Vegetation gradients around cattleposts in the eastern mountains of Lesotho

Morris, Craig

doi:10.2989/10220119.2017.1406404

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…A total of 90 plots, each 25 m 2 (5 × 5 m) in size, were sampled along nine transect lines radiating from 15 kraals; see Shezi (2019) for further detail. Sample size and range in distance used in our study corresponds with that used elsewhere to assess grazing pressure (Fernandez-Gimenez and Allen-Diaz 1999; Sasaki et al 2007;Manthey and Peper 2010;Tarhouni et al 2010;Dorji et al 2013;Morris 2017), and our plot size is commonly used for phytosociological studies in South African grassland (see studies in Mucina and Rutherford 2006). All transect lines covered areas of relative topographic uniformity.…”

Section: Grazing Intensity Gradientmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Functional groups most likely to benefit from chronic grazing are annuals (graminoids or herbaceous Impact of livestock grazing intensity on plant diversity of montane grassland in the northern Drakensberg, South Africa Introduction dicotyledons), because grazing opens spaces for establishment (Milchunas and Lauenroth 1993), grazophile perennial grasses (e.g. mtshiki grasses) that can replace species less tolerant of grazing (Tainton 1999), woody subshrubs and shrubs, because grazing reduces grass competition and the probability of fire (Rutherford and Powrie 2011;Rutherford et al 2012), and species adapted to high nutrient concentrations where livestock repeatedly dung or urinate (Hoag 2016;Morris 2017). Conversely, functional groups expected to be disadvantaged by chronic grazing are palatable perennial graminoids (mainly grasses) or 'decreasers' (Tainton 1999), soft-bodied, non-graminoid species that are vulnerable to trampling (O'Connor 2005) or to grazing by sheep if palatable (O'Connor et al 2011) that may respond as 'decreasers' (Scott-Shaw and Morris 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Impact of livestock grazing intensity on plant diversity of montane grassland in the northern Drakensberg, South Africa

Shezi

O’Connor

Witkowski

2021

African Journal of Range & Forage Science

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Communal livestock grazing is expected to impact botanical composition and plant diversity of Drakensberg montane grasslands. Accordingly, a grazing gradient extending outward from kraals, and fence-line contrasts between communal rangeland and protected areas (Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Royal Natal National Park), were studied in the QwaQwa region of South Africa. Presence of a grazing gradient was confirmed by a decrease in the amount of cattle dung with increasing distance from kraals that was independent of altitude, solar radiation, slope, or soil physico-chemical properties. Canonical correspondence analysis confirmed that grazing intensity had a significant influence on botanical composition although most compositional variation was unexplained. Higher grazing intensities tended to negatively affect plant species richness and diversity, and the cover of perennial graminoids, but benefitted the abundance of dwarf shrubs and alien invasive species. Similar effects were apparent across each of the fence line contrasts. Despite a long history of livestock grazing, communal rangeland supported >320 indigenous species, illustrating some contribution to biodiversity conservation, but being compromised near kraals. An improved approach for study of the impacts of livestock grazing on plant diversity is suggested that would overcome the difficulties of assessing rare and threatened species using a community approach.

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Section: Grazing Intensity Gradientmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of livestock grazing intensity on plant diversity of montane grassland in the northern Drakensberg, South Africa

Shezi

O’Connor

Witkowski

2021

African Journal of Range & Forage Science

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“…However, the absence of grass species among the 36 emergent plant species that colonised the plots might be partly a result of the fencing of the study site, which restricted the potential biotic dispersal agents of grasses, thereby limiting their recruitment (Klanderud et al., 2017 ). This is further exacerbated by the reduced abundance of common grasses such as Festuca caprina Nees, Harpochloa falx (L.f.) Kuntze and Themeda triandra Forssk., possibly owing to overgrazing around the mine property (Morris, 2017 ). Similarly, Ninot et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Success in restoring native plant communities on kimberlite mining dumps in the Afro‐alpine Drakensberg region of Lesotho

Ntloko,

Mokotjomela,

Mphafi

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Rehabilitation strategies for degraded mine dumps have generally seen limited success due to different complications associated with mining biophysical disturbance. In this study, we tested a combination of two methods to expedite revegetation of kimberlite tailings at Letseng Diamond Mine (i.e., in the Afro‐alpine areas of Lesotho). We ran trials on different growth media located on fine and coarse kimberlite tailings (i.e. sites) mixed with different substrate combinations and topsoil and sowing a seed mix comprised of native plant species. Overall, as predicted, fine kimberlite tailings displayed significantly higher plant abundance than coarse kimberlite tailings, and sown seeds performed significantly better than spontaneous colonisation by emerging species. Kimberlite tailings mixed with topsoil (100 mm) showed significantly greater plant abundance, and similarly, when coarse kimberlite tailings were introduced to fine tailings. Physicochemical analyses of growth media components suggested that topsoil provided additional nutrients and that plants could readily access available nutrients in the fine kimberlite tailings. We noted a gradual significant increase in plant abundance over 5 years, enhanced by new plant species emerging from the topsoil seed bank or by natural seed dispersal. Although plant abundance differed significantly, both fine and coarse kimberlite tailings displayed high plant species diversity (H = 3.4 and D = 0.95 and H = 3.5 and D = 0.95, respectively). Out of 36 emerging plant species, 15 species spontaneously colonised both growth media. The significant variation in abundance among plant species between treatments was mostly attributed to dominant forb species, namely Chrysocoma ciliata, Glumicalyx montanus, Oxalis obliquifolia, Senecio inaequidens and Trifolium burchellianum. We have identified suitable growth media for plant community restoration on kimberlite tailings in the Drakensberg alpine area using a seed mix of native plant species in combination with natural seed dispersal from the surrounding pristine environment. We provide evidence for using two complementary approaches to optimise native plant community development during restoration in the Drakensberg alpine area.

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Current Crisis and Future Woes: The Case of Climate Change in the Drakensberg Mountains Region of Southern Africa and Its Socio-economic Impacts in the Region

Mukwada

2021

Mountain Landscapes in Transition

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Vegetation gradients around cattleposts in the eastern mountains of Lesotho

Cited by 6 publications

References 36 publications

Impact of livestock grazing intensity on plant diversity of montane grassland in the northern Drakensberg, South Africa

Impact of livestock grazing intensity on plant diversity of montane grassland in the northern Drakensberg, South Africa

Success in restoring native plant communities on kimberlite mining dumps in the Afro‐alpine Drakensberg region of Lesotho

Current Crisis and Future Woes: The Case of Climate Change in the Drakensberg Mountains Region of Southern Africa and Its Socio-economic Impacts in the Region

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