| Luther-Mosebach, J; Dengler, J; Schmiedel, U; Röwer, IU; Labitzky, T; Gröngröft, A: A first formal classification of the Hardeveld vegetation in Namaqualand, South Africa., Applied Vegetation Science, 15, 401–431 (2012), doi:10.1111/j.1654-109X.2011.01173.x | |
| Stichworte: Biodiversity; Desert; Didelto carnosae- Cephalophylletea inaequalis; Grazing intensity; Hermannio trifurcae-Zygophylletea morgsanae; ́ Heuweltjie; Phytosociology; Quartz field; Releve; Soil condition; Succulent Karoo; Syntaxonomy; Termitarium; TWINSPAN; Winter rainfall | |
| Abstract: Questions: The Succulent Karoo is a winter-rainfall desert in southern Africa with a highly diverse flora. Which environmental factors differentiate vegeta- tion composition at the plot level: How can compositional pattern be best repre- sented by a formal phytosociological classification. Location: Soebatsfontein communal area and surroundings in the Namaqua- land Hardeveld Bioregion of the Succulent Karoo Biome, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Methods: We recorded vascular plant species composition, together with a range of structural and soil parameters as well as grazing intensity, in 355 plots of 100 m2 size. This sample covered all vegetation types of the study area except those of river beds and anthropogenic sites. Vegetation classification was carried out using modified TWINSPAN followed by manual re-arrangement of a subset of plots with the aim of increasing floristic distinctiveness of the vegetation units. For the final vegetation units, we determined diagnostic species and environ- mental parameters, according to phi-values and ANOVA, respectively, and translated these into a phytosociological classification. Results: The major factor influencing species composition and richness was soil salinity. At a broad scale, the less saline sites could be differentiated into sandy plains and rocky hills, and the saline sites into quartz fields, the centres of heu- weltjies (termitaria) and the matrix between. We translated these patterns into two phytosociological classes with four orders, six alliances and 16 associations. Most of the syntaxa are very well defined in floristic terms, and all except the Othonnion cylindricae are new to science. The Hermannio trifurcae-Zygophylletea morgsanae represents the zonal vegetation of marginally saline soils, the Didelto carnosae-Cephalophylletea inaequalis the vegetation of saline soils. The vegetation of the extremely saline quartz patches probably belongs to a third class not described here due to the scarcity of representative plots. Conclusions: Our phytosociological approach allowed the various degrees of ecological and floristic similarity to be represented by syntaxa of different ranks. A comparison with previous classifications from the Succulent Karoo revealed a high spatial turnover, with only two of our alliances and none of our associa- tions coinciding with those found in previously studied areas of the Succulent Karoo. Our formal classification has the potential to be a powerful tool for local land use, ecological comparison and conservation, and to contribute to a future national phytosociological classification of South Africa. |
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