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Long-term vegetation change in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa following 67 years of rest from grazing
Changes in species richness and vegetation composition in the diverse semi arid Succulent Karoo vegetation of South Africa were investigated after 67 • (1937-2004) years of rest from grazing at the Worcester Veld Reserve. Vegetation change in 70 plots at this 75 ha site was assessed using multi vari...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613342253711361 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Rahlao, Sebataolo |
| author2 | Hoffman, Timm |
| author_browse | Hoffman, Timm Rahlao, Sebataolo |
| author_facet | Hoffman, Timm Rahlao, Sebataolo |
| author_sort | Rahlao, Sebataolo |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Changes in species richness and vegetation composition in the diverse semi arid Succulent Karoo vegetation of South Africa were investigated after 67 • (1937-2004) years of rest from grazing at the Worcester Veld Reserve. Vegetation change in 70 plots at this 75 ha site was assessed using multi variate ordination techniques. Changes in plant communities on termitaria sites were consistently greater than for adjacent off-termitaria sites and the north-facing slopes changed more than the south-facing slopes. There was a higher increase in diversity on off-termitaria than termitaria sites. On termitaria sites there was a general decrease in stem succulents, particularly Euphorbia mauretanica and an increase in long-lived evegreen shrubs such as Pteronia incana and Asparagus suaveo/ens. Most sites changed in a similar direction primarily determined by their association with termitaria and secondarily with .. aspect. These findings suggest a predictable and directional replacement sequence under changing disturbance (grazing) regimes in a semi-arid region |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42099 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:34:36.552Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology |
| publisherStr | FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42099 Long-term vegetation change in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa following 67 years of rest from grazing Rahlao, Sebataolo Hoffman, Timm Biology Changes in species richness and vegetation composition in the diverse semi arid Succulent Karoo vegetation of South Africa were investigated after 67 • (1937-2004) years of rest from grazing at the Worcester Veld Reserve. Vegetation change in 70 plots at this 75 ha site was assessed using multi variate ordination techniques. Changes in plant communities on termitaria sites were consistently greater than for adjacent off-termitaria sites and the north-facing slopes changed more than the south-facing slopes. There was a higher increase in diversity on off-termitaria than termitaria sites. On termitaria sites there was a general decrease in stem succulents, particularly Euphorbia mauretanica and an increase in long-lived evegreen shrubs such as Pteronia incana and Asparagus suaveo/ens. Most sites changed in a similar direction primarily determined by their association with termitaria and secondarily with .. aspect. These findings suggest a predictable and directional replacement sequence under changing disturbance (grazing) regimes in a semi-arid region 2025-11-04T08:27:27Z 2025-11-04T08:27:27Z 2005 2024-07-29T09:39:54Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42099 en eng application/pdf FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Biology Rahlao, Sebataolo Long-term vegetation change in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa following 67 years of rest from grazing |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Long-term vegetation change in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa following 67 years of rest from grazing |
| title_full | Long-term vegetation change in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa following 67 years of rest from grazing |
| title_fullStr | Long-term vegetation change in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa following 67 years of rest from grazing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term vegetation change in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa following 67 years of rest from grazing |
| title_short | Long-term vegetation change in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa following 67 years of rest from grazing |
| title_sort | long term vegetation change in the succulent karoo south africa following 67 years of rest from grazing |
| topic | Biology |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42099 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rahlaosebataolo longtermvegetationchangeinthesucculentkaroosouthafricafollowing67yearsofrestfromgrazing |