A Phytosociological synthesis of Mopaneveld
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University of Pretoria
Abstract
Mopaneveld, a vegetation type dominated by Colophospermum mopane, covers an area of
approximately 550 000 km2 over eight countries in southern Africa. A phytosociological
synthesis of this extensive vegetation type is presented. TWINSP AN classification was based on
existing, adequate, raw vegetation data of southern African Mopaneveld, which included fifteen
data sets. Despite the limitations in sound vegetation data, 2 298 releves contributed to the
identification of seven vegetation types and six major plant communities by the application of
TWINSP AN. A new method to treat large vegetation data sets is also presented. The wealth of
adequate vegetation data from the South African Lowveld Mopaneveld motivated further
analysis of this vegetation type. Four major plant communities were identified of which two are
discussed in this dissertation. Apart from the phytosociological contribution of this study,
TWINSP AN results revealed motivation for the southern African Mopaneveld being an eventdriven
system which follows non-equilibria! models to explain vegetation change.
Description
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2001.
Keywords
UCTD, Mopaneveld, Mopani Veld, Colophospermum mopane, TWINSPAN, DECORANA, large vegetation data sets, savanna, phytosociology, synthesis, vegetation dynamics, non-equilibrium, South African Lowveld, southern Africa
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