Phytosociology of northwestern KwaZulu-Natal

dc.contributor.advisorBredenkamp, George J.en
dc.contributor.advisorDeutschlander, M.S. (Miranda Susan)en
dc.contributor.emailupetd@up.ac.zaen
dc.contributor.postgraduateRobbeson, Riaan Andries Jacobusen
dc.date.accessioned2013-09-06T16:11:56Z
dc.date.available2013-04-16en
dc.date.available2013-09-06T16:11:56Z
dc.date.created1998-09-05en
dc.date.issued1998en
dc.date.submitted2013-04-11en
dc.descriptionDissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1998.en
dc.description.abstractIn depth studies of the vegetation of large parts of southern Africa, including detailed maps and descriptions of vegetation units are mainly limited to small areas. Meanwhile, various agricultural practises have led to destruction or deterioration of the quality of natural grassland ecosystems. The agricultural sector in developed and rapidly developing areas of southern Africa is confronted with problems like veld deterioration and the loss of natural areas that effectively contribute to the depopulation of rural areas. The necessity to identify, classify and describe the vegetation types and communities within the Grassland Biome was stressed by Mentis and Huntley (1982). The aim of the Grassland Biome Project is to integrate knowledge. comprehension and expertise, which will enable scientists to forecast the results of the available options of grassland management programmes. The phytosociological classification of northwestern KwaZulu-Natal forms part of this project. Known previous vegetation studies of this area were conducted on a large scale and a considerable time ago, which underlines the necessity for a more comprehensive and phytosociologically refined investigation of this area. The study area lies in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal and comprises the Drakensberg mountains and slopes in the west and undulating plains and bushveld valleys in the east and south. Relevés were compiled in 526 stratified random sample plots over an area of 9300 km2, comprising the northwestern part of KwaZulu-Natal. The vegetation was classified by means of TWINSP AN and Braun-Blanquet procedures. A phytosociological investigation of this vegetation revealed great variation in floristic composition. Further refinement of the data disclosed five major vegetation types containing nine plant communities. The topography and geology of the study area contributes greatly to the diversity of the vegetation, but poor agricultural practises have caused deterioration of the vegetation.en
dc.description.availabilityunrestricteden
dc.description.departmentPlant Scienceen
dc.identifier.citationRobbeson, RAJ 1998, Phytosociology of northwestern KwaZulu-Natal, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/23932 >en
dc.identifier.otherE13/5/377/agen
dc.identifier.upetdurlhttp://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-04112013-195149/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/23932
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Pretoriaen_ZA
dc.rights© 1998 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.en
dc.subjectNatural grassland ecosystemsen
dc.subjectSouthern africaen
dc.subjectDepopulation of rural areasen
dc.subjectVeld deteriorationen
dc.subjectUCTDen_US
dc.titlePhytosociology of northwestern KwaZulu-Natalen
dc.typeDissertationen

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 5 of 8
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
00front.pdf
Size:
294.31 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
01chapters1-2.pdf
Size:
803.63 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
02chapters3-5.pdf
Size:
982.46 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
03chapter6.pdf
Size:
1.35 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
04chapter7.pdf
Size:
1.13 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format