Importance of vegetation analysis in the conservation management of the endangered butterfly <i>Aloeides dentatis dentatis</i> (Swierstra) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)

Abstract

The study of the vegetation of the Ruimsig Entomological Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa revealed four plant communities one of which could be subdivided into two subcommunities and variants. The extensive climax stage of the vegetation represented by the Themeda triandra - Trachypogon spicatus grassland was found to be too dense and tall to support the butterfly Aloeides dentatis dentatis and the host ant Lepisiota capensis (Mayr). A degraded phase caused by succession in an area where pipes have been laid was found to be ideal habitat for both ant and butterfly. This vegetation also contained adequate numbers of the food plant Hermannia depressa. A serai community with tall- growing Hyparrhenia hirta was also found to be an unsuitable habitat for the butterfly. The identification of the preferred ideal habitat for the host ant and butterfly resulted in the compilation of a conservation management strategy that ensured the survival of the rare and endangered butterfly.

Natural woodland vegetation and plant species richness of the urban open spaces in Gauteng, South Africa

“…Bredenkamp & Brown (1998a, 1998b also described vegetation to the west and north of Johannesburg indicating floristic resemblance to this vegetation unit. The vegetation of the Ruimsig Entomological Reserve in Roodepoort, also shows a floristical resemblance to the woodland species identified in this study (Deutschländer & Bredenkamp 1999). …”

Diversity and biomass of tree species in Tambrauw, West Papua, Indonesia

“…Vegetation analysis is a method to study species composition and structure of a plant community. The method is an important tool in land classification (Damman 1979), conservation management of endangered plants (Cropper 1993) and animals (Deutschlander and Bredenkamp 1999), and conservation management of soil and water (Maridi et al 2014). It also plays a crucial role as a baseline data for helping plant species and community to adapt to future climate change (Palmate et al 2017).…”

The ecology and conservation of Thestor brachycerus brachycerus (Trimen, 1883): an aphytophagous miletine butterfly from South Africa

“…The Braun-Blanquet methodology for vegetation analysis (Westhoff and van der Maarel 1980), previously used to explore associations between vegetation types and the occurrence of butterflies or their host ant species in South Africa (Deutschländer and Bredenkamp 1999;Terblanche et al 2003;Edge et al 2008a), has been applied here. All sampling relevés were 5 m 9 5 m square, the minimum size judged necessary to capture the plant diversity.…”