Phytosociology and plant community utilisation by vervet monkeys of the Blydeberg Conservancy, Limpopo Province

The plant communities of the Blydeberg Conservancy were investigated as part of a research project on the foraging ecology of vervet monkeys Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus (senso lato) in mixed lowveld bushveld and sour lowveld bushveld areas. To date there are no formal management plans for vervet monkeys. This is attributed to the limited knowledge of vervets and their utilisation of and impacts on ecosystems. From a TWINSPAN classification refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, ten plant communities that can be placed into four major groups were identified. A classification and description of these communities, including a vegetation map are presented. Diagnostic species as well as prominent and less conspicuous species of tree, shrub, herb and grass strata are outlined. Of the ten available plant communities, the vervets utilised only six during the study period. There was an abundant supply of various food sources throughout the year, with movement patterns mostly coinciding with the fruiting times of several tree and other plant species.

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A floristic description of the Afromontane fynbos communities on Platberg, Eastern Free State, South Africa

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v50i1.215 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Robert F. Brand ◽

Pieter J. Du Preez ◽

Leslie R. Brown

Keyword(s):

Natural Resources ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Conservation Management ◽

Alien Invasive Species ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

The North ◽

Shrub Community ◽

Management Plans ◽

Twinspan Classification

Within the Platberg area and the wider Drakensberg region, the shrinking natural resources and the threat posed to biodiversity are of concern to conservation management and require an understanding of long-term ecological processes. The vegetation of Platberg was investigated as part of an ecological survey to establish Afromontane floristic links to the Drakensberg as well as for the management of natural resources. From a TWINSPAN classification, refined by the Braun-Blanquet method, four main plant communities were identified, which were subdivided into fynbos, wetland, a woody/shrub community and grassland. A classification and description of the fynbos are presented in this article.The analysis showed the fynbos divided into two communities comprising four sub-communities and seven variants. The fynbos community had an average of 28.34 species per relevé, ranging from 14 to 54 species per sample plot. Twenty-four endemic or near-endemic Drakensberg Alpine Centre (DAC) species and 22 exotic (alien-invasive) species were recorded. Numerous floristic links with the DAC, Cape flora fynbos and grassland bioregions to the north and west were also found. The description of the fynbos plant communities can serve as a basis for the formulation of management plans for the area.

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A vegetation description and floristic analyses of the springs on the Kammanassie Mountain, Western Cape

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v47i2.78 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G. Cleaver ◽

L.R. Brown ◽

G.J. Bredenkamp

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Western Cape ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Mountain Catchment ◽

Habitat Factors ◽

Management Plans ◽

Twinspan Classification ◽

Geological Origin ◽

The Difference

The Kammanassie Mountain is a declared mountain catchment area and a Cape mountain zebra Equus zebra zebra population is preserved on the mountain. The high number of springs on the mountain not only provides water for the animal species but also contributes to overall ecosystem functioning. Long-term conservation of viable ecosystems requires a broader understanding of the ecological processes involved. It was therefore decided that a classification, description and mapping of the spring vegetation of the Kammanassie Mountain be undertaken. A TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed 11 major plant communities that could be related to geological origin. Habitat factors associated with differences in vegetation include topography, soil type and grazing. Descriptions of the plant communities include diagnostic species as well as prominent and less conspicuous species of the tree, shrub and herbaceous layers. The results also indicate a high species richness compared to similar regions and the difference between plant communities of wet and dry springs. This data is important for long-term monitoring of the spring ecosystems as well as for the compilation of management plans.

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The phytosociology of the De Rust section of the Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v43i1.204 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

L.R. Brown ◽

H. Bezuidenhout

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Plant Communities ◽

National Park ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Vegetation Survey ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

Vegetation Map ◽

Diagnostic Species ◽

Twinspan Classification

As part of a vegetation survey programme for conservation areas in South Africa, the plant communities of the De Rust section of the Mountain Zebra National Park were investigated. From a TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, 14 plant communities, which can be placed into six major groups, were identified. A clas- sification and description of these communities, as well as a vegetation map are presented. Associated gradients in habitat were identified by using an ordination algorithm (DECORANA). The diagnostic species as well as the prominent and less conspicuous species of the tree, shrub, herb and grass strata are outlined.

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The phytosociology of the northern section of the Borakalalo Nature Reserve

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v39i1.279 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

L.R. Brown ◽

G.J. Bredenkamp ◽

N. Van Rooyen

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Wildlife Management ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Hierarchical Classification ◽

Management Programme ◽

Vegetation Map ◽

Diagnostic Species ◽

Twinspan Classification ◽

Ecological Basis

After classifications and descriptions of the southern and western sections of the Borakalalo Nature Reserve were published, a study on the phytosociology of the northern part was initiated. The study is aimed at providing an ecological basis for establishing an efficient wildlife management programme for the reserve. From a TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, 15 plant communities, which can be grouped into six major plant communities, were identified. Descriptions of the various plant communities, include diagnostic species, prominent species and less conspicuous species of the tree, shrub, forb and grass strata. A hierarchical classification, description of the plant communities and a vegetation map are presented.

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Vegetation classification as the basis for baboon management in the Bourke’s Luck Section of the Blyde Canyon Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v48i2.90 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

Author(s):

L.R. Brown ◽

H. Marais ◽

S.P. Henzi ◽

L. Barrett

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Conservation Policy ◽

Management Plan ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Conservation Area ◽

Vegetation Map ◽

Twinspan Classification ◽

Vegetation Study

The Blyde Canyon Nature Reserve (BCNR) was identified as an important conservation area due to of its extraordinary diversity of plant species. Plant communities represent ecosystems and form the basis of any management plan for natural areas. If these ecosystems and their different potentials are unknown, they cannot be managed successfully. Baboons exploit diverse habitats including human environments where they often cause damage to crops and forest plantations. Baboons are regarded as particularly problematic residents of protected areas as conventional fences do not readily enclose them, their eclectic diets allow them to benefit from a range of agricultural endeavours, and they are behaviourally opportunistic. Thus as a first step to implementing a conservation policy to manage chacma baboons in the BCNR, it was necessary to have some understanding of their exploitation of natural habitats adjacent to areas where they do cause problems. Although a broad vegetation map of the BCNR exists, no detailed vegetation studies have been conducted on the largest part of the reserve. It was therefore decided to ndertake a detailed vegetation study of the home range of a single baboon troop within the Bourke’s Luck section of the BCNR. From a TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, 13 plant communities, which can be grouped into seven major groups, were identified. A classification and description of these communities, as well as a vegetation map are presented. Data collected as part of this study also revealed that the baboons show preference to certain communities whilst avoiding others. These have important consequences in terms of the management strategies followed on the reserve.

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The phytosociology of the western section of Borakalalo Nature Reserve

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v38i2.314 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

L.R. Brown ◽

G.J. Bredenkamp ◽

N. Van Rooyen

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Vegetation Survey ◽

Conservation Areas ◽

Vegetation Map ◽

Diagnostic Species ◽

Twinspan Classification

As part of a vegetation survey programme for conservation areas in South Africa, the plant communities of the western section of the Borakalalo Nature Reserve were investigated. From a TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, 19 plant communities, which can be grouped into eleven major groups, were identified. A classification and description of these communities, some of which have a karoo affinity, are presented. The diagnostic species, as well as the prominent and less conspicu- ous species of the tree, shrub, herb and grass strata are outlined. A vegetation map is included.

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Showing the vegetation cover of flood-plains and river valleys on the Vegetation Map of Kazakhstan and middle Asia

Geobotanical mapping ◽

10.31111/geobotmap/1993.58 ◽

1995 ◽

pp. 58-66

Author(s):

N. M. Kalibernova

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Vegetation Cover ◽

Flood Plain ◽

Vegetation Map ◽

Flood Plains ◽

Additional Information ◽

Ground Waters ◽

The Matrix ◽

River Valleys ◽

Former Ussr

The fragment of the legend of the map concerning the vegetation of flood- plains and river-valleys in the subzones of northern and southern deserts is presented in the article. The map is compiled in Department of Vegetspon Geography and Cartography of Komarov Botanical Institute by a large team of botanists-geographers of the former USSR. The nature environments determining the development of vegetation of river-valleys in arid climate are conditioned by the intrazonal factors (alluvial and flood processes) at the background of natural zonal factors. Contrasts of environments and corresponding plant communities manifest themselves first of all. Mineralization of ground waters, salinity of soils, including the alluvial ones, are of essential importance. The practice of vegetation mapping of unstable habitats, to which floodplain landscapes belong, has shown that units of phytocoenological classification is of little use for this purpose. The heterogeneity of vegetation, consisting of short-term unstable serial communities generates a need for typification of space combinations of such phytocoenoses. For this purpose it is convenient to use generalized ecological-dinamic series, including plant communities of all levels within the limits of definite segment of valley. These series are the mapping units on the map. The vegetation of the first terrace is also nessecary to include in a single series with flood-plain vegetation because it has supplementary influence of ground waters. The higher divisions of the legend are based on zonal characters: vegetation of valleys in northern, middle and southern deserts. 13 numbers are used to show the vegetation cover of flood-plains and valleys. Additional 7 numbers are used for the out-of-valley meadow vegetation. The content is enriched by using of the letters by the numbers showing the geographic variants of series and ciphers for combination of series and out-of-series communities. The text legend is supplemented by the matrix (table), showing the subordination of subtitles, zonal position and geographic distribution of divisions. The types of series in the matrix are listed with indication of the main dominant species that gives the additional information on the legend divisions. The author's conclusion is that valley vegetation reveals clearly the zonal features, correlating with zonal (desert) vegetation.

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Hepatocystis Parasitemia in Wild Kenya Vervet Monkeys ( Cercopithecus aethiops )

Journal of Medical Primatology ◽

10.1111/j.1600-0684.1982.tb00010.x ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 191-194

Author(s):

T.R. Turner ◽

F.L. Lambrecht ◽

C.J. Jolly

Keyword(s):

Cercopithecus Aethiops ◽

Vervet Monkeys

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Locomotor Anatomy and Behavior of Patas Monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) with Comparison to Vervet Monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops)

Anatomy Research International ◽

10.1155/2013/409534 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Adrienne L. Zihlman ◽

Carol E. Underwood

Keyword(s):

Cercopithecus Aethiops ◽

Whole Body ◽

Relative Mass ◽

Vervet Monkeys ◽

Long Distance ◽

Erythrocebus Patas ◽

Locomotor System ◽

Patas Monkeys ◽

Foot Bones ◽

Muscle Groups

Patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) living in African savanna woodlands and grassland habitats have a locomotor system that allows them to run fast, presumably to avoid predators. Long fore- and hindlimbs, long foot bones, short toes, and a digitigrade foot posture were proposed as anatomical correlates with speed. In addition to skeletal proportions, soft tissue and whole body proportions are important components of the locomotor system. To further distinguish patas anatomy from other Old World monkeys, a comparative study based on dissection of skin, muscle, and bone from complete individuals of patas and vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) was undertaken. Analysis reveals that small adjustments in patas skeletal proportions, relative mass of limbs and tail, and specific muscle groups promote efficient sagittal limb motion. The ability to run fast is based on a locomotor system adapted for long distance walking. The patas’ larger home range and longer daily range than those of vervets give them access to highly dispersed, nutritious foods, water, and sleeping trees. Furthermore, patas monkeys have physiological adaptations that enable them to tolerate and dissipate heat. These features all contribute to the distinct adaptation that is the patas monkeys’ basis for survival in grassland and savanna woodland areas.

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