An investigation of the limited distribution of the grazing lawns in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorBond, William Jen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorStock, WDen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSwemmer, Anthony Michaelen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-11-22T05:52:22Z
dc.date.available2014-11-22T05:52:22Z
dc.date.issued2002en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: leaves 220-238.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe grasslands and savannas of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park (HUP), South Africa contain unusual 'grazing lawn' communities dominated by short, grazing tolerant grasses. These grazing lawns appear to be highly productive, and support high densities of grazers during the late summer and early winter, but have a very limited distribution within HUP. A review of the grazing literature indicates a similar pattern at the global scale, with grazing lawns absent or rare in almost every grass-grazer system described. Resource limitations responsible for the limited distribution of grazing lawns were investigated. A conceptual model of key processes considered necessary for the formation and persistence of lawns in HUP was developed. Key processes include both frequent and non-selective grazing during the growing season Based on observations that the distribution of grazing lawns within HUP is strongly related to rainfall, it was hypothesized that further key processes control are involved. In areas of lowest rainfall grazing lawns are replaced by a sparse cover of forbs and unpalatable grass species. It was hypothesized that a shortage of mineral nitrogen (N) and / or water are key processes excluding grazing lawn grasses in these environments. In areas of highest rainfall grazing lawns do not form, even where grass communities have been heavily grazed for a year or more. It was hypothesized that below-ground competition for N by the dominant grasses (bunch grasses) prevent the establishment of grazing lawn grasses in these environments.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationSwemmer, A. M. (2002). <i>An investigation of the limited distribution of the grazing lawns in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9781en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSwemmer, Anthony Michael. <i>"An investigation of the limited distribution of the grazing lawns in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9781en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSwemmer, A. 2002. An investigation of the limited distribution of the grazing lawns in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Swemmer, Anthony Michael AB - The grasslands and savannas of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park (HUP), South Africa contain unusual 'grazing lawn' communities dominated by short, grazing tolerant grasses. These grazing lawns appear to be highly productive, and support high densities of grazers during the late summer and early winter, but have a very limited distribution within HUP. A review of the grazing literature indicates a similar pattern at the global scale, with grazing lawns absent or rare in almost every grass-grazer system described. Resource limitations responsible for the limited distribution of grazing lawns were investigated. A conceptual model of key processes considered necessary for the formation and persistence of lawns in HUP was developed. Key processes include both frequent and non-selective grazing during the growing season Based on observations that the distribution of grazing lawns within HUP is strongly related to rainfall, it was hypothesized that further key processes control are involved. In areas of lowest rainfall grazing lawns are replaced by a sparse cover of forbs and unpalatable grass species. It was hypothesized that a shortage of mineral nitrogen (N) and / or water are key processes excluding grazing lawn grasses in these environments. In areas of highest rainfall grazing lawns do not form, even where grass communities have been heavily grazed for a year or more. It was hypothesized that below-ground competition for N by the dominant grasses (bunch grasses) prevent the establishment of grazing lawn grasses in these environments. DA - 2002 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2002 T1 - An investigation of the limited distribution of the grazing lawns in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa TI - An investigation of the limited distribution of the grazing lawns in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9781 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/9781
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSwemmer AM. An investigation of the limited distribution of the grazing lawns in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2002 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9781en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherBotanyen_ZA
dc.titleAn investigation of the limited distribution of the grazing lawns in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_sci_2002_swemmer_am.pdf
Size:
14.07 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters