Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Understanding the responses of individual plant communities to variations in
near-surface water levels and to water quality is a step towards determining the critical or
important factors applicable to a Rapid Wetland Assessment System.
This thesis describes and discusses factors associated with wetland plant
communities, with an attempt to predict changes in a wetland system. This study was
initiated with a primary aim of establishing the relationship between plant communities
and the variation in near-surface water levels in areas occupied by various plant
communities in the Middelvlei wetland system at Stellenbosch. A second aim was to
assess whether water quality had an influence on the plant communities.
Seven plant communities are identified and described from this particular wetland
system using standard Braun-Blanquet techniques (Typha capensis Reedswamp; Cyperus
textilis Sedgeland; Pennisetum macrourum Grassland; Juncus effusus Sedgeland;
Cyperus longus Sedgeland; Cliffortia strobilifera Shrubland and Populus canescens
Forest). The Typha capensis Reedswamp community is found in the wettest parts of the
wetlands, with a fluctuation in water table from 0.10 m above surface during the wet
season to 0.43 m below surface during the dry season. The Populus canescens Forest is
actively invading the wetland replacing the wetland species by modifying the wetland
hydrological condition. Water samples from 35 wells, collected on a monthly basis over
11 months, are used to assess sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, nitrate and
phosphate, pH, redoxs potencial and dissolved oxygen levels in each community, over
four seasons.
Both multivariate analysis (ANOVA) and regression tree analysis (CART) are
applied to evaluate differences between communities or groups of plant communities on a
seasonal basis. Direct gradient analysis (CCA) is used to determine the relationship
between plant communities and environmental variable gradients.
A wide variation in water quality condition between plant communities is present.
The Typha capensis Reedswamp community is associated with low nutrient levels
(phosphates and nitrates) in all seasons. The Cyperus textilis Sedgeland is associated with low levels of nitrates and high phosphate levels. The Juncus effusus Sedgeland displays
the highest phosphate concentration, occurring in summer, while low nitrate levels occur
in this community during all the seasons.
Dissolved oxygen in the near-surface water in this wetland is at very low
concentrations, and has no significant difference between communities. It plays no major
role in determining the occurrence and distribution of the plant communities.
Most of the water chemical constituents measured in this study are the result of
multiple complex relationships, with constituent variations occurring differently between
communities. A remarkable seasonal distinction in the chemical constituents in different
communities is present.
Despite the complex nature of the relationships between plant communities and
environmental factors, the low species diversity levels through the tendency for single
species dominance and the strong association of these communities with particular
environmental variables, the combination of these factors all add value to the use of
wetland vegetation as a good tool to indicate wetland condition. An effort to understand
wetland plant communities in relation to determining environmental factors would
promote the use of plant communities as user-friendly tools for wetland monitoring and
assessment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om die reaksies van plantgemeenskappe teenoor variasies in naby-oppervlakte
watervlakke te verstaan, is die eerste krities-belangrike faktor die ontwikkeling van ‘n
sisteem om vleilande vinnig te assesseer. Hierdie studie se basiese mikpunt is om
verwantskappe te soek tussen plantgemeenskappe in die Middelvlei Vleilandsisteem en
wisseling in naby-oppervlak watervlakke. ‘n Sekondêre doel is om te bepaal of daar
enige korrelasie is tussen waterkwaliteit en die plantgemeenskappe teenwoordig in die
vleiland.
Sewe plantgemeenskappe is in hierdie vleilandsisteem geïdentifiseer en beskryf
deur gebruik te maak van standaard Braun-Blanquet tegnieke, naamlik die Typha
capensis Rietmoeras; Cyperus textilis Biesieveld; Pennisetum macrourum Grasveld;
Juncus effusus Biesieveld; Cyperus longus Biesieveld; Cliffortia strobilifera Struikveld
en ‘n Populus canescens Woud. Die Typha capensis Rietmoeras kom in die natste dele
van die vleilande voor, met vrywater wisselling vanaf 0.10 m bo grondoppervlakte,
tydens die nat-seisoen, tot 0.43 m onder grondoppervlakte tydens die droë seisoen. Die
Populus canescens Woud het die grootste wisseling in watervlak vanaf die
grondoppervlakte tot ten minste ‘n diepte van 1.0 m gehad. Dit blyk dat die Populus
canescens Woud besig is om die vleigemeenskappe aktief binne te dring deur die vleiland
uit te droog.
Water is maandeliks, oor 11 maande, uit 35 geperforeerde plastiek pype,
sogenaamde ‘putte’ onttrek, om natrium, magnesium, kalium, kalsium, nitrate en fosfate,
pH, redokspotensiaal en opgeloste suurstof vlakke se seisoenale wisseling te bepaal.
Beide veelvuldige analise (ANOVA) en regressie-analises (CART) is bereken om enige
betekenisvolle verskille tussen plantgemeenskappe te bepaal. Direkte Gradiëntanalise
(CCA) is gebruik om die verwantskap tussen plantgemeenskappe en gradiënte van
omgewingsveranderlikes te bepaal.
Groot variasies in waterkwaliteit tussen plantgemeenskappe is waargeneem. Die
Typha capensis Rietmoeras-gemeenskap is geassosieer met lae voedingstofvlakke (veral
van fosfate en nitrate) in alle seisoene. Die Cyperus textilis Biesieveld-gemeenskap is geassosieer met lae nitraat- en hoë fosfaatvlakke. Die Juncus effusus Biesieveldgemeenskap
vertoon die hoogste fosfaatvlakke, tydens die die somermaande, terwyl die
nitraatvlakke deur al die seisoene ook laag bly.
Opgeloste suurstof in die naby-oppervlakte water in die vleilandsisteem het
deurgaans ‘n lae konsentrasie vertoon met geen betekenisvolle verskille tussen
gemeenskappe nie. Dit speel dus geen belangrike rol in die voorkoms of verspreiding
van die plantgemeenskappe nie
Die meeste van hierdie faktore, gemeet om die waterkwaliteit te bepaal, het
veelvoudige, komplekse verhoudingsverskille, gebaseer veral op konsentrasieverskille,
tussen die gemeenskappe.
Ten spyte van die komplekse verwantskap tussen die plantgemeenskappe en
omgewingsfaktore, is die spesierykheid laag en kom die neiging tot eensoortigedominansie
algemeen in die vleiland-plantgemeenskappe voor. Die sterk assosiasie
tussen die plantgemeenskappe en bepaalde omgewingsveranderlikes voeg aansienlike
waarde daaraan toe om vleilandplantegroei te gebruik as indikator van vleilandtoestand.
‘n Poging om die verwantskappe tussen vleiland-plantgemeenskappe en
omgewingsveranderlikes algemeen te bepaal, sal die gebruikersvriendelike nut van
vleiland-plantgemeenskappe vir vleilandmonitering en assessering duidelik uitwys.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16361 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Kareko, John K.(John Kariuki) |
| Contributors | Boucher, Charlie, Esler, Karen J., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany and Zoology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xiv, 141 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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