Original Research

Plant communities of the Ebenhaezer section of the Mountain Zebra National Park

J. de Klerk, L.R. Brown, H. Bezuidenhout
Koedoe | Vol 46, No 2 | a47 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v46i2.47 | © 2003 J. de Klerk, L.R. Brown, H. Bezuidenhout | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 18 December 2003 | Published: 18 December 2003

About the author(s)

J. de Klerk, Technikon SA, South Africa
L.R. Brown, Technikon SA, South Africa
H. Bezuidenhout, South African National Parks, South Africa

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Abstract

The long-term conservation of viable ecosystems requires a broader understanding of the ecological processes involved. Because ecosystems react differently to different management practices, it is important to have a description and classification of the vegetation of an area available. As part of a vegetation survey programme for the newly acquired farms to be incorporated into the Mountain Zebra National Park, the vegetation of the Ebenhaezer section was investigated. Ahierarchical classification, vegetation map, description and ecological interpretation of the plant communities of the study area are presented. ATWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures revealed eight distinct plant communities. Habitat factors associated with differences in vegetation include topography, soil form 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.

Keywords

Braun-Blanquet procedures; Conservation area; Plant communities; TWINSPAN; Vegetation classification

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Crossref Citations

1. Ecosystem description and diversity of the Jurisdam–Seekoegat sections of the Mountain Zebra National Park, South Africa
L.R. Brown, H. Bezuidenhout
South African Journal of Botany  vol: 118  first page: 166  year: 2018  
doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2018.07.013