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Alien plant invasion on the Agulhas Plain : a detailed description of invasion patterns

Invasive alien species occur within several biodiverse regions of South Africa. It is not yet fully understood the extent to which invasive alien species affect natural vegetation. It is important to classify such species based on abundance and distribution in order to determine invasion patterns an...

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Main Author: Blanchard, Ryan
Other Authors: Richardson, David Mark
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Biological Sciences 2017
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access_status_str Open Access
author Blanchard, Ryan
author2 Richardson, David Mark
author_browse Blanchard, Ryan
Richardson, David Mark
author_facet Richardson, David Mark
Blanchard, Ryan
author_sort Blanchard, Ryan
collection Thesis
description Invasive alien species occur within several biodiverse regions of South Africa. It is not yet fully understood the extent to which invasive alien species affect natural vegetation. It is important to classify such species based on abundance and distribution in order to determine invasion patterns and set priorities for management within a region. Such a study was adapted for the Agulhas Plain of South Africa in the Cape Floristic Region. Eucalyptus lehmannii was recognised as the top invasive alien species, occupying both natural and transformed landscapes at high densities, >130% canopy cover. Acacia saligna and Acacia cyclops are the most widely distributed species, covering 41 % and 53% of the total area. Effectively determining invasive alien species richness required the use different variables to those used in this study. Invasive alien species invasion pattern was classified into two groups, namely coastal invasion and interior invasion. These characteristics differed with regards to vegetation types and species composition. Natural vegetation within the Mountain fynbos (100% invaded), Dune fynbos (91 % invaded) and Mountain top fynbos (99% invaded) vegetation types were largely threatened by invasive alien species. Vegetation types largely affected by transformation include Elim asteraceous fynbos (89% transformed) and Renoster fynbos. The invasion patterns described could be used in prioritisation of manageable land.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2017
publishDateRange 2017
publishDateSort 2017
publisher Department of Biological Sciences
publisherStr Department of Biological Sciences
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source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/24382 Alien plant invasion on the Agulhas Plain : a detailed description of invasion patterns Blanchard, Ryan Richardson, David Mark Rouget, Mathieu Botany Invasive alien species occur within several biodiverse regions of South Africa. It is not yet fully understood the extent to which invasive alien species affect natural vegetation. It is important to classify such species based on abundance and distribution in order to determine invasion patterns and set priorities for management within a region. Such a study was adapted for the Agulhas Plain of South Africa in the Cape Floristic Region. Eucalyptus lehmannii was recognised as the top invasive alien species, occupying both natural and transformed landscapes at high densities, >130% canopy cover. Acacia saligna and Acacia cyclops are the most widely distributed species, covering 41 % and 53% of the total area. Effectively determining invasive alien species richness required the use different variables to those used in this study. Invasive alien species invasion pattern was classified into two groups, namely coastal invasion and interior invasion. These characteristics differed with regards to vegetation types and species composition. Natural vegetation within the Mountain fynbos (100% invaded), Dune fynbos (91 % invaded) and Mountain top fynbos (99% invaded) vegetation types were largely threatened by invasive alien species. Vegetation types largely affected by transformation include Elim asteraceous fynbos (89% transformed) and Renoster fynbos. The invasion patterns described could be used in prioritisation of manageable land. 2017-05-19T12:44:26Z 2017-05-19T12:44:26Z 2004 Bachelor Thesis Honours BSc (Hons) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24382 eng application/pdf Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Botany
Blanchard, Ryan
Alien plant invasion on the Agulhas Plain : a detailed description of invasion patterns
thesis_degree_str Bachelor's / Honours
title Alien plant invasion on the Agulhas Plain : a detailed description of invasion patterns
title_full Alien plant invasion on the Agulhas Plain : a detailed description of invasion patterns
title_fullStr Alien plant invasion on the Agulhas Plain : a detailed description of invasion patterns
title_full_unstemmed Alien plant invasion on the Agulhas Plain : a detailed description of invasion patterns
title_short Alien plant invasion on the Agulhas Plain : a detailed description of invasion patterns
title_sort alien plant invasion on the agulhas plain a detailed description of invasion patterns
topic Botany
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24382
work_keys_str_mv AT blanchardryan alienplantinvasionontheagulhasplainadetaileddescriptionofinvasionpatterns