Grassland communities of urban open spaces in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa

Natural vegetation in urban environments is greatly impacted by human activities and it is in constant threat of degradation and destruction as a result of urbanisation. This vegetation, although fragmented, serves an important ecological function and needs to be properly managed and conserved. Studies on urban vegetation are lacking in South Africa, with only a handful having been carried out since the end of the last century. This study was initiated to identify, classify and describe the grassland communities of the urban open spaces in Bloemfontein. Relevés were compiled in 61 sample plots, where species present and habitat information were recorded. Care was taken to restrict sample plots to vegetation in pristine condition, wherever possible, and severely degraded stands were avoided. A two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed two distinct major communities, seven communities and four sub-communities. Both detrended and canonical correspondence analyses indicated the vegetation units to be associated with soil texture and pH, although biotic factors such as overgrazing, burning and mowing also influence the composition of the vegetation. The proper management and conservation of urban open spaces requires in-depth knowledge of the spatial distribution, floristic, structural and functional compositions within the major vegetation types in this environment. The present study further contributed towards formulating ways for the proper management, utilisation and functioning of the open spaces within the Bloemfontein area.Conservation implications: The Grassland Biome of South Africa is poorly conserved, mainly because of its status as an agricultural hub of the country. The preservation of natural and semi-natural forms of urban vegetation is important because such vegetation, although often disturbed and degraded, could form dispersal corridors between peri-urban and rural vegetation.

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Wetland vegetation of southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Bothalia ◽

10.4102/abc.v30i2.557 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 175-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

L. Perkins ◽

G. J. Bredenkamp ◽

J. E. Granger

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Wetland Vegetation ◽

Data Set ◽

Entire Data ◽

Kwazulu Natal ◽

Twinspan Classification ◽

Grassland Biome

Vegetation data from southern KwaZulu-Natal were analysed. TWINSPAN classification separated the entire data set (547 releves) into five subsets. One subset, representing the vegetation of the wetlands of southern Kw aZulu-Natal, was further classified by Braun-Blanquet procedures. Eight plant communities and fourteen subcommunities were identified and described. The results can be integrated with existing phytosociological classifications of the Grassland Biome.

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Primary grassland communities of urban open spaces in Gauteng, South Africa

South African Journal of Botany ◽

10.1016/j.sajb.2005.10.008 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (3) ◽

pp. 367-377 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

C.H. Grobler ◽

G.J. Bredenkamp ◽

L.R. Brown

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Open Spaces ◽

Grassland Communities

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Floristic composition and species diversity of urban vegetation in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa

Bothalia ◽

10.4102/abc.v47i1.2244 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mamokete N.V. Dingaan ◽

Pieter J. Du Preez

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Correspondence Analysis ◽

Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Urban Vegetation ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Twinspan Classification ◽

Plant Families ◽

Threatened Habitats

Background: Urban vegetation studies have, until recently, been relatively uncommon in South Africa. Yet, natural urban vegetation is constantly competing with and greatly impacted by urbanisation. This vegetation requires proper management and needs to be conserved because it is an important ecological infrastructure.Objectives: The objectives of the study were to identify the main vegetation types within the urban open spaces in the Bloemfontein metropolitan area, and to determine the floristic composition and species diversity of the area.Methods: A total of 248 relevés were classified using the TWINSPAN classification algorithm, and relationships between the communities and the environment were determined with the Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis computer programs. Species diversity was partitioned into α-, β- and γ-diversities.Results: Within the study area, 77 plant families and 248 genera, with a total of 376 plant species, were identified. The largest families are Poaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae, whereas the largest genera are Eragrostis, Aristida, Cyperus, Asparagus and Senecio. The study area has high species richness and the most species-rich sites are found adjacent to rivers and streams, and also on the slopes of hills and ridges. The vegetation is classified under five major vegetation types and four sub-units, which show a distinct association with topography and soil texture.Conclusion: The urban vegetation of Bloemfontein is species-rich and should be properly managed and conserved. In particular, the wetlands and rocky outcrops on hills and ridges, which are the most threatened habitats in the study area, need special management.

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Natural woodland vegetation and plant species richness of the urban open spaces in Gauteng, South Africa

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v45i1.13 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

C.H. Grobler ◽

G.J. Bredenkamp ◽

L.R. Brown

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Species Richness ◽

Random Sample ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Open Spaces ◽

Physical Representation ◽

Twinspan Classification ◽

Woodland Communities

It is estimated that approximately 60 % of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by 2025. In Gauteng, the most densely populated province in South Africa, the natural open spaces are continually under threat from development. Vegetation is the most physical representation of the environment on which all animals are ultimately dependent. In order to evaluate an areas potential for development or conservation it is necessary to make a thorough inventory of the plant communities and their associated habitats. A survey of the natural woodlands was undertaken as part of a project describing the vegetation of the natural open spaces within the Gauteng region. Relevés were compiled in 73 stratified random sample plots in selected open spaces within the study area. A TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, indicated six woodland communities that can be grouped into two major woodland communities. A classification and description of these communities as well as their species richness are presented. The results indicate that there are still patches of well-preserved natural vegetation within the study area and contribute to the limited knowledge that presently exists for the vegetation of the area.

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Classification of vegetation communities in which geese rear broods on the Yukon – Kuskokwim delta, Alaska

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b94-158 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 72 (9) ◽

pp. 1294-1301 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Christopher A. Babcock ◽

Craig R. Ely

Keyword(s):

Salt Marsh ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Indicator Species Analysis ◽

Future Studies ◽

Brood Rearing ◽

Species Analysis ◽

Twinspan Classification ◽

Vegetation Complexes ◽

Air Photo

Plant communities are described from an area on the Yukon – Kuskokwim (Y-K) delta of Alaska that is used extensively for brood rearing by three species of geese. Earlier studies identified plant species important as food for young geese, but few studies describe or quantify plant communities. We classified species presence or absence information from over 700 quadrats using a two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and then tested for agreement of signatures on colour infrared air photos with the identified communities. Sedges were found to dominate all but the wettest and driest communities. Most of the brood-rearing area was covered by Carex ramenskii and Carex rariflora meadows, ponds, Carex mackenziei-dominated pond margins, and C. ramenskii and grass levee meadows. Our interpretation of airphotos accurately predicted vegetation community classes, which will facilitate future studies of habitat selection by geese during the time they are rearing young. The TWINSPAN classification was comparable to classifications of studies conducted elsewhere on the Y-K delta. The interpretation of air photos will enable the identification and evaluation of wetland vegetation complexes and potential goose brood-rearing areas away from our study site. Key words: air-photo interpretation, Alaska, plant communities, salt marsh, Yukon – Kuskokwim delta.

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Community-Centred Infrastructure Design Process for Resilience Building in South African Informal Settlements: The “Genius of Space” Solid Waste and Greywater Infrastructure Project

Case Studies in the Environment ◽

10.1525/cse.2017.000729 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Lauren Hermanus ◽

Sean Andrew

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Local Governments ◽

Informal Settlements ◽

Interdisciplinary Approach ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Wastewater Management ◽

Western Cape ◽

Water And Sanitation ◽

Public And Private Sector

Due to a lack of adequate water and sanitation infrastructure, growing, unplanned urban settlements in South Africa and elsewhere have been linked to pollution of critical river systems. The same dynamics undermine local resilience, understood as the capacity to adapt and develop in response to changes, persistent social and ecological risks, and disasters. Water and sanitation challenges undermine resilience by causing and compounding risks to individuals, and to household and community health and livelihoods, in a complex context in which communities and local governments have limited capacity and resources to respond appropriately. Household and community resilience in informal settlements is drawing increasing policy focus, given the persistence of these kinds of neighbourhoods in cities and towns in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa, in particular. This case considers whether bottom-up responses that combine public and private sector resources, including community participation, and use an interdisciplinary approach can support the production of novel resilience-fostering solutions. This article presents an analysis of the case of Genius of Space waste and wastewater management infrastructure in the Western Cape, South Africa. While the process has been imperfect and slow to show results, this analysis reflects on the gains, lessons and potential for replication that this work has produced. The Genius of Space approach adds to a growing area of practice-based experimentation focussed on incrementalism and adaptive development practices in urban environments, particularly in developing countries.

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Overview on urban nature conservation: situation in the western-grassland biome of South Africa

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening ◽

10.1016/j.ufug.2004.04.003 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 49-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Sarel S Cilliers ◽

Norbert Müller ◽

Ernst Drewes

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Nature Conservation ◽

Urban Nature ◽

Grassland Biome

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Understanding the Role of Urban Morphology and Green Areas Configuration During Heat Waves

Megacities and Rapid Urbanization ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-9276-1.ch025 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 502-517

Author(s):

Marialuce Stanganelli ◽

Carlo Gerundo

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Statistical Correlation ◽

Urban Morphology ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Open Spaces ◽

Green Areas ◽

Planning Strategies

This paper focuses on urban planning strategies to adapt cities to the increasing rising of temperatures during summer heat waves. The main target is to investigate which configuration and distribution pattern of green spaces could effectively improve natural cooling of urban environments. Although the benefit that green areas give to natural cooling is well known, this kind of studies has hardly been carried out, especially at an urban scale where it is crucial to define quantities and density of green areas to address open spaces design. To reach this goal, a methodology based on the interpretation of the statistical correlation among temperature, urban parameters and green areas configurational indicators was implemented and applied to the case study of the Municipality of Naples, performing all the analysis in a GIS. Results provide guidelines to improve natural cooling in urban areas adopting the most effective configuration and distribution of green areas within a densely-built context.

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