High altitude montane wetland vegetation classification of the Eastern Free State, South Africa

Brand, Robert F.; Preez, P.J. du; Brown, Leslie R.

doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2013.07.011

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Selection and sampling of vegetation was conducted where a visible difference was seen in wetland vegetation found on shallow, isolated, non-saline depressions, littoral zones of open pans, and anthropogenic or riparian areas. Sample plots were located on a random basis within these units to ensure all vegetation variations were accounted for [ 34 ]. The presence of hydrophilic vegetation in the different plant communities was determined using the dominance ratio method [ 35 , 36 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The wetland community types were also defined using the “association concept” which states that floristic composition resulting from certain environmental conditions (soil and water amount/depth) display relatively uniform physiognomy [ 35 , 37 ]. The term “dominant species’ used in the descriptions refers to those species with the highest percentage of canopy cover [ 34 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Braun-Blanquet normal scale was used, and a combination of frequency, fidelity and cover was selected using the default settings of 67% frequency and 45.3% fidelity. Despite the subjectivity and inaccuracy of the Braun-Blanquet method and the use of non-numerical scores ‘r’ (rare) and ‘+’ (present in low numbers with no cover), which pose computation problems as discussed in detail by Podani [ 48 ], this method of field data collection was used to conform with, and make this survey’s data compatible with the thousands of relevés already sampled in South Africa, e.g., Brown et al [ 41 ] and Brand et al [ 34 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A phytosociological analysis and description of wetland vegetation and ecological factors associated with locations of high mortality for the 2010-11 Rift Valley fever outbreak in South Africa

et al. 2018

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Rift Valley fever (RVF) is endemic in Africa and parts of the Middle East. It is an emerging zoonotic disease threat to veterinary and public health. Outbreaks of the disease have severe socio-economic impacts. RVF virus emergence is closely associated with specific endorheic wetlands that are utilized by the virus’ mosquito vectors. Limited botanical vegetation surveys had been published with regard to RVF virus (RVFV) ecology. We report on a phytosociological classification, analysis and description of wetland vegetation and related abiotic parameters to elucidate factors possibly associated with the 2010–2011 RVFV disease outbreak in South Africa. The study sites were located in the western Free State and adjacent Northern Cape covering an area of ~40,000 km2 with wetlands associated with high RVF mortality rates in livestock. Other study sites included areas where no RVF activity was reported during the 2010–11 RVF outbreak. A total of 129 plots (30 m2) were selected where a visible difference could be seen in the wetland and upland vegetation. The Braun-Blanquet method was used for plant sampling. Classification was done using modified Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis. The vegetation analysis resulted in the identification of eight plant communities, seven sub-communities and two variants. Indirect ordination was carried out using CANOCO to investigate the relationship between species and wetland ecology. The study also identified 5 categories of wetlands including anthropogenic wetlands. Locations of reported RVF cases overlapped sites characterized by high clay-content soils and specific wetland vegetation. These findings indicate ecological and environmental parameters that represent preferred breeding habitat for RVFV competent mosquito vectors.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A phytosociological analysis and description of wetland vegetation and ecological factors associated with locations of high mortality for the 2010-11 Rift Valley fever outbreak in South Africa

et al. 2018

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“…A quite wide range of target biological components (amp, bir, eco, flo, mam, veg, and zoo) has been investigated by papers focused on wetlands, with a predominance of vegetation-(4; 33.3%), and ecosystemic-oriented studies (3; 25.0%) ( Figure 3). Among these, the most relevant are by Brand et al [36] and Klaus and Noss [37]. The former investigated the wetland vegetation of the Eastern Free State (South Africa), highlighting the high altitude wetland species and communities of the region-in comparison to the Cape Floristic Region.…”

Section: Narrative Trends In the Conservation And Ecological Assessmementioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological and Conservation Value of Small Standing-Water Ecosystems: A Systematic Review of Current Knowledge and Future Challenges

Bolpagni

Poikāne

Laini

et al. 2019

Water

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A small standing-water ecosystem (SWE) is a shallow (<20 m) lentic water body with a surface of a few hectares (≤10 ha). Compared to larger counterparts, they exhibit wider ecotones, sometimes even equaling their whole surface, which maximizes structural heterogeneity, supporting exceptionally high biodiversity, metabolic rates, and functionality. Surprisingly, no binding regulations support global strategies for SWE conservation. This work consists of a literature review performed for the period 2004–2018 to assess the ecological and conservation value of SWEs and the contribution of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in promoting their conservation. Outcomes from this work open new perspectives on SWEs, which emerge as valuable ecosystems, and confirm their pivotal contribution to watershed biodiversity, resilience, and functionality. Results also suggest clear narrative trends and large knowledge gaps across geographical areas, biological components, and target issues. Additionally, we note that SWEs are under-represented in the frame of WFD implementation, stressing their marginality into assessing procedures. All of this calls for further studies, especially outside Europe and with a global, multi-taxon perspective. These should be devoted to quantitatively assess the roles of SWEs in maintaining global water ecosystem quality, biodiversity, and services, and to prioritize management actions for their conservation.

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“…Hence, some floristic surveys have been specifically designed to capture within swamp floristic variations (e.g. Brand et al 2013). However, overall, at the national level (SANBI 2009) and even in regional assessments that are 'fine-scale' (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standard survey designs drive bias in the mapping of upland swamp communities

2015

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Vegetation maps are critical biodiversity planning instruments, but the classification of vegetation for mapping can be strongly biased by survey design. Standardization of survey design across different vegetation types is therefore increasingly recommended for vegetation mapping programs. However, some vegetation types have complex small-scale vegetation patterns that are important in characterizing these vegetation types, and standard designs will often not capture these patterns. The objective of this paper was to investigate the magnitude of potential map bias that results from survey design standardization and recommend approaches to deal with this bias. We surveyed upland swamps of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area Australia using two contrasting survey designs, including the standard 400 m 2 single quadrat design recommended and used by authorities. We then derived a classification for these swamps and tested the effect of survey design on this classification, species richness and the type of species detected (obligate or facultative swamp species). Species richness and species type were not significantly different among survey techniques. However, more than 40% of swamps clustered differently among survey designs. Thus, one of the 10 derived communities (which is floristically consistent with a previously mapped endangered community) was indistinct, and some individual swamps misclassified using the standard survey design. An effect of landscape position on swamp floristic patterns and a significant trend for high similarity scores among swamps surveyed with multiple small quadrats compared to the standard survey design was also determined. Australian upland swamps are classified at the global scale as shrub-dominated wetlands, and complex floristic patterns have been recorded in shrub-dominated wetlands in both northern and southern hemispheres. We therefore advocate either multiple survey designs or different survey standards for upland swamp communities and other vegetation types that have complex floristic patterns at small scales.

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High altitude montane wetland vegetation classification of the Eastern Free State, South Africa

Abstract: truefalse2016-03-16T23:02:09

Cited by 9 publications

References 18 publications

A phytosociological analysis and description of wetland vegetation and ecological factors associated with locations of high mortality for the 2010-11 Rift Valley fever outbreak in South Africa

A phytosociological analysis and description of wetland vegetation and ecological factors associated with locations of high mortality for the 2010-11 Rift Valley fever outbreak in South Africa

Ecological and Conservation Value of Small Standing-Water Ecosystems: A Systematic Review of Current Knowledge and Future Challenges

Standard survey designs drive bias in the mapping of upland swamp communities

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