Characterisation of the woody assemblages of Zululand coastal thornveld along the Nseleni river

Abstract

A classification of the woody component of the riparian vegetation of Zululand coastal thornveld is analysed using the height classes of different woody species as an indication of age. A total of 43 randomly stratified plots was selected using aerial photographs to include all the different plant communities in this rare and endemic vegetation type. A floristic survey of the woody component was conducted within each sample plot. Species data recorded included tree cover and tree richness. Environmental data recorded included altitude, soil type, soil chemistry, aspect and slope. The data set was analysed with TWINSPAN and four woody-plant assemblages were identified. An ordination using CANOCO was applied to examine the relationships between species distribution and associated environmental gradients. Changes in the species composition of woody assemblages occurred along an environmental gradient determined by soil properties and past land use

Uncovering the phylogeography of Schinus terebinthifolia in South Africa to guide biological control

“…Schinus terebinthifolia is an IAP in South Africa and is listed as a category 1b species under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) (Act 10 of 2004) in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces and category 3 elsewhere ( DEA 2014 ). In South Africa, S. terebinthifolia has invaded across a range of biomes, mostly along the coastal areas of the country and is particularly problematic within the threatened coastal thornveld in the KwaZulu-Natal Province ( van der Linden et al 2008 ; Martin et al 2020 ).…”