Animal-habitat relationships in the Knysna forest : discrimination between forest types by birds and invertebrates
Master Thesis
1985
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University of Cape Town
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Some silvicultural practices in the Knysna Forest are aimed at the sustained-yield production of valuable timber tree species, albeit on limited areas only. This study investigates effects of forest plant species composition and physiognomy on bird and invertebrate communities in three discrete, relatively undisturbed forest types along a dry-wet soil moisture gradient. Using discriminant functions analysis, a 100% floristic and a 78% vegetation structural discrimination was obtained between the three forest types. However, the bird communities of these floristically and structurally different forest types were very similar in species composition and had much lower densities than normally encountered in other superficially similar forests. It was only possible to discriminate between the wet and the moist/dry forest types by using the two best bird discriminators. the blackheaded oriole (Oriolus larvatus) and the sombre bulbul (Andropadus importunus). A separation of the moist and dry forest types was not possible. Although an 81% discrimination between forest types was attained through analysis of ground surface invertebrates. measures of litter and aerial invertebrate abundance were of limited use as discriminators. Historical and biogeographic factors and the low nutritional levels in the soil and vegetation may be the cause of low bird and invertebrate density and diversity. It is concluded therefore, that floristics and vegetation structure have, at best, a minor influence on bird community structure, and possibly also on the invertebrate community in the Knysna Forest and that management practices need not cater for variation in forest vegetation composition and physiognomy. Bibliography: pages 49-59.
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Koen, J. 1985. Animal-habitat relationships in the Knysna forest : discrimination between forest types by birds and invertebrates. University of Cape Town.