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Studies on aspects of the integrated control of Hakea sericea in the South-western Cape Province, South Africa

Invasion by alien woody plants is a major conservation threat in the sclerophyllous shrubland vegetation of the southwestern Cape Province which is known as fynbos. The Australian shrub, Hakea sericea (Proteaceae)is the most serious threat in mountain fynbos catchments. This study comprises four pap...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Richardson, David Mark
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Biological Sciences 2014
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Summary:Invasion by alien woody plants is a major conservation threat in the sclerophyllous shrubland vegetation of the southwestern Cape Province which is known as fynbos. The Australian shrub, Hakea sericea (Proteaceae)is the most serious threat in mountain fynbos catchments. This study comprises four papers and aims to identify and quantify factors controlling the distribution and population dynamics of H. sericea. The results of a cartographic analysis of the distribution of Hakea spp. in the South-western Cape Province show that the most important physiographic factor characterising infested areas is the presence of quartzite and sandstone substrates of the Table Mountain Series. Other factors examined in this study are annual rainfall, altitude and aspect. The importance of two natural barriers is discussed and predictions are made on the range of potential spread of the species in the Fynbos Biome.