Do trees suppress grass fuel loads? : canopy cover effects in South African savannas

dc.contributor.authorDonaldson, Jasonen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-17T08:13:43Z
dc.date.available2017-11-17T08:13:43Z
dc.date.issued2011en_ZA
dc.date.updated2017-02-01T13:12:03Z
dc.description.abstractContinental scale analysis of the savanna biome indicated that fire did not spread at tree canopy cover above 40%. This study investigates this relationship in a field study. It is possible that the type of tree (forest vs. savanna) may influence the amount of shade experienced by the understory and therefore this study also explores differences in LAI between congeneric pairs of forest and savanna tree species. Data were collected in two major South African savanna parks. Plots were set out to measure grass biomass in reference to canopy cover in both Kruger National Park (n=60) and the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve (n=82). Seven congeneric pairs were selected to compare leaf area and LAI between forest and savanna tree species using a destructive method. Against expectations, it was only when canopy cover reached 80% that grass fuel load was too low to support fire spread in all Kruger National Park plots (Pr=O) and 89% of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve plots (Pr=0.11). No consistent, general relationships were evident with leaf area or LAI in comparisons between forest-savanna congeneric pairs. The significance of these findings and future direction is discussed.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationDonaldson, J. (2011). <i>Do trees suppress grass fuel loads? : canopy cover effects in South African savannas</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26376en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDonaldson, Jason. <i>"Do trees suppress grass fuel loads? : canopy cover effects in South African savannas."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26376en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDonaldson, J. 2011. Do trees suppress grass fuel loads? : canopy cover effects in South African savannas. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Donaldson, Jason AB - Continental scale analysis of the savanna biome indicated that fire did not spread at tree canopy cover above 40%. This study investigates this relationship in a field study. It is possible that the type of tree (forest vs. savanna) may influence the amount of shade experienced by the understory and therefore this study also explores differences in LAI between congeneric pairs of forest and savanna tree species. Data were collected in two major South African savanna parks. Plots were set out to measure grass biomass in reference to canopy cover in both Kruger National Park (n=60) and the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve (n=82). Seven congeneric pairs were selected to compare leaf area and LAI between forest and savanna tree species using a destructive method. Against expectations, it was only when canopy cover reached 80% that grass fuel load was too low to support fire spread in all Kruger National Park plots (Pr=O) and 89% of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve plots (Pr=0.11). No consistent, general relationships were evident with leaf area or LAI in comparisons between forest-savanna congeneric pairs. The significance of these findings and future direction is discussed. DA - 2011 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2011 T1 - Do trees suppress grass fuel loads? : canopy cover effects in South African savannas TI - Do trees suppress grass fuel loads? : canopy cover effects in South African savannas UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26376 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/26376
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDonaldson J. Do trees suppress grass fuel loads? : canopy cover effects in South African savannas. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2011 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26376en_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.subject.othercanopy coveren_ZA
dc.subject.othergrass biomassen_ZA
dc.subject.otherfireen_ZA
dc.subject.otherleaf areaen_ZA
dc.titleDo trees suppress grass fuel loads? : canopy cover effects in South African savannasen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Hons)en_ZA
uct.type.filetype
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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