The phytosociology of the Vermaaks, Marnewicks and Buffelsklip valleys of the Kammanassie Nature Reserve, Western Cape

Cleaver, Glenda; Brown, Leslie R.; Bredenkamp, G.J.

doi:10.4102/koedoe.v48i1.162

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…• Savanna: Bezuidenhout (1994), Brown (1997), Gertenbach (1978, Mostert (2006), Stalmans andPeel (2010), Van Rooyen (1983) and Van Staden (2002). • Nama-Karoo: Brown and Bezuidenhout (2000), Cleaver, Brown and Bredenkamp (2005), Rubin and Palmer (1996), Van der Walt (1980) and Werger and Coetzee (1977). • Succulent Karoo: Jurgens (2004) andLe Roux (1984).…”

Section: Selected Examples Includementioning

confidence: 99%

Guidelines for phytosociological classifications and descriptions of vegetation in southern Africa

Brown

Preez

Bezuidenhout

et al. 2013

Koedoe

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Changes in the environment are first observed in changes in the vegetation. Vegetation survey, classification and mapping form the basis on which informed and scientifically defendable decisions on the environment can be taken. The classification and mapping of vegetation is one of the most widely used tools for interpreting complex ecosystems. By identifying different plant communities we are essentially identifying different ecosystems at a particular hierarchical level. Phytosociologists in Europe have been involved in such studies following, in particular, the Braun-Blanquet approach since the early 1900s. In South Africa, such studies were undertaken on a limited basis from the early 1970s and have since then steadily increased. The surveying of the enormous diversity of South African vegetation is one of the objectives of phytosociological studies. The demand for such data has steadily increased over the past few years to guide conservation policies, biodiversity studies and ecosystem management. In South Africa, numerous publications on the vegetation of conservation and other areas in the different biomes have been produced over the last few decades. However, vegetation scientists in South Africa experience unique problems. The purpose of this article is therefore to provide an overview of the history and the specific focus of phytosociological studies in South Africa and to recommend minimum requirements and methods to be followed when conducting such studies. It is believed that the incorporation of these requirements will result in scientifically justifiable research of high quality by phytosociologists in South Africa. Conservation implications: Effective conservation cannot be obtained without a thorough knowledge of the ecosystems present in an area. Consistent vegetation classifications and descriptions form the basis of conservation and monitoring exercises to maintain biodiversity. The incorporation of these guidelines and requirements will facilitate quality phytosociological research in South Africa

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Section: Selected Examples Includementioning

confidence: 99%

Guidelines for phytosociological classifications and descriptions of vegetation in southern Africa

Brown

Preez

Bezuidenhout

et al. 2013

Koedoe

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“…These have previously been described floristically as well as physiognomically in number of ways. They have a demarcated structure in an area in relation to biotic and a biotic variation (Kent and Coker, 1992, Van Rooyen et al, 1981, Roberts and Wuest, 1999, Tainton et al, 1996, Cleaver et al, 2005, Brown and Bezuidenhout, 2005). Vegetation structure is usually influenced by environmental gradient and anthropogenic activates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eco-Floristic studies of native plants of the Beer Hills along the Indus River in the districts Haripur and Abbottabad, Pakistan

Bano

Khan

Alam

et al. 2018

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences

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The present study was conducted to elaborate vegetation composition structure to analyze role of edaphic and topographic factors on plant species distribution and community formation during 2013-14. A mixture of quadrat and transect methods were used. The size of quadrat for trees shrubs and herbs were 10 × 5, 5 × 2, 1 × 1 meter square respectively. Different phytosociological attribute were measured at each station. Primary results reported 123 plant species belong to 46 families. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were dominant families with 8 species each. PCORD version 5 were used for Cluster and Two Way Cluster Analyses that initiated 4 plant communities within elevation range of 529-700 m from sea level. Indicator species analyses (ISA) were used to identify indicator species of each community. CANOCO Software (version 4.5) was used to measure the influence of edaphic and topographic variables on species composition, diversity and community formation. Whereas Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to measure the effect of environmental variables which showed elevation and aspect were the stronger environmental variable among topographic and CaCO contents, electric conductivity, soil pH were the stronger edaphic factors in determination of vegetation and communities of the Bheer Hills. Grazing pressure was one of the main anthropogenic factors in this regard.

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“…Similarly, a researcher investigated the vegetation of the western Himalayas and identified five distinct communities, the most abundant of which were found on north-facing slopes at middle altitudes, where the moisture levels were highest [ 6 ]. Thirteen major groups were identified in the vegetation of Kammanassie areas using the TWINSPAN classification [ 100 ]. These results, along with ours, show evidence that elevational variables are suitable places to evaluate how changes in environmental variables drive plant community structure and diversity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Classification and Characterization of the Manoor Valley’s (Lesser Himalaya) Vegetation from the Subtropical-Temperate Ecotonal Forests to the Alpine Pastures along Ecological Variables

Rahman

Afzal

Iqbal

et al. 2021

Plants

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Plant species are distributed in different types of habitats, forming different communities driven by different sets of environmental variables. Here, we assessed potential plant communities along an altitudinal gradient and their associations with different environmental drivers in the unexplored Manoor Valley (Lesser Himalaya), Pakistan. We have implemented various ecological techniques and evaluated phytosociological attributes in three randomly selected 50 m-transects within each stand (a total of 133) during different seasons for four years (2015–2018). This phytosociological exploration reported 354 plant species representing 93 different families. The results revealed that the Therophytic life form class dominated the flora, whereas Nanophyll dominated the leaf size spectra. There were a total of twelve plant communities identified, ranging from the lowest elevations to the alpine meadows and cold deserts. The maximum number of species were found in Cedrus–Pinus–Parrotiopsis community (197 species), in the middle altitudinal ranges (2292–3168 m). Our results showed that at high altitudes, species richness was reduced, whereas an increase in soil nutrients was linked to progression in vegetation indicators. We also found different clusters of species with similar habitats. Our study clearly shows how altitudinal variables can cluster different plant communities according to different microclimates. Studies such as ours are paramount to better understanding how environmental factors influence ecological and evolutionary aspects.

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The phytosociology of the Vermaaks, Marnewicks and Buffelsklip valleys of the Kammanassie Nature Reserve, Western Cape

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Guidelines for phytosociological classifications and descriptions of vegetation in southern Africa

Guidelines for phytosociological classifications and descriptions of vegetation in southern Africa

Eco-Floristic studies of native plants of the Beer Hills along the Indus River in the districts Haripur and Abbottabad, Pakistan

Classification and Characterization of the Manoor Valley’s (Lesser Himalaya) Vegetation from the Subtropical-Temperate Ecotonal Forests to the Alpine Pastures along Ecological Variables

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