The Grassland vegetation of Platberg, eastern Free State, South Africa

Koedoe - African Protected Area Conservation and Science

 
 
Field Value
 
Title The Grassland vegetation of Platberg, eastern Free State, South Africa
 
Creator Brand, Robert F. Brown, Leslie R. du Preez, Pieter J.
 
Subject Conservation, Ecology Conservation; Drakensberg Alpine Centre (DAC); inselberg; phytosociology; plant communities
Description Platberg is an inselberg that presents a refuge for indigenous plants and animals. Uncontrolled human access to this area threatens this sensitive ecosystem. The vegetation of Platberg was investigated to obtain an inventory of the different plant species and communities present in this area. A hierarchical classification, a description and an ecological interpretation of the grassland communities of Platberg are presented. A total of 169 sample plots were placed on a stratified random basis within the study area. From a TWINSPAN classification a total of 27 different plant communities, which can be grouped into two major community types, nine communities, 18 sub-communities and six variants, were identified. A significant difference in species richness was found between the two major communities, with the higher-altitude communities having a higher species richness than the communities on the lower-lying slopes. A total of 26 endemic or near endemic Drakensberg Alpine Centre species were recorded. Conservation implications: Anthropogenic influences are felt globally on ecosystems. High-altitude habitats and organisms will be affected first. Inselbergs have high levels of endemic organisms and are reservoirs and refugia for unique genetic material. This grassland plant community survey of Platberg provides valuable information on inselberg ecology for conservation planning.
 
Publisher AOSIS Publishing
 
Contributor National Geographic
Date 2011-11-10
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Plot methods; Braun-Blanquet approach
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/vnd.ms-excel application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/koedoe.v53i1.1027
 
Source Koedoe; Vol 53, No 1 (2011); 13 pages 2071-0771 0075-6458
 
Language eng
 
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Coverage natural area Jurassic - tertiary plant species abundance, species richness
Rights Copyright (c) 2011 Robert F. Brand, Leslie R. Brown, Pieter J. du Preez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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