Plant communities of the Sub-humid Cool Temperate Mountain Bushveld of the Pretoria–Witbank–Heidelberg area, South Africa

• Published in: South African journal of botany Vol. 61; no. 3; pp. 114 - 122
• Main Authors: Coetzee, J.P., Bredenkamp, G.J., van Rooyen, N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.1995
• Subjects: AFRIQUE DU SUD; Braun-Blanquet; CLASIFICACION; CLASSIFICATION; COMMUNAUTE VEGETALE; COMUNIDADES VEGETALES; Grassland Biome; GRASSLANDS; HERBAGE; phytosociology; PLANT COMMUNITIES; PRADERAS; SINECOLOGIA; SOUTH AFRICA; SUDAFRICA; SYNECOLOGIE; SYNECOLOGY; South Africa; classification; synecology; phytosociology; Braun-Blanquet; Grassland Biome
• ISSN: 0254-6299; 1727-9321
• DOI: 10.1016/S0254-6299(15)30497-X

An analysis of the plant communities of the Sub-humid Cool Temperate Mountain Bushveld of the Pretoria–Witbank–Heidelberg area within the Grassland Biome of South Africa is presented. Relevés were compiled in 33 stratified random sample plots. A default Twinspan classification based on total floristic composition, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed five plant communities and seven sub-communities, which all can be regarded as distinct ecological systems. Each of these plant communities may be regarded as a unique natural entity, each with its own species composition, specific environmental conditions and inherent forage production potential. The identification, hierarchical classification, description and ecological interpretation of these plant communities are not only essential for a comprehensive syntaxonomy of South African grassland vegetation, but may also serve as a basis for strategic planning of conservation areas, the preservation of biotic diversity and general veld management planning. ’n Analise van die plantgemeenskappe van die Subhumiede Koel Gematigde Bergbosveld in die Pretoria–Witbank–Heidelberg–gebied, binne die grasveldbioom van Suid-Afrika, word aangebied. Relevés is in 33 gestratifieerde ewekansig-verspreide monsterpersele saamgestel. Die resultaat van ’n standaard Twinspan-klassilikasie, verfyn deur Braun-Bianquet-prosedures, toon vyf plantgemeenskappe en sewe subgemeenskappe wat elkeen as aparte ekologiese stelsels beskou kan word. Elk van die plantgemeenskappe en subgemeenskappe verteenwoordig ’n unieke natuurlike eenheid, elk met ’n eie plantspesiesamestelling, ’n spesifieke kombinasie van omgewingstoestande en ’n eie weidingsproduksiepotensiaal. Die identifikasie, hïërargiese klassilikasie, beskrywing en ekologiese interpretaste van hierdie gemeenskappe is nie alleen belanglik vir ’n omvattende sintaksonomie van Suid-Afrikaanse grasveldplantegroei nie, maar kan ook dien as ’n basis vir die strategiese beplanning van bewaringsgebiede, die bewaring van biodiversiteit en die beplanning van algemene veldbestuur.