Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With only 1.76% conserved West Coast Renosterveld remaining it is crucial to prioritize the conservation and management of this fragile vegetation type. Because of its occurrence on fertile soils, renosterveld has been cleared for cultivation and other agricultural use and is thus fragmented to a critical point. These remaining fragments are subject to extensive edge effects and the exact parameters of a viable fragment must still be determined. The extent of alien grass species invasion into remnant renosterveld patches was determined using data collected using the line-intercept method. Sampling included three different management treatment areas adjacent to old lands: 1) a recently burned area, 2) a grazed area and 3) an unburnedlungrazed area providing a control sample. Additionally all small-scale soil disturbances along the lines were recorded. Results showed that Briza spp., Bromus spp. and Avena fatua were the most significant invading alien grass species. There was a significantly high variation between alien grass cover in each treatment, with the grazed area containing the highest overal! level of alien grass invasion. The control area, with the exclusion of fire and animal activity, showed minimum alien grass invasion. Edge effects were apparent in all treatments, but were lowest in the control area, where percentage alien grass cover significantly decreased after a distance of fifteen meters into the remnant patch. A weak positive correlation between the occurrence of alien grass and indigenous grass was found, as well as evidence of a weak association between alien grass cover and shrub cover. The possibility that small-scale soil disturbances could be an important contributing factor to alien grass invasion was supported by the positive correlation between disturbances and percentage alien grass cover. A positive correlation was found between the occurrence of indigenous grass and small-scale soil disturbances, while shrub cover tended to be less associated with animal activity. It is concluded that the correct management regime could effectively control the excessive invasion of alien grass species into the remnant renosterveld patches. Grazing (including all animal activity and small-scale soil disturbances) was the main facilitator of alien grass establishment - even dominating the prominent consequences of edge effects by facilitating alien grass establishment much deeper into the remnant patches. It could be assumed that a precise balance of low-pressure grazing and fire management should be established to enable the effective control of alien grass species while maintaining optimum biodiversity. Keywords: renosterveld, alien grass, grazing, fire, management, small-scale soil disturbances / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met slegs 1.76% oorblywende Weskus Renosterveld wat bewaar word, is die beskerming en effektiewe bestuur van hierdie bedreigde plantegroei 'n prioriteit. Die vrugbare grond waarop renosterveld voorkom, het veroorsaak dat dit uitgeroei word om eerder die kultivering van ekonomies produktiewe landbou gewasse moontlik te maak. Dus het renosterveld verminder en gefragmenteer tot 'n kritieke punt. Hierdie ooblywende klein areas bedek met renosterveld, is blootgestel aan ekstensiewe invloede van die omliggende areas en die presiese afmetings vir 'n effektiewe grate renosterveld fragment vir bewarings doeleindes, moel nog vasgestel word. Die male van uitheemse gras spesie indringing in hierdie renosterveld fragmente is ondersoek deur die versameling van data deur die lyn-onderskep metode. Drie verskillende bestuursstelsels vir renosterveld is ondersoek om vas te stel wat die ergste graad van uitheemse gras indringing voorkom. Die studie het 'n 1) onlangs gebrande area, 2) 'n beweide area en 3) 'n kontrole area (wat nie gebrand of bewei is nie) ondersoek. Alle kleinskaalse grond-versteurings langs die lyne is ook aangeteken. Die resultate het aangetoon dat Briza spp., Bromus spp. en Avena fatua, as uitheemse grasse, die belangrikste indringers was en dus die grootste bedreiging inhou. Daar was 'n beduidende hoë variasie tussen die mate van uitheemse gras bedekking aangeteken in elk van die bestuurs-stelsels. Die beweide area het die hoogste graad van uitheemse gras indringing getoon, terwyl die kontrole area (in die afwesigheid van vuur en weidings aktiwiteite) die meeste weerstand teen uitheemse gras indringing getoon het. Die invloed van die omliggende omgewing was ook duidelik sigbaar in al drie die bestuurs-stelsels, maar was duidelik minder in die kontrole area waar die persentasie uitheemse gras indringing aansienlik verminder het na 'n afstand van vyftien meter in die renosterveld fragment in. 'n Swak positiewe korrelasie tussen die voorkoms van uitheemse grasse en inheemse gras spesies was aangeteken, asook bewyse van 'n swak negatiewe assosiasie tussen die uitheemse gras spesies en die inheemse bosse. Soos verwag, is daar bewyse gevind vir die teorie dat kleinskaalse grond-versteurings 'n belangrike fasiliterende faktor is vir uitheemse gras vestiging. Daar was 'n duidelike positiewe korrelasie tussen hierdie grond-versteurings en die persentasie uitheemse gras grondbedekking. Dieselfde positiewe assosiasie was gevind tussen die inheemse gras en hierdie kleinskaalse grond-versteurings, terwyl die inheemse bossie duidelik minder verbind was met die verskynsel. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat 'n korrekte bestuurs-plan die indringing van uitheemse grasse effektief sal kan beheer. Dier aktiwiteite (insluitende beweiding, grawe van gate, mier en termiet neste ens.), en dus kleinskaalse grond-versteurings. was die grootste fasiliteerders van uitheemse gras indringing en vestiging binne hierdie renosterveld stukke. Dit oorheers selfs die aansienlike effek wat invloede van die omringende omgewing op hierdie areas het, deur die uitheemse gras indringing selfs dieper in die fragmente in aan te help. Daar kan dus aangeneem word dat 'n presiese balans tussen lae-intensiteit beweiding (en dus fauna aktiwiteit) en veld brande vasgestel moet word vir die effektiewe beheer van uitheemse gras spesies terwyl die optimum bio-diversiteit terselfde tyd gehandhaafword. Sleutelwoorde: renosterveld, uitheemse grasse, beweiding, vuur, veldbestuur, kleinskaalse grond-versteurings