Plant community patterns and diversity in sites impacted by Eucalyptus camuldulensis Dehnh. : insights from the Berg River, Western Cape / Alison Midgley

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dc.contributor.advisorMuasya, Muthamaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMidgley, Alisonen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-09-15T10:32:59Z
dc.date.available2015-09-15T10:32:59Z
dc.date.issued2013en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAlien Eucalyptus and Acacia species are amongst the most prolific invaders of the Berg River catchment, in the Western Cape. This study assessed the effects of invasive species and the potential for passive successional restoration in a heavily invaded riparian site (>80% aerial cover), a cleared riparian site and a pristine reference site. Three plots were demarcated per site, and transects were taken perpendicular to the river on the lower, middle and upper bank. Three 2m2 quadrats were intensively sampled per transect. Species diversity and community composition of indigenous and alien species were compared by measuring herbaceous, shrub and tree cover. Soil conditions, such as texture, salinity, acidity and moisture, were also compared. Distinctly different plant communities were found in each site, although cleared and invaded sites were more similar to each other. Cleared sites showed >45% cover by invasive successional species and grasses atypical of natural succession patterns. It was proposed that restoration constraints (e.g. method of clearance, intensity of prior invasion, land-use) were encouraging alien re-colonisation. However, there was evidence that the overall the trajectory of successional was favourable for indigenous trees and species. It was suggested that active re-vegetation of indigenous tree species, and adherence to correct clearance methods would aid site restoration.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMidgley, A. (2013). <i>Plant community patterns and diversity in sites impacted by Eucalyptus camuldulensis Dehnh. : insights from the Berg River, Western Cape / Alison Midgley</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14018en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMidgley, Alison. <i>"Plant community patterns and diversity in sites impacted by Eucalyptus camuldulensis Dehnh. : insights from the Berg River, Western Cape / Alison Midgley."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14018en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMidgley, A. 2013. Plant community patterns and diversity in sites impacted by Eucalyptus camuldulensis Dehnh. : insights from the Berg River, Western Cape / Alison Midgley. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Midgley, Alison AB - Alien Eucalyptus and Acacia species are amongst the most prolific invaders of the Berg River catchment, in the Western Cape. This study assessed the effects of invasive species and the potential for passive successional restoration in a heavily invaded riparian site (>80% aerial cover), a cleared riparian site and a pristine reference site. Three plots were demarcated per site, and transects were taken perpendicular to the river on the lower, middle and upper bank. Three 2m2 quadrats were intensively sampled per transect. Species diversity and community composition of indigenous and alien species were compared by measuring herbaceous, shrub and tree cover. Soil conditions, such as texture, salinity, acidity and moisture, were also compared. Distinctly different plant communities were found in each site, although cleared and invaded sites were more similar to each other. Cleared sites showed >45% cover by invasive successional species and grasses atypical of natural succession patterns. It was proposed that restoration constraints (e.g. method of clearance, intensity of prior invasion, land-use) were encouraging alien re-colonisation. However, there was evidence that the overall the trajectory of successional was favourable for indigenous trees and species. It was suggested that active re-vegetation of indigenous tree species, and adherence to correct clearance methods would aid site restoration. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2013 T1 - Plant community patterns and diversity in sites impacted by Eucalyptus camuldulensis Dehnh. : insights from the Berg River, Western Cape / Alison Midgley TI - Plant community patterns and diversity in sites impacted by Eucalyptus camuldulensis Dehnh. : insights from the Berg River, Western Cape / Alison Midgley UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14018 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14018
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMidgley A. Plant community patterns and diversity in sites impacted by Eucalyptus camuldulensis Dehnh. : insights from the Berg River, Western Cape / Alison Midgley. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2013 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14018en_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.otherBiological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.titlePlant community patterns and diversity in sites impacted by Eucalyptus camuldulensis Dehnh. : insights from the Berg River, Western Cape / Alison Midgleyen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Hons)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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