scholarly journals Impact of Seriphium plumosum densification on Mesic Highveld Grassland biodiversity in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 192025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susannah C. Graham ◽  
Alan S. Barrett ◽  
Leslie R. Brown
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Diversity ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Grassland Biodiversity ◽  
Intermediate Density ◽  
Species Composition And Structure

Mesic Highveld Grassland is important for biodiversity conservation, but is threatened by bush densification from Seriphium plumosum . This indigenous densifier spreads rapidly and outcompetes other herbaceous species, changing the species composition and structure of grasslands. This study looks at three different densities of S. plumosum and how these affect grassland biodiversity within Telperion, Mpumalanga, South Africa. An intermediate density of S. plumosum (1500 individuals (ind) ha −1 ) resulted in the highest plant species diversity ( H = 2.26), a low density (24 ind ha −1 ) was moderately diverse ( H = 1.96) and a high density (9500 ind ha −1 ) was least diverse ( H = 1.78). There were differences between the three densities in terms of plant species diversity, with the intermediate density being significantly more diverse ( p < 0.01) than both the low and high densities. Findings indicate that there was a significant difference between the sites in terms of ecological successional status ( p < 0.01). The presence of S. plumosum at low densities can be considered an integral part of the environment. It is important that in areas where S. plumosum occurs, it should be monitored. If this species is not in balance within its environment and it starts becoming dense, it will negatively affect the biodiversity, species composition and structure of the habitat.

scholarly journals Effects of grazing on plant species diversity and above ground biomass in a Trans- Himalayan Rangeland

1970 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Pokharel ◽  
Madhu Chhetri ◽  
Chiranjibi P Upadhyaya
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Above Ground Biomass ◽  
Ground Biomass ◽  
Grazing Effect ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Palatable Species

Limited information is available on the species composition, above ground biomass and its relations to grazing in a trans-Himalayan rangeland. Its assessment is essential for long term conservation and management. In the present study, we compared species composition, phenology, diversity index and biomass between controlled (without grazing) and open (free grazing) plots to assess the effects of grazing in the selected experimental sites of Upper Mustang during July and November 2005. Species encountered were classified as high, medium, low and non palatable and in three life form categories-grasses, shrubs and forbs. The experimental sites are dominated by forbs (80%) followed by grasses (15%) and shrubs (5%). Disturbance caused by grazing affects the phenological characteristics of the plant community. Result also reveals that species diversity, maximum possible diversity, evenness and species richness was higher in the grazed plots during July and November. A comparison of the aboveground biomass in July showed that mean percentage biomass of high, medium and low palatable species is higher in ungrazed plots. In November, the percentage biomass of only medium palatable species was higher in ungrazed plots and rest of the category is higher in grazed plots. Significant difference in July, a peak growing seasons for most of the plant species in the region reveals that the pasture has impact of livestock grazing. Keywords: Biomass, diversity, grazing effect, rangeland, species Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.25-31

scholarly journals Species composition and structure of Angke Kapuk Mangrove Protected Forest, Jakarta, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amandita Lintang Rumondang ◽  
CECEP KUSMANA ◽  
SRI WILARSO BUDI
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Distribution Pattern ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Avicennia Marina ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Species Diversity Index ◽  
Mangrove Species ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Species Composition And Structure

Abstract. Rumondang AL, Kusmana C, Budi SW. 2021. Species composition and structure of Angke Kapuk Mangrove Protected Forest, Jakarta, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3863-3871. Angke Kapuk Mangrove Protected Forest (AKMPF) is one of the protected forests in the coastal area of DKI Jakarta, Indonesia. This area is important for the north coast of Jakarta, hence it has function to protect the land from sea abrasion, seawater intrusion, and seawater flooding. This study aims to determine the condition of forest structures and species composition in the Angke Kapuk Mangrove Protected Forest (AKMPF) to obtain useful information for sustainable mangrove forest management. Vegetation data were collected using the sampling unit of transect for tree and line plot for forest regeneration inventories. Those data were analyzed for the density, frequency, dominance, species diversity, and species distribution pattern. The obtained results show that AKMPF consists of 13 mangrove species, including 7 species of true mangrove, 5 species associated mangrove, and 1 species of palm, with the dominant species, are Avicennia marina for tree with its regenerations and Acrostichum aureum for groundcover. Overall, the species diversity index in this area was classified as low category. Mangrove trees in this area have height class between 4-28 meters formed bell-curve, while stem diameter class were between 10.00-69.75 cm formed L-curve. The distribution pattern of species in this areal generally was clumped.

scholarly journals Floristic composition and plant species diversity in and around the brickfield areas of Savar-Dhamrai region of Dhaka district

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 91-108
Author(s):  
Saiful Islam ◽  
Shayla Sharmin Shetu ◽  
Md Abdur Rahim ◽  
Saleh Ahammad Khan
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Natural Vegetation ◽  
Plant Species Diversity

This study has confirmed the occurrence of a total of 181 species of vascular plants under 133 genera and 51 families and estimates the plant species diversity in and around the brickfield areas of Savar-Dhamrai region of Dhaka district. Of these, six species were pteridophytes, 175 were Angiosperms, and 144 species were economically important. Five families, composed of six species, belonged to Pteridophyta, 40 families, consist of 128 species, to Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons) and six families, comprised of 47 species, to Liliopsida (monocotyledons). Total of 161 species were herbs, 14 were shrubs, and only six were trees. Asteraceae with 14 species and Poaceae with 24 species were the largest family in Magnoliopsida and Liliopsida, respectively. Amaranthus L., Persicaria (L.) Mill., Solanum L. and Lindernia All. with four species each were appeared as the best representative genera in Mangoliopsida, while Cyperus L. with five species in Liliopsida. The species composition and diversity of abandoned brickfields were found to be higher than those of functional brickfields. A total of 42 (23.20%) species were common in both abandoned and functional brickfields of this region. Species composition in the abandoned brickfields of Savar and Dhamrai was mostly similar (64.15%). This study suggests to control and monitor the brickfields under the respective authorities to favor the formation and regeneration of natural vegetation in their neighboring areas. Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 9(1 & 2): 91-108, 2020 (June & December)

Patterns of plant species diversity in fynbos vegetation, South Africa

Vegetatio ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 43 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 43-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Campbell ◽  
F. Meulen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Diversity

Changes in vegetation and soil properties following 6 years of enclosure in riparian corridors

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-138
Author(s):  
Di Wang ◽  
Yi-Ran Zhang ◽  
Yu-Long Feng ◽  
Zhi Liu ◽  
Bo Qu
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Vegetation Restoration ◽  
Plant Species Diversity ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
Riparian Corridors

Abstract Aims Riparian corridors play vital roles in the maintenance of biodiversity. Nonetheless, plant species diversity and vegetation coverage in riparian corridors are seriously threatened by increasing pressure owing to livestock consumption and anthropogenic disturbance; even the stability of river courses has been threatened. The establishment of enclosures is a widely used strategy to restore degraded grassland ecosystems, but its impact on degraded herbaceous riparian vegetation and soil properties remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether species composition, richness, diversity, and soil properties can be recovered by the enclosure. Methods Twenty long-term monitoring sample plots were set in the Liaohe main stream river, Liaohe main stream river was enclosed for grazing and farmland exclusion in 2012. The height, coverage and individual numbers of plant were recorded for species richness and diversity evaluation from 2012 to 2017; soil nutrients were measured for comparative analysis in 2012 and 2017. We examined the effects of the establishment of enclosures on plant species diversity and soil properties from 2012 to 2017 in the riparian corridors of the Liaohe River system in China. Important Findings Plant species richness and diversity significantly increased from 2012 to 2017. The dominance of Asteraceae plants increased, while the abundance of Gramineae plants decreased over time. The difference in abundance increased each year since enclosure was implemented in 2012. The concentrations of phosphorus and potassium in the soil significantly decreased as a result of the combined effects of vegetation restoration and prohibition of farming practices following the establishment of enclosures. There was also a lag time related to the response of soil organic matter to the establishment of enclosures. In conclusion, our study provides new evidence regarding the response of species diversity, species composition and soil properties following riparian vegetation restoration efforts through enclosure development.

scholarly journals Fine-scale habitat requirements of the Heidelberg Opal Butterfly (Chrysoritis aureus) in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, South Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rouxdene Deysel ◽  
Willem J. Myburgh ◽  
Mike D. Panagos
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Food Plant ◽  
Habitat Requirements ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Floristic Data ◽  
Number Of Plant Species

Background: This study quantified the fine-scale habitat requirements of Chrysoritis aureus, at 11 known habitats in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, South Africa, in order to make habitat management recommendations for this endangered species.Objectives: The habitats were quantified in terms of plant species composition and structure with reference to their environmental characteristics.Method: A modified area-based phytosociological approach was used to collect floristic data along with environmental characteristics of habitats occurring on the Witwatersrand and Ventersdorp Geological Systems.Results: Species recorded were predominantly forbs and graminoids with a slightly higher number of plant species in the habitats of the Ventersdorp Geological System. Few dwarf shrubs and shrubs and very few trees were recorded. A higher number of plant species were recorded during the late growing season on both geological systems. The butterfly food plant Clutia pulchella var. pulchella L. (Euphorbiaceae) was recorded in all the habitats and was dominant in habitats in both geological systems. The occurrence of the food plant is essential for the survival of the butterfly at these habitats.Conclusion: Monitoring of the C. aureus butterfly populations and of the vegetation structure, species composition and growth forms to determine trends in the vegetation condition after planned fires; regular burning of the habitats in order to maintain suitable vegetation composition and structure; and the monitoring and eradication of alien invader plants are very important management activities to ensure the conservation of C. aureus.

The Impact of Animals on Species Diversity in Arid-Land Plant Communities

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Wilby ◽  
Bertrand Boeken
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Community Assembly ◽  
Ecosystem Engineering ◽  
Physical Structure ◽  
Plant Species Diversity ◽  
Arid Ecosystems ◽  
Animal Activity

There are many mechanisms whereby animal activity can directly or indirectly influence the species diversity of plant communities. Most obviously, herbivory can influence the species composition directly through plant mortality or indirectly by changing the outcome of interspecific competition (Hulme 1996). Animals may also affect plant species composition by modifying the physical structure of the environment such that the flow of resources required for plant growth is altered. Such physical effects mediated by the physical structure of the environment have been termed ‘ecosystem engineering’ (defined in table 11.1; Jones et al. 1994, 1997, Lawton 1994, Lawton and Jones 1995). Animals may have other functions that influence the persistence of populations (e.g., pollination) or the colonization of new sites (seed dispersal). In this chapter we aim to provide an overview of how these diverse effects of animals influence plant species diversity, and to this end, we propose community assembly theory as a conceptual framework. Community assembly theory provides us with a schematic representation of the vital steps involved in the determination of species presence or absence at a particular site. By asking how might animal activity influence each of the steps of assembly, we ensure a comprehensive outlook on how animals affect plant species diversity. That said, we restrict ourselves in this chapter to ecological mechanisms and we do not consider evolutionary effects that are of undoubted importance at higher levels of spatial and temporal scales. Following our discussion of animal effects on community assembly, we highlight two case studies of herbivores arising from recent research in Israel. We use insights provided by these examples to suggest mechanisms that are likely to be of particular importance in arid ecosystems. For example, we suggest that since the flow of water, the primary limiting factor in these systems, is so easily influenced by structural changes in the environment, physical ecosystem engineering may be a relatively important, though previously neglected, interaction type in arid ecosystems. The processes governing which species occur in a particular plant community can be summarized very simply.

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