Floristic composition of wetlands of the South African section of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Park (original) (raw)
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Bothalia, 1998
Wetlands in natural areas in South Africa have been described before, but no literature exists concerning the phytosociology of urban wetlands. The objective of this study was to conduct a complete vegetation analysis of the wetlands in the Potchefstroom Municipal Area. Using a numerical classification technique (TWINSPAN) as a first approximation, the classification was refined by using Braun-Blanquet procedures. The result is a phytosociological table from which a number of unique plant communities are recognised. These urban wetlands are characterised by a high species diversity, which is unusual for wetlands. Reasons for the high species diversity could be the different types of disturbances occurring in this area. Results of this study can be used to construact more sensible management practises for these wetlands.
High altitude montane wetland vegetation classification of the Eastern Free State, South Africa
South African Journal of Botany, 2013
Wetlands occur where biotic and abiotic conditions combine to create unique habitats and plant assemblages. These systems have anaerobic or hydric soil resulting from waterlogging and are found across all nine biomes in South Africa. Wetlands can thus be regarded as hosting azonal vegetation. On Platberg, the freshwater wetlands are embedded within the Grassland Biome forming distinct units. Platberg wetlands were surveyed and described to explain and document vegetation of this inselberg. Additional aims were to elucidate Afro-montane floristic links with the Drakensberg Alpine Centre, and provide data for conservation management. The study site is located in the Eastern Free State, South Africa, on edge of the Great Escarpment. It is one of an archipelago of more than 20 inselbergs stretching north from the Drakensberg. A total of 51 sample plots (30 m 2) were located in a randomly stratified manner within the wetland units to include all variations in the vegetation. The data was analysed using the TWINSPAN classification algorithm, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures. The analysis showed the wetlands divided into five communities, six sub-communities and six variants. The wetland communities had an average of 13.56 species per relevé, ranging from 7 to 29 species per sample plot. Numerous floristic links with the Drakensberg Alpine Centre, the Cape Floristic Region and the Grassland biome were found. Platberg shows vegetation and hydrogeological affinity with low altitude freshwater and the high altitude Lesotho Mires of the Drakensberg Alpine Centre. A list of high altitude wetland species was compiled.
Wetland vegetation in the North-eastern Sandy Highveld, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Bothalia, 2000
The wetland vegetation of the high mountain grasslands of Mpumalanga w as sampled by using stratification based on geology and land types. Floristic data were classified by TWINSPAN procedures and refined by using the Braun-Blanquet method. This resulted in the recognition of four major w etland plant communities w hich are subdiv ided into eleven minor plant communities. The major communities include the Phragmites australis Wetland occurring in relatively deep water, the Miscanthus junceus Wetland from moist river banks and wet drainage lines, the Eragrostis biflora-Stihurus allopecuroides Moist Grassland restricted to moist, poorly drained soils w ith a high water table, and Arundinella nepalensis Moist Grasslands on black vertic soils.
2009
© © U Un ni iv ve er rs si it ty y o of f P Pr re et to or ri ia a 5 4 DISCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA p 42-56 4.1 A brief history of northern KwaZulu-Natal p 42-44 4.2 Climate p 44-45 4.3 Topography p 45-46 4.4 Geology and soils p 46-49 4.5 Hydro-geological Setting p 49-56 4.5.1 General p 49-50 4.5.2 Surface water conditions p 50 4.5.3 Groundwater recharge p 51-56 5 METHODOLOGY p 57-72 5.1 Selection of sites p 57 5.2 The structural classification method p 57-62 5.3 The floristic survey p 62-66 5.4 Plant gathering, pressing, storage and identification p 66-67 5.5 Data processing p 67 5.5.1 The TWINSPAN computerized method p 68-71 5.6 Field mapping and verification of wetland and other vegetation p 71-72
The grasslands and wetlands of the Sekhukhuneland Centre of Plant Endemism, South Africa
Bothalia
A hierarchical classification, description, and ecological and floristic interpretations are presented on the vegetation types of the grasslands and wetlands of the Sekhukhuneland Centre of Plant Endemism. Relevés were compiled in 74 stratified random plots. A TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed eight associations. 11 subassociations and four variants. Many new syntaxa are described and ecologically interpreted. For each syntaxon. the species richness, endemism and conservation status was determined. The floristic and habitat information, proposed classification, general description and vegetation key are provided to aid future identification of conservation areas, land use planning and further research. An ordination (DECORANA). based on floristic data, confirmed the relationships that exist between plant communities and associated habitats and environmental gradients. Much of the plant community diversity and distribution can be ascribed to a he...
2004
Wetland plant species and communities have been described before in South Africa, but little investigation has been done on factors determining single species dominated plant communities in wetlands. The objective of this study was to identify and describe plant communities in a natural wetland system in Stellenbosch. Forty-six sample plots were used to collect vegetation data that were analysed using standard BraunBlanquet techniques. Seven plant communities are identified and described from this particular wetland system. Different communities were found to be single species dominated, and had specific environmental variables within which they occur. The difference in water table levels was found to play a key role in determining the distribution of the plant communities. Understanding and monitoring the relationships between plant communities and various environmental variables is a useful tool for a rapid wetland assessment especially in anthropogenic-disturbed environments.
KOEDOE - African Protected Area Conservation and Science
Conservation implications: The study can be invaluable to wetland scientists, managers, biodiversity conservationists, water resource managers and planners and vegetation ecologists in Southern Africa. About 70% of Lesotho falls in the Maloti-Drakensberg, accounting for about 60% of the region, and this makes the study important in biodiversity conservation planning, particularly in the Highlands. The wetlands in Lesotho face severe anthropogenic pressures that include overgrazing and economic development. Given that the Lesotho Highlands as a water catchment is not only important for Lesotho, but also for South Africa and Namibia, the conservation of the associated wetlands and this critical water resource is indispensable.
2016
The objective of this study was to evaluate plant species diversity, composition and distribution in a montane wetland in Hogsback, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Twenty four circular plots with radius of 2m were established between March and August 2013 within Hogsback montane wetland. Within each sample plot, the habitat information and species present were recorded including Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance values for all species present in the plot. A total of 41 species belonging to 19 families and 36 genera were recorded. Of the documented species, 7.3% were exotic and endemic to South Africa, indicating diversity and dynamic nature of Hogsback montane wetland flora. Plant families with the highest number of species were: Poaceae (11 species), Asteraceae (six species), Onagraceae and Cyperaceae (three species each) and Lamiaceae with two species. The low number of exotic plant species recorded in Hogsback wetland (three species in total) indicates limited anthropogenic inf...