The thesis is a result of a 2-year floristic mapping (vegetation seasons 2007 and 2008) of basin of river Otava in the sector Strakonice {--} Zátavský most near Hradiště. The thesis includes characteristic of various vegetation biotopes, phytocoenosic recording, a short description and evaluation of distinctive species occurrence. A characteristic of area of interest geomorphologic, geologic, hydrologic, soil, climatic and other conditions) is provided in the form of a literary recherche.

The observations, data and deductions described in this thesis were collected from the Soutpansberg and surrounding areas over a period of over 20 years. This thesis aims to explain the underlying mechanisms driving the processes in the Soutpansberg that have brought forth its immense floristic diversity. It is envisaged that this thesis could serve as a guide towards the implementation of management policies for this unique mountain range and assist in the proclamation of the Vhembe as a Biosphere Reserve. As an introduction the study area is described in terms of geology, geography, cli-mate, history and previous vegetation descriptions. The floristic diversity was analysed and it is concluded that the area is a hotspot for floristic diversity. The total number of plant species of the area was established at 2693 with 594 tree taxa, one of the highest in southern Africa. Families with the highest number of taxa are the Fabaceae, Poaceae and Asteraceae. The analysis confirmed the area as a Centre of Endemism. The Soutpansberg dis-plays a strong biological interchange with the Blouberg, Chimanimani, Limpopo Valley, Maputaland, Sekhukhune, Strydpoort, Waterberg and Wolkberg. To resolve the problems concerning the definition of their biological interchange, a new interpretation of the concept of near-endemic is proposed. To make sense of interaction between various centres of endemism with the Sout-pansberg centre sensu strictu, a new term namely paraendemic was defined, and the terms protoparaendemic and biparaedemic were introduced for near endemic taxa with a wider distribution between centres of endemism. This resulted in a new interpretation of the Soutpansberg endemic plants. The endemics and paraendemics of the Soutpansberg and the related regions were identified and these are discussed n detail. It was found that most endemic species are restricted to the mist belt and occur on nutrient poor soils derived from quartzite or sandstone. It is concluded that the endemic flora did not arise as a result of a single group diversifying. The immense floristic diversity is attributed to the contribution of several distinct flo-ristic elements acting upon the Soutpansberg. These includes an arid group, a sa-vanna group, a temperate group including forest and grassland elements and a tropical group, being discussed in detail. Copyright / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Plant Science / unrestricted

No description available.

No / The roadside vegetation in some counties of north England (north and west Yorkshire) was studied to determine the community structure according to the British National Vegetation Classification (NVC) and main environmental factors influencing its composition. The data from Phytosociological survey (699 quadrats) and from the physico-chemical analyses of 233 soil samples from 35 sites were obtained. Both the classification (TWINSPAN & MATCH) and ordination programs (Canonical Correspondence Analysis) were used. The roadside vegetation is mainly dominated by few grasses (Arrhenatherum elatius, Festuca rubra, Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, Poa trivialis, Elymus repens, Holcus lanatus) and their associated herbs (Cirsium arvense, Heracleum sphondylium, Urtica dioica). Five NVC Mesotrophic grassland communities (Arrhenatheretum elatioris community MG1, Lolium perenne-Cynosurus cristatus grassland MG6, Lolium perenne leys MG7, Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland MG9, Festuca rubra-Agrostis stolonifera-Potentilla anserina grassland MG11) and one Upland Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland, U4 were identified which in general, exhibited good fit with the typical NVC units.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Understanding the distribution, abundance and diversity of species and the mechanisms causing these patterns has been the interest of ecologists and taxonomists for decades. The exceptionally high plant diversity in the Fynbos biome has been well studied. Whilst early arguments suggested that the high plant diversity is not reflected in the arthropod diversity and that insect species richness is low compared to other comparable areas, these observations might have been hampered by the taxonomic impediment. Despite global recognition of the significance of this below-ground component of diversity for ecosystem functioning, soil is one of the most poorly studied habitats of terrestrial ecosystems. Although knowledge is increasing for epigaeic groups, other significant groups such as the Collembola remain especially poorly understood. This thesis starts addressing this serious gap in knowledge concerning the below-ground component of biodiversity in the Fynbos biome and the effects of landscape transformation thereon. As part of the work, considerable attention was given to resolving the taxonomic impediment for the springtail fauna of the Fynbos biome using modern morphological and DNA barcoding methods, while also examining the correlates of soil animal diversity in the biome, by using Collembola (springtails) as exemplars. First, using a combination of published records of Collembola from South Africa, various sampling methods and DNA barcoding, a species list is compiled for the Western Cape. Currently 213 species are known to exist from the Western Cape. A high level of cryptic diversity was also found in several genera, together with several potential species radiations in the Ectonura, Seira, Parisotoma and Cryptopygus. A start is a made at addressing the lack of taxonomic knowledge by describing five new species. Two Ectonura Cassagnau 1980 species are described from Betty’s Bay and Grootvadersbosch respectively and a key to the Neanurinae of South Africa is provided. The first record of the genus Triacanthella Schäffer, 1897 is described from a cave in Table Mountain, while two new species of Delamarephorura are described and the genera Spicatella Thibaud 2002 and Delamarephorura Weiner & Najt 1999 are synonymized. Although fire is thought to be the main form of decomposition in the Fynbos biome, recent work has shown that biological decomposition may be more important than previously thought. I examine the resilience of Collembola after a large-scale fire in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve using quantitative sampling which is temporally replicated. The resilience of invertebrate fauna in the fynbos is not well understood, thus I investigate the diversity of Collembola before and after a major fire. Results show Collembola species richness and abundance recovered surprisingly quickly after the fire. On a larger scale, litterbags were deployed at six sites across the Western Cape using different litter types. Here, a total of 113 morphospecies species was found. Local richness was found to be highest in Kogelberg (32 species), while the turnover between sites was also high. Thus, the degradation of local habitat patches will be as much of a threat to Collembola as to the endemic plants in this region. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Begrip van die verspreiding, spesierykheid en verskeidenheid van spesies en die meganismes wat hierdie patrone veroorsaak is al die belangstelling van ekoloë en taksonome vir dekades. Die buitengewoon hoë plant diversiteit in die Fynbos-bioom is goed bestudeer. Terwyl vroeë argumente voorstel dat die hoë plantdiversiteit nie weerspieël word in die geleedpotige diversiteit nie en dat insekspesierykheid laag is in vergelyking met ander gebiede, kon hierdie waarnemings nie gemaak word nie as gevolg van taksonomiese hindernisse. Ten spyte van die wêreldwye erkenning van die belangrikheid van hierdie ondergrondse komponent van diversiteit vir die funksionering van die ekosisteem, is die grond een van die swakste bestudeerde habitatte van terrestriële ekosisteme. Alhoewel kennis vermeerder vir bogrondse groepe, word ander belangrike groepe soos die Collembola swak verstaan. Hierdie tesis begin hierdie ernstige leemte in kennis aanspreek, met betrekking tot die ondergrondse komponent van biodiversiteit in die Fynbos bioom en die gevolge van die landskap transformasie daarop. As deel van die werk, is heelwat aandag gegee aan die oplossing van die taksonomiese hindernis vir die springstert fauna van die fynbos bioom met behulp van moderne morfologiese en DNA metodes, terwyl dit ook die ooreenkomste van grond diere diversiteit ondersoek in die bioom, deur gebruik te maak van Collembola (springsterte) as voorbeelde. Eerste, met behulp van 'n kombinasie van gepubliseerde rekords van Collembola van Suid-Afrika, verskillende kolleksie metodes en DNA metodes is 'n spesielys saamgestel vir die Wes-Kaap. Tans is 213 spesies bekend vir die Wes-Kaap. 'n Hoë vlak van kriptiese diversiteit is ook gevind in verskeie genera, saam met verskeie potensiële spesies radiasies in die Ectonura, Seira, Parisotoma en Cryptopygus. 'n Begin is gemaak op die aanspreek van die gebrek van taksonomiese kennis deur vyf nuwe spesies te beskryf. Twee Ectonura Cassagnau 1980 spesies van Bettiesbaai en Grootvadersbosch is beskryf en 'n sleutel tot die Neanurinae van Suid-Afrika word verskaf. Die eerste rekord van die genus Triacanthella Schaffer, 1897 word beskryf van 'n grot in Tafelberg, terwyl twee nuwe spesies van Delamarephorura beskryf word en die genera Spicatella Thibaud 2002 en Delamarephorura Weiner & Najt 1999 gesinomiseer word. Hoewel vuur beskou word as die belangrikste vorm van ontbinding in die Fynbos bioom, het onlangse werk getoon dat die biologiese ontbinding belangriker mag wees as wat voorheen vermoed was. Ek ondersoek die veerkragtigheid van Collembola na 'n groot skaal vuur in Jonkershoek Natuurreservaat met behulp van kwantitatiewe steekproefneming wat tydelik herhaal. Die veerkragtigheid van ongewerwelde fauna in die fynbos word nie goed verstaan nie, dus het ek ondersoek ingestel na die diversiteit van Collembola voor en na 'n groot vuur. Resultate toon dat Collembola se spesierykheid en hoveelheid verbasend vinnig herstel na die vuur. Op 'n groter skaal, is kolleksies by ses plekke regoor die Wes-Kaap gebruik en verskillende blaarafval word vergelyk. Hier word 'n totaal van 113 morfologiese spesies gevind. Daar is gevind dat die hoogste aantal spesies in Kogelberg is (32 spesies), terwyl die omset tussen plekke baie hoog was. So sal die agteruitgang van plaaslike habitatte net soveel van 'n bedreiging inhou vir Collembola as vir die endemiese plante in hierdie streek.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of southern Africa is one of the world’s most unique biodiversity hotspots. However, this biodiversity continues to be threatened by habitat loss due to rapid urbanisation, agriculture and alien vegetation encroachment, and now, by future groundwater extraction and climate change. Previous work had shown that soil moisture is important in structuring wetland plant communities at fine-scale. What is not fully known, however, is how the spatial distribution of species at a local scale is related to soil hydrology and what the response in the future of species distributions will be to perturbations arising from changes in climate or subsurface moisture in the future. The current research investigated the water regime of the Restionaceae which is a key family in the Fynbos biome and the implications of possible changes in soil hydrology caused by climate change in communities within this region. The Restionaceae were particularly appropriate because they are shallow rooted perennials with the ability to tolerate a wide range of water regimes which allows them to successfully co-habit within mixed plant communities as segregated clusters along fine-scale hydrologic gradients. Vegetation survey counts for the presence of these species along with measurements of soil water table depth and moisture content data generated from eight small-scale plots (50 x 50 m) were used to investigate the possible hydrological niches and to envision the potential impacts of a substantial reduction in rainfall and an increase in temperature as projected by Global Climate Models (GCMs) on the structure of Restionaceae communities in seasonal wetlands by 2100. A comparative analysis of the effects of two extreme Representative Concentration emission Pathways (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) on significant hydrological variables to plant water regimes was carried out. The IPCC AR5 report describes the RCP8.5 emissions scenario as the likely ‘business as usual’ scenario where emissions continue to rise through the 21st century while the RCP2.6 scenario assumes that emissions peak between 2010 and 2020 and substantially subside thereafter.

Diversos estudos florísticos vem sendo realizados nos campos rupestres; entretanto, a vegetação dos afloramentos rochosos é pouco estudada, pois a maior parte das pesquisas tem focado áreas campestres. Nessa perspectiva, um estudo florístico foi realizado em sete afloramentos rochosos na Serra do Cipó, no estado de Minas Gerais. Com base em uma imagem de satélite, foi traçada uma parcela de 500 x 500 m, e os afloramentos rochosos contidos nessa parcela foram selecionados como áreas de estudo. Tais afloramentos estão divididos em quatro pontos, distando 5 km entre si pela rodovia MG 010; um desses pontos, formado por dois afloramentos, situa-se no interior do Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó. Todas as plantas com flores que ocorriam nessas áreas foram coletadas, e um total de 55 famílias e 307 espécies foram identificadas. As análises de similaridade da composição florística indicaram uma maior similaridade em afloramentos em um mesmo ponto. O solo dos afloramentos estudados apresentou as mesmas características de solos de outros afloramentos rochosos já documentados na literatura. Comparações entre os dados obtidos no presente estudo e da Flora brasileira ameaçada de extinção e da Lista Vermelha das Espécies Ameaçadas de Extinção da Flora de Minas Gerais evidenciaram 56 espécies diferentemente listadas como ameaçadas. Além disso, 22 espécies encontradas nos afloramentos rochosos estudados foram identificadas como espécies raras. Por fim, novas contribuições também foram feitas para a Flora Vascular do Cerrado e a Flora da Serra do Cipó, pois foram reveladas espécies ausentes nesses trabalhos. Esses resultados podem ter sido causados por problemas de sub-amostragem, especialmente das espécies herbáceo-subarbustivas, uma vez que estudos da estudos da flora herbáceo-arbustiva são mais propensos a enviesamentos causados por esse tipo de problema. Áreas de campos rupestres são caracterizadas por diversos microhabitats, entretanto, faltam estudos voltados para suas delimitações. Com base nos resultados de análises multivariadas empregando dois métodos (UPGMA e DCA), esse estudo analisou as relações de similaridade florística entre os afloramentos rochosos estudados na Serra do Cipó e 23 áreas de Cerrado (sensu lato e sensu stricto), e também entre aqueles e outras 35 localidades com afloramentos rochosos. As análises incluíram todos os componentes da vegetação. Os resultados variam de acordo com a análise e com os dados utilizados, mas evidenciam a necessidade de delimitação dos habitats para embasar uma comparação mais refinada entre diferentes localidades. / Several floristic studies have been carried out on campos rupestres on the past years; however, the rock outcrop vegetation is still understudied, for most of the surveys have mainly focused on grassland areas. In this perspective, a floristic study was carried out on seven rock outcrops on Serra do Cipó, in Minas Gerais state. Based on a satellite image, a parcel with 500 x 500 m was assembled, and the rock outcrops within this parcel were selected as study areas. These outcrops are divided into four subareas, which are five kilometers apart from each other, along the MG 010 road; one of these subareas, containing two outcrops, was located within the boundaries of Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó. All flowering plants occurring on the rock outcrops were collected, and a total of 55 families and 307 species were identified. The floristic composition similarity analyses indicated a higher similarity between rock outcrops within the same subarea. Soil from the studied areas presented the same characteristics documented by studies carried out on other rock outcrops. Comparisons between data from the present study and from Flora brasileira ameaçada de extinção e da Lista Vermelha das Espécies Ameaçadas de Extinção da Flora de Minas Gerais showed that 56 species are differently listed under threatened categories. Also, 22 species occurring on the studied rock outcrops were identified as rare species. Furthermore, the present floristic study contributed to Flora Vascular do Cerrado and to Flora da Serra do Cipó, given that some species were absent in these treatments. These results might have been caused by sub-sampling problems, especially of herbaceous and subshrubby species, as studies with herbaceous and subshrubby flora are more likely to be biased by this kind of problem. Campos rupestres areas are characterized by several microhabitats; however, studies focusing on their delimitation are lacking. Based on the results of multivariate analyses using two methods (UPGMA and DCA), this study analyzed the relationships of floristic similarity between the rock outcrops studied in Serra do Cipó and 23 Cerrado areas (sensu lato e sensu stricto), and also between those and another 35 localities with rock outcrops. The analyses included all components of vegetation. Results varied according to the method and data employed, yet they strengthen the need of delimiting the habitats to allow a more precise comparison between different localities.

Submitted by Natalie Mendes (nataliermendes@gmail.com) on 2015-07-24T00:28:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTA??O - CARLOS ANDRE CIRQUEIRA QUEIROZ.pdf: 1680530 bytes, checksum: 3c42dc1990e89302d319a83bea64b5a8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-24T00:28:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTA??O - CARLOS ANDRE CIRQUEIRA QUEIROZ.pdf: 1680530 bytes, checksum: 3c42dc1990e89302d319a83bea64b5a8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-21 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / (Characterization of Riparian Forest Vegetation of temporary rivers at Semiarid Region of Bahia, Brazil).Riparian forests are greatly important for its ecosystem. They provide protection against water siltation, water quality, feeding, wildlife protection and they are still recognized as ecological corridors. This paper aims to describe the community structure, physiognomy and the floristic composition of riparian forests of temporary rivers at Milagres and Itatim, Bahia, to provide basic information for riparian forest protection, enrichment and recuperation programs. The phytosociological survey was based on quadrant method throughout transectsat river margins. The sampling included individuals with diameter at the base equal to or larger than 3 cm.The river Sebasti?o presented secondary vegetation in initial stage while Rio Ribeir?o initial secondary stage medium, both areas had high concentrations of the species C. yco. / (Caracteriza??o da vegeta??o ciliar em rios tempor?rios de uma regi?o do semi?rido da Bahia, Brasil). As matas ciliares t?m grande import?ncia para o ecossistema onde se encontram, pois oferecem prote??o contra o assoreamento dos cursos da ?gua, funcionam como corredores ecol?gicos, auxiliam na manuten??o da qualidade h?drica, alimenta??o e prote??o para a fauna. O presente estudo objetivou descrever a estrutura comunit?ria, fision?mica e a composi??o flor?stica das matas ciliares no Racho do Sebasti?o e no Rio Ribeir?o nas regi?es de Milagres e Itatim, Bahia, fornecendo informa??es b?sicas para subsidiar a implanta??o de programas de recupera??o de matas ciliares. O levantamento foi realizado utilizando o m?todo de ponto quadrante ao longo de transectos distribu?dos nas margens dos rios. Para a inclus?o dos indiv?duos amostrados foi usado o di?metro ? altura do solo maior ou igual a 3 cm. O Riacho do Sebasti?o apresentou vegeta??o em estagio secund?rio inicial enquanto que o Rio Ribeir?o est?gio secund?rio inicial a m?dio, ambas as ?reas teve grande concentra??o da esp?cie C. yco.

Floras são importantes no contexto moderno da biodiversidade, pois além de gerar informações iniciais para diversos estudos, promovem a melhor compreensão da diversidade de uma área. A crescente perda de habitats no bioma Cerrado, que inclui os campos rupestres e é um dos seis “hotspots” mundiais, alerta para a importância de estudos nesse bioma. A família Leguminosae possui alta representatividade nos campos rupestres e Chamaecrista é um de seus gêneros com grande número de espécies, muitas endêmicas. O gênero possui cerca de 330 espécies e duas características marcantes são as anteras pubescentes ao longo das suturas e nectários extraflorais. Apesar da grande importância das Leguminosas, estudos taxonômicos com essa família ainda são incipientes na região do Planalto de Diamantina. O presente trabalho teve como principal objetivo o estudo taxonômico das espécies de Chamaecrista do Planalto de Diamantina, Minas Gerais. O trabalho baseou-se no levantamento das espécies nos principais herbários com coleções do Planalto de Diamantina, em consultas bibliográficas e atividades de campo. Em sua forma final, a dissertação é dividida em dois capítulos, um referente à flora e outro referente à descrição de uma espécie nova. Neles, constam descrições das espécies, chave de identificação, mapas de distribuição geográfica, comentários taxonômicos e ilustrações / Floras are important in the modern context of biodiversity, as well as generating initial information to several studies, promoting better understanding of the diversity of an area. The increasing loss of habitats in the Cerrado biome, which includes the rocky fields and is one of six “hotspots” worldwide, highlights the importance of studies in this biome. Leguminosae has high representation in rock fields and Chamaecrista is one of its genera with great number of species, many endemic. The genus has about 330 species and two striking features are the anthers pubescent along the sutures and extrafloral nectaries. Despite the great importance of Leguminosae, taxonomic studies of this family are still incipient in the Diamantina Plateau region. This study aimed to the taxonomic study of the species of Chamaecrista the Diamantina Plateau, Minas Gerais state. The work was based on the survey of the species in the main herbaria with collections from Diamantina Plateau, bibliographic consultations and field activities. In its final form, the dissertation is divided into two chapters, one relating to the flora and the other concerning the description of a new species. There are descriptions of species, key to species, geographic distribution maps, taxonomic comments and illustrations

A família Convolvulaceae possui 55 gêneros e 1600-1700 representantes com distribuição cosmopolita. Ipomoea é o gênero com maior riqueza específica, 600-700 táxons, e está representado no Brasil por aproximadamente 140 espécies. O presente estudo trata dos táxons de Ipomoea ocorrentes no Rio Grande do Sul. Foram reconhecidas 29 espécies para o Estado: Ipomoea acutisepala O’Donell, I. alba L., I. bonariensis Hook., I. cairica (L.) Sweet, I. delphinioides Choisy, I. descolei O’Donell, I. fimbriosepala Choisy, I. guaranitica Chodat & Hassl., I. imperati (Vahl) Griseb., I. indica (Burm. f.) Merr., I. indivisa (Vell.) Hallier f., I. kunthiana Meisn., I. lanuginosa O’Donell, I. malpighipila O’Donell, I. malvaeoides Meisn., I. maurandioides Meisn., I. nil (L.) Roth, I. nitida Griseb., I. padillae O’Donell, I. pes-caprae (L.) R. Br., I. purpurea (L.) Roth, I. quamoclit L., I. saopaulista O’Donell, I. tiliacea (Willd.) Choisy, I. triloba L., I. uruguayensis Meisn., Ipomoea sp. 1, Ipomoea sp. 2 e Ipomoea sp. 3. São fornecidos chave analítica, descrições morfológicas, ilustrações, mapas de distribuição, observações sobre floração e frutificação e hábitat. Outros três táxons foram encontrados apenas como cultivados: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., I. carnea ssp. fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) D.F. Austin e I. lobata (Cerv.) Thell. / The Convolvulaceae family has 55 genera and 1600-1700 species with cosmopolitan distribution. Ipomoea is the genus with larger specific riches, 600-700 taxa and it is represented in Brazil for approximately 140 species. This paper presents a floristic study of the genus Ipomoea in Rio Grande do Sul. 29 species were recognized for the State: Ipomoea acutisepala O’Donell, I. alba L., I. bonariensis Hook., I. cairica (L.) Sweet, I. delphinioides Choisy, I. descolei O’Donell, I. fimbriosepala Choisy, I. guaranitica Chodat & Hassl., I. imperati (Vahl) Griseb., I. indica (Burm. f.) Merr., I. indivisa (Vell.) Hallier f., I. kunthiana Meisn., Ipomoea lanuginosa O’Donell, I. malpighipila O’Donell, I. malvaeoides Meisn., I. maurandioides Meisn., I. nil (L.) Roth, I. nitida Griseb., I. padillae O’Donell, I. pes-caprae (L.) R. Br., I. purpurea (L.) Roth, I. quamoclit L., I. saopaulista O’Donell, I. tiliacea (Willd.) Choisy, I. triloba L., I. uruguayensis Meisn., Ipomoea sp. 1, Ipomoea sp. 2 and Ipomoea sp. 3. Analytical key, morphologic descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, observations on flowering and fruiting and habitat are presented. Other three taxa were just found as cultivated: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., I. carnea ssp. fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) D.F. Austin and I. lobata (Cerv.) Thell.