The area studied at Fern Kloof, near Grahamstown, consists of a strip of vegetation approximately 260 yds. long and 50 yds. wide, in which there are two communities: 1) indigenous forest 2) exotic Pine forest (which has only one tree species Pinus pinaster). Throughout the thesis this species is referred to as the pine. The object of the investigation has been to determine whether these communities are natural or not. This has involved a study of the floristic composition, the life forms and the structure of the plant communities. In addition, various soil and environmental factors have been studied.

A vegetation survey, on the plant community level of organization, was conducted on the Mfabeni swamp on the eastern shores of Lake St Lucia. The survey included both the sedge/grass swamp and the swamp forest. Mfabeni swamp is a peatland with peat up to 10m in depth. Except for limited studies in Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, this is a first vegetation survey on the plant community level of peatland vegetation in southern Africa. Total floristic composition and habitat information were recorded in 214 sample plots, fully referenced by GPS for GIS mapping. The data were captured in the TURBOVEG data base for vegetation data, classified using the TWINSPAN numerical classification algorithm and phytosociological tables were compiled using the MEGATAB computerized table management program. Fourteen plant communities were identified, characterized by diagnostic and dominant species, described, and the localities noted by GIS. The data were also processed by the PCOrd numerical ordination program and the axes of the resulting ordination diagrams were related to environmental conditions. This gave an indication of the environmental factors controlling the existence and distribution patterns of the different plant communities. An ordination was run on the habitat data collected to further illustrate the relationship between the plant communities and environmental variables. It seems that water depth, seasonality of the water depth and certain water chemical properties, such as pH conductivity and dissolved oxygen content of the water play an important role in determining floristic composition and therefore plant community type in the Mfabeni swamp. / Dissertation (MSc(Botany))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Plant Science / unrestricted

Les zones humides sont des écosystèmes dynamiques en perpétuel changement, dans le temps et dans l'espace et demeurent parmi les plus menacés au monde. Ce travail de thèse est une contribution à la connaissance et la conservation des zones humides. Nous avons étudié la végétation de différents milieux, appartenant à un réseau de zones humides de Gironde, allant des landes humides aux prairies alluviales. Nous les avons choisies pour leur intérêt patrimonial et les enjeux de gestion qu'elles représentent dans le département. Nous avons utilisé plusieurs approches descriptives et expérimentales. La première partie vise à étudier l’organisation des communautés des deux grands systèmes, les landes humides et les prairies alluviales, le long de gradients environnementaux. Dans un deuxième temps, une approche combinant données anciennes et récentes, nous a permis de caractériser les changements de végétation à long terme selon différentes stratégies d’étude de la végétation. La troisième partie, par une approche expérimentale a été conduite sur une communauté végétale à fort enjeu patrimonial : les prairies à Molinie (code 6410 de la Directive Natura 2000). Cette troisième partie a permis de mettre en évidence la part respective des filtres stochastiques (dispersion de graines) et déterministes (compétition) dans une communauté soumise à de fortes contraintes environnementales (inondation). Enfin, dans une analyse prospective, nous avons considéré les enjeux de biodiversité ainsi que les services écosystémiques, cette fois, à l'échelle du département. Cette analyse envisage les outils à développer pour une approche multi-taxon et multi-services sur l'ensemble des zones humides de Gironde. L’ensemble de ce travail a permis de construire un dispositif de suivi de la biodiversité végétale au niveau départemental. Les résultats de ce travail contribuent aujourd’hui à considérer la gestion de ces communautés végétales de façon intégrée et proposent des outils d’aide à la décision pour la gestion de ces espaces. / Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems, constantly changing in time and space, and remaining among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. This thesis contribute to wetland knowledge and conservation. We studied the vegetation of different communities belonging to a network of wetlands in Gironde and ranging from wet heathlands to alluvial meadows. Wetlands were selected from the department council historical interest and management issues. We used several descriptive and experimental approaches. The first part aims to study the organization of the communities of the two major systems, heathlands and alluvial grasslands, along environmental gradients. Then, in a second time, an approach combining old and recent data allowed us to characterize long-term vegetation changes according to different strategies of vegetation study. The third part was conducted on a plant community with a strong conservation issue: Molinia caerulea wet meadow (Code 6410 of the Natura 2000 Directive) with an experimental approach. We highlight here the importance of stochastic filters (seed dispersion) and deterministic filters (competition) in a community controlled by environmental constraints (flooding). Finally, within a prospective analysis, we considered biodiversity issues and supply in ecosystems services at the departmental level. This analysis investigate tools to develop for a multi-taxon and multi-service approach in any Gironde wetlands. This work allowed us to create a monitoring device for plant biodiversity in the department. These results lead to consider nowadays the management of these plant communities in an integrated way and offer tools of decision support for the management of these communities.

This thesis seeks to explain how site-scale design decisions can assist retention of rare plant communities concentrated in and near settled areas. To do so it focuses on a specific species and development context. Explanations are sought through examination of case studies of landuse developments in proximity to retained Garry oak plant communities located in the perimeter of Victoria, British Columbia. In the study region, exponential declines in species populations, health, and diversity of rare Garry oak ecosystems have been largely attributed to impacts from land-use developments. Over the past century, land-use developments have transformed the floral, spatial, structural and functional characteristics of the settled landscape. Isolated islands of imperiled plant associations remain on protected bioreserves: for recruitment and connectivity, these rare fauna rely on private-land greenways. Architectural teams have the potential to influence the decision-making processes that create ecologically-vital greenspace on private land, thereby enhancing survival for declining plant communities. Case-study evidence for the importance of land-use decisions on diminishing Garry oak meadow is gathered through vegetation surveys conducted on Garry oak meadow in proximity to six architectural projects on Victoria's western edge. Observed changes in growth extensions are then categorized in relation to human activities associated with built form, and correlated with principles from Landscape Ecology. An ARC of design strategies, developed in primary research by K. D. Rothley is adapted for architectural use as follows: firstly, AREA of a plant community is kept free of encroachment by the orderly frame established around vegetation; secondly, RARE SPECIES and habitat are identified with borders or signage; thirdly, CONNECTIVITY between retained landscapes is secured by siting roads and buildings to minimize ecosystem fragmentation. To effectively communicate preexisting landscape ecology principles, grouped under the ARC of strategies, illustrations and key-word phrases are developed. These principles, when integrated into architectural teams' structural knowledge, extend the architects' perceived role beyond aesthetics and economic efficiency. Enhancing habitat value through retention or restoration of rare ecosystems at the margins of suburban development, becomes an additional realm of influence for professional teams designing the spatial configurations of peri-urban landscapes. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

Orientadores: Luiza Sumiko Kinoshita, George John Sheperd / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T12:28:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Yamamoto_LeilaFumiyo_D.pdf: 7410663 bytes, checksum: 7ba57dd8ddc064caa0cb306774dc6f38 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Foi realizado um levantamento florístico e fitossociológico de espécies arbóreas, ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal nas duas faces da Serra do Lopo, localizada no extremo sul da Serra da Mantiqueira, entre os estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo. Este trabalho teve como objetivo, conhecer a composição florística e caracterizar a estrutura das espécies arbóreas da floresta em estudo; verificar se há diferenças na composição e na estrutura fitossociológica entre a face sudeste e a face noroeste, e ao longo do gradiente altitudinal; saber com qual formação florestal a face sudeste e a face noroeste apresentam maior similaridade florística. As coletas foram feitas entre maio de 2002 e junho de 2006. No levantamento florístico foram feitas coletas de todos os indivíduos lenhosos com mais de 3 m de altura com flores e/ou frutos. Para o estudo fitossociológico foram incluídos os indivíduos arbóreos com DAP=5 cm. Também foram incluídos, na amostragem fitossociológica os samambaiaçus e os indivíduos mortos com DAP=5 e os bambus. Foram instaladas cinco parcelas de 10 X 10 m (distando 50 m de uma de outra) nas seguintes cotas de altitudes: 1650 m, 1550 m, 1450 m, 1350 m, 1250 m e 1150 m em ambas as faces, sendo 30 na face noroeste (Extrema/MG) e 30 na face sudeste (Joanópolis/ SP), totalizando 60 parcelas. Foram, também, incluídos na listagem florística, os espécimes coletados no levantamento fitossociológico. (...continua) / Abstract: A floristic and phytosociological survey of the woody species along an altitudinal gradient on the two faces of the Serra do Lopo has been performed. The Serra do Lopo is located at the south end of the Serra da Mantiqueira, between the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. This paper aimed knowing the floristic composition and characterizing the structure of the woody species of the forest under study, as well as verifying if there are differences in the composition and phytosociology structure between the southwest face and northwest face, and along an altitudinal gradient. Moreover, it also aimed knowing which forestry formation the southwest and northwest face present more floristic resemblance. Collections were made between May 2002 and June 2006. For floristic study all woody individuals greater than 3 m were collected (with flowers and/or fruits). For the phytosociological study all woody individuals with DAP5 cm were included. Bamboos, tree ferns and dead individuals were also included. Five 10 X 10 m plots (50 m apart) were set up at the following altitudes: 1650 m, 1550 m, 1450 m, 1350 m, 1250 m and 1150 m on both faces, giving a total of 30 on the northwestern face (Extrema/MG) and 30 on the southeastern face (Joanópolis/ SP), totaling 60 plots. The specimens collected in the phytosociological survey were also included in the floristic list. (..continue) / Doutorado / Doutor em Biologia Vegetal

Orientador: Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T08:12:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Barreto_TiagoEgydio_D.pdf: 8134501 bytes, checksum: c12818f7df9316d4b24cad1607c7fcd5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: Neste estudo, buscamos compreender se a comunidade arbórea em remanescente de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual com pouca perturbação antrópica, mas situado em uma paisagem com alto grau de ocupação agrícola e com poucos remanescentes de vegetação nativa, mantém suas características quanto à sua estrutura ao longo do tempo e do espaço e como a heterogeneidade ambiental do solo e a estrutura do dossel afetam os descritores de estrutura e dinâmica da floresta. Para isto investigamos o padrão e os processos ecológicos que influenciam a estrutura e a dinâmica temporal da comunidade arbórea da Estação Ecológica dos Caetetus, município de Gália, São Paulo, Brasil em uma parcela permanente de 10,24 ha, dividida em 256 sub-parcelas. No primeiro capítulo descrevemos os padrões da estrutura e dinâmica e avaliamos como estes parâmetros se modificam ao longo do tempo. Levantamos os dados florísticos, mapeamos, mensuramos o diâmetro na altura do peito (DAP) de todos os indivíduos com DAP ? 4,8 cm, avaliamos os ingressantes e aqueles que morreram, em três censos realizados (T0 - 2002/2003; T1 - 2004/2005 e; T2 - 2010). Com dados dos descritores da estrutura, da composição e das taxas demográficas, testamos se houve mudanças nestes descritores da comunidade ao longo do tempo. Por fim, avaliamos se os padrões observados se enquadravam nos pressupostos da teoria de dinâmica de clareiras fruto de ocorrência de distúrbios pretéritos ou do ponto de vista teórico das mudanças na ecologia das florestas tropicais. Encontramos que os valores de estrutura e dos descritores demográficos foram altamente dinâmicos e tiveram dois padrões distintos, um entre T0-T1, que foi relacionado a regeneração da floresta, e outro entre T1-T2, em que as perdas de estrutura foram associadas a distúrbios naturais. Concluimos que a dinâmica da estrutura deste trecho de floresta está relacionado à dinâmica de clareiras fruto de ocorrência de distúrbios pretéritos ou atuais. No segundo capítulo investigamos como atributos a estrutura do dossel, aspectos nutricionais do solo e a estrutura do solo relacionado à retenção hídrica relacionam-se aos descritores de demografia e da estrutura da floresta. Avaliamos o papel da heterogeneidade ambiental para escala da parcela na organização da comunidade para dois critérios de inclusão de tamanho de árvores, o primeiro para DAP ? 4,8 cm e o segundo para DAP ? 20 cm. Calculamos os valores dos respectivos descritores da comunidade para cada sub-parcela e obtivemos, a partir do banco de dados do projeto parcela permanente, dados dos atributos do solo e da estrutura do dossel mencionados. Desenvolvemos modelos de regressão linear e múltipla para avaliar como solo e luz afetam a comunidade e depois avaliamos a significância de cada variável explanatória sobre os modelos estudados. Para o critério de inclusão de DAP ? 4,8 cm, os modelos estocásticos prevaleceram e, em alguns casos, os modelos com luz e o solo foram os que tiveram melhor ajuste. Para o critério de inclusão de DAP ? 20 cm, os modelos de luz e solos foram os mais importantes. Em síntese, pode ser dito que aspectos nutricionais do solo foram importantes para explicar os descritores da estrutura da floresta e que a estrutura do dossel atuou tanto na estrutura da floresta como nos descritores demográficos. Com este estudo conseguimos entender que houve mudanças na estrutura da floresta para o período de tempo estudado, principalmente para os indivíduos do dossel, e que estas características possivelmente estão associadas a distúrbios naturais atuais e pretéritos que vem atingido à floresta ao longo do tempo e que tantos processos estocásticos como determinísticos são importantes na organização da comunidade de FES ao longo do espaço / Abstract: In this study, we aimed to understand whether the tree community the remaining of semideciduous seasonal forests with little human disturbance, but situated in a landscape with high agricultural occupation and with few remaining native vegetation, maintains its characteristics related to its structure over time and space, and how the environmental heterogeneity of the soil and the canopy structure affect the structure and forest dynamics descriptors. For this we investigate the pattern and ecological processes that influence the structure and the dynamics of the tree community of the Ecological Station Caetetus, Gália, São Paulo, Brazil in a permanent plot of 10.24 ha, divided into 256 sub-plots. In the first section we describe the structure and dynamics of patterns and evaluate how these parameters change over time. Raise the floristic data, mapped, we measure the diameter at breast height (DBH) of all individuals with DBH ? 4.8 cm, evaluated the recruits and those who died in three censuses conducted (T0 - 2002/2003; T1 - 2004/2005 and T2 - 2010). With data structure descriptors and demographic rates, we tested whether there were changes in these community over time. Finally, we assessed whether the observed patterns to fit the dynamic theory of assumptions clearings result of occurrence of preterite disturbances or with the theoretical point of view of changes in the ecology of tropical forests. Finally, we assessed whether the observed patterns would fit within the assumptions of the theory of dynamic gaps or theoretical point of view the changing in the ecology of tropical forests. We found that the values of the demographic rates and forest structure descriptors were highly dynamics. Two distinct patterns were detected, the first in T0-T1 and the second in T1-T2. The changes occurred between T0-T1 were related to forest regeneration, according to the assumption of the theory of the gap dynamics and the changes observed between T1-T2 were associated with occurrences of natural disturbances. In the second chapter investigated how attributes the canopy structure, nutritional aspects of the soil and the soil structure related to water retention relate to demographic descriptors and forest structure. We evaluated the role of environmental heterogeneity to scale the plot in community organization for two inclusion criteria of size trees, the first to DBH ? 4.8 cm and the second for DBH ? 20 cm. We calculate the values of the community descriptors for each sub-plot and got from the database of the Permanent Plot Project data of soil and light. We develop models of multiple and linear regression to assess how soil and light affect the community and then we studied the impacts of each explanatory variable on the models studied. For the inclusion criterion of dbh ? 4.8 cm the stochastic models prevailed for the most community descriptors and in some cases models with light and soil had the best fit. For the DBH ? 20 cm the models of light and soil were the most important. In summary, the nutritional aspects of soil were important in explaining the descriptors of the forest structure and light acted in both forest structure and demographic descriptors. In summary it can be said that nutritional soil aspects were important to explain the forest structure descriptors and the canopy structure served both in forest structure as in demographic descriptors. With this study we can understand that there were changes in forest structure for the study period, mainly for canopy individuals, and that these characteristics are possibly associated with current and past tenses natural disturbances that comes reached the forest over time and that stochastic and deterministic processes are important in organizing the FES community over space / Doutorado / Biologia Vegetal / Doutor em Biologia Vegetal

This paper deals with a study of the rangelands in Coleman County just west south and west of the Western Cross Timbers of Texas. This problem consists of classifying certain rangelands in this area according to whether they are excellent, fair, good, or poor, the chief basis for which is their deterioration.

Hlogoma Mountain is a small inselberg surrounded by farms and commercial forestry in the Underberg district (KwaZulu-Natal) within the Gs10 Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland. As little is known about the vegetation on Hlogoma, a survey was undertaken to classify, map and describe the plant communities occurring on the inselberg. A total of 100 (16 m2) randomly stratified sample plots were placed in homogeneous vegetation units within the 117 ha study area. A TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, resulted in the identification of two major communities, five communities, 12 sub-communities and four variants. All communities were described and a vegetation map constructed. Ordinations identified key environmental variables that have an impact on the vegetation at the study site. A plant species checklist was created and analysed for floristic composition; rarity and threatened species; medicinal plants; endemism; phenology; flower colour and elevation range; species richness and plant community biodiversity. A total of 467 species were identified, represented by 271 genera and 87 families. Four Red Data species and a new Aspidoglossum species were discovered. Two near-endemic genera, two endemic species and 88 near-endemic species belonging to the Drakensberg Alpine Centre were found on Hlogoma. This study showed that Hlogoma Mountain is an inselberg with high plant species richness and endemism, and is a refuge of conservation importance for biodiversity. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc.(Environmental Science)

The movements of two vervet monkey troops were studied to determine whether they optimize their rate of food intake in relation to seasonal energy availability. The effect of variation in habitat structure on the troops’ foraging strategies while utilizing temporally and spatially distributed resources was determined. Troop home range boundaries were delineated, the various plant communities and species utilised by the troops identified and classified, and variations in home range and vegetation structure were reported. The diets of the troops were determined and compared. Effects of coexistence on competition were assessed. Vervet food trees were randomly selected, marked and seasonal phenological data collected. Samples of food items constituting the two troops diets were collected for energy analysis. Using geostatistical interpolation techniques, monthly energy values were extrapolated onto home range grids for the two vervet monkey troops. Grids were stored as database files that were interrogated through GIS simulation models. Using the stochastic processes inherent in Markov chain theory, a series of non-returning random walks were simulated for comparison to original routes taken by the two troops. Results from comparisons of home range energy, day range lengths and areas, shortest route energy to actual route energy, time spent in high energy areas, and energy utilisation from actual and randomly generated routes indicated that the two troops optimize resource energy available to them by adopting flexible foraging strategies. In environments where temporal and spatial variations in habitat structure affect the distribution of resources, it is essential that animals develop optimal foraging strategies to survive. For the two troops investigated, foraging strategies fluctuate between being time minimizers in more heterogeneous environments where resources are abundant, and energy maximisers in homogeneous environments where resources are constrained by low diversity and seasonality. / Environmental Sciences (Department) / D.Litt et Phil (Environmental Management)

Tesis (MSc) -- Stellenbosch University, 1995. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A map of the different plant communities in a part of the West Coast National Park (WCNP) is presented. The approach of the Zurich-Montpellier school is used for the phytosociological studies. Thirty plant communities are described and related to environmental factors. One new alliance, two sub-alliances, seventeen associations, seven sub-associations and three variations are described. It is suggested that the Willdenowio -- Diospyretum austro-africanae is raised to alliance level and the Eucleo -- lschyrolepion eleocharidis lowered to sub-alliance level. The different floristic groups in which the plant communities fell were Strandveld, Proto-fynbos, marsh, strand and ecotones between Strandveld and Fynbos. A further extensive survey was conducted in the Postberg Nature Reserve (PNR), which forms part of the West Coast National Park, to determine the possible cause of decline in small antelope numbers (duiker, grysbok and steenbok). The potential production of the vegetation of the Postberg Nature Reserve is about 561.64 kg DM/ha/yr. Rumen analyses of the small antelopes were performed in an attempt to assess the possible relationship between plants and animals. It is found that the small antelope utilizes a big spectrum of plants. Different plant communities were structurally examined and it is proved that the steenbok are bolder than the other two small antelope and are prepared to feed in areas having a lower plant density. Duiker and grysbok preferentially prefer plant communities taller than 60 cm. KEYWORDS Braun-Blanquet, community structure, distribution, Fynbos Biome, habitat, plant communities, Raphicerus campestris, Raphicerus melanotis, Strandveld, Sylvicapra grimmia. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Plantgemeenskapskaart is vir 'n deel van die Weskus Nasionale Park (WNP) opgetrek. Die Zurich-Montpellier fitososiologiese benadering is gebruik om die plantegroei te analiseer en te beskrywe. Dertig plantgemeenskappe is geklassifiseer, beskryf, gekarakteriseer en ekologies geinterpreteer. Ben nu we alliansie, twee sub-alliansies, sewentien assosiasies, sewe subassosiasies en drie variasies is beskryf. Daar is voorgestel dat die Willdenowio -- Diospyretum austro-africanae tot alliansievlak verhoog en die Eucleo -- Ischyrolepion eleocharidis na suballiansievlak verlaag word. Die verskillende floristiese groepe waarin hierdie plantgemeenskappe geval het bestaan uit Strandveld, Protofynbos, strand-, vleiland-, en ekotone tussen Strandveld en Fynbos. 'n Verdere intensiewe studie is in die Postberg Natuurreservaat (PNR), wat deel uitmaak van die Weskus Nasionale Park, ondemeem om 'n moontlike verklaring te vind vir die afname van kleinwildsoorte (duiker, grysbok en steenbok). Die produksiepotensiaal van die Postberg Natuurreservaat (PNR) is bepaal op ongeveer 561.64 kg DM/ha/jaar. Maaginhoud ontledings van die kleinwildsoorte is gebruik om 'n moontlike verhouding tussen plant en dier te bepaal. Daar is bevind dat die kleinwildsoorte 'n groot spektrum van plante kan benut. Verskillende plantgemeenskappe is t.o.v. plantegroeistruktuur ondersoek en daar is bewys dat die steenbok minder skugter as die grysbok en duiker is en in oop areas, met 'n laer plantdigtheid, sal beweeg. Die duiker en grysbok verkies plantgemeenskappe wat meer as 60 cm hoog is. TREFWOORDE Braun-Blanquet, Fynbosbioom, gemeenskapstruktuur, habitat, plantgemeenskappe, Raphicerus campestris, Raphicerus melanotis, Strandveld, Sylvicapra grimmia, verspreiding.