Nostalgic Reflections From a Visit to the Namib Desert in Namibia: A Biological, Ecological, and Palaeontological Wonderland

摘要

When, in September 1859, Dr. Friedrich Welwitsch visited the Namib desert, and saw the unique desert plant now known as Welwitschia tnirabilis, he made the following remark: "... I ant convinced that what I have seen is the most beautiful and majestic phenomenon that tropical South Africa can offer." More recently, Chris Bornman (1978) described the plant as "... a paradox of parched paradise, poetry, drama, painting, sculpture, and above all, an architectural paradox" (see also Mshigeni, 2001a). During a recent visit to the Namib desert, the authors saw Welwitschia not only as a desert paradise (Figure 1) but also as a sanctuary for a wide spectrum of biota that secure protection, food, shade, and shelter under its canopy (Figure 2); as an oasis for various insects and other desert fauna, that come to sip the fog water condensing on its huge, evergreen, and permanent leaves; as a source of organic matter, thus playing an important ecological role in the desert's food chains (Figure 3); and as a genetic storehouse, for genes of drought tolerance, pest resistance, and longevity. Some of the Welwitschia plants found in the Namib desert today, are reported to be over one thousand years old. Welwitschia, possibly, also contains potent natural products with medicinal potency against some of the common diseases afflicting society. Typically, when we think of deserts, the eyes of our minds see nothing but barrenness, absence of trees, and unproductiveness. But our recent visit to the Namib desert and vicinity, changed that perspective. In this contribution, we are presenting the Namib as an extremely intriguing biological, ecological, and palaentological wonderland; as an ecotourism paradise; and as a great attraction for research scientists, especially those in the fields of biological sciences, natural products chemistry, and palaentology.