The objectives of the study were to identify, classify, describe and map the plant
communities in the proposed Highveld National Park, including the degraded
Spitskop areas. Vegetation sampling was done by means of the Braun-Blanquet
method and a total of 108 stratified random relevés were sampled. A numerical
classification technique (TWINSPAN) was used and the result was refined by
Braun-Blanquet procedures. The final results of the classification procedure were
presented in the form of phytosociological tables and twelve plant communities
were described. For indirect ordination, a Detrended Correspondence Analysis
(DCA) algorithm was applied to the data set to confirm the phytosociological
association and to assess floristic relations between communities. For direct
environmental gradient analysis the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA)
was applied to the data using the CANOCO software program. The plant
communities were combined into six management units based on similarities
regarding vegetation composition, habitat, topography and soil characteristics.
Characterization of land degradation was done by grouping erosion into different
classes and different degrees of severity. Degraded areas in need of
rehabilitation and restoration were identified and described. Recommendations
were made with regard to rehabilitation and monitoring of all degraded areas in
the HNP. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Botany))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/725 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Daemane, Mahlomola Ernest |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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