TIERBERG KAROO RESEARCH CENTRE: HISTORY, PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, FLORA AND FAUNA

Abstract
The Tierberg Karoo Research Centre near Prince Albert in the southern Karoo is intended for long-term ecological monitoring and manipulative studies. This paper summarizes information on the management history, geology, soils, climate and vegetation and includes preliminary checklists of 189 vascular plant species, 25 ant, 90 bird, 18 reptile and 18 mammal species known to occur on the 1 km2 study site. In comparison with arid shrublands in North America, Australia. Israel and elsewhere in southern Africa, grasses and annual forbs are scarce, succulents abundant and there are few alien taxa.