shaping of modern southern African biomes: Neogene vegetation and climate changes

Southern Africa's modern biomes, including the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo, were shaped by Neogene climate and hydrological shifts. Initially characterized by humid subtropical forests and a proto-savanna, the region transitioned to aridity due to tectonic uplift, river capture, and strengthening of the Benguela current. The Great Escarpment's evolution further influenced rainfall patterns, with eastern areas receiving higher precipitation than the west. By the Pliocene, drought-adapted plant families like Asteraceae and Aizoaceae flourished, while regions important for hominid evolution, such as Sterkfontein, shifted to more xeric conditions. This study synthesizes fossil evidence—pollen, wood, charcoal, leaves, and biomarkers—to reconstruct these environmental changes, offering insights into the complex interplay between geomorphology, climate, and biome development.

Neumann, F. H., & Bamford, M. K. (2015). Shaping of modern southern African biomes: Neogene vegetation and climate changes. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 70(3), 195–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919x.2015.1072859