Ecological correlates of rare Cape Proteaceae, South Africa, and the implications for their conservation

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dc.contributor.authorBrown, Susan Annen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-01T06:55:46Z
dc.date.available2016-04-01T06:55:46Z
dc.date.issued1988en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis thesis examines the ecology of rare Proteaceae of the Fynbos Biome. South Africa. The aim was to determine whether there are any unifying ecological parameters which might be significant for their conservation. The current status of all Cape Proteaceae was initially assessed. A total of 124 taxa were ascribed the I U C N status of recently extinct (3 taxa), endangered (33 taxa), vulnerable (29 taxa) and naturally rare (59 taxa). The distributions of rare taxa are characteristically small in size and range, 59 taxa occurring in only one or two populations and 63 taxa being restricted to a range of less than 5 km². Small nature reserves are proposed for the protection of such restricted taxa. An examination of the distribution of all the rare taxa shows exceptionally high concentrations in the Cape Town urban area and the lowlands north of Cape Town. This indicates the need for conservation considerations by urban and regional planners in the long term development of this area. Naturally rare taxa exhibit nodes (areas of high concentrations) over the centres of well-defined centres of endemism. Such areas merit conservation as representative and diverse habitats of fynbos plant species. Threats occurring at rare Proteaceae sites were recorded. An inappropriate fire interval and invasion by the Argentine ant. Iridomyrmex humilis, were shown to be the probable cause of rarity in Proteaceae exhibiting short lifespans and myrmecochorous seed stores. The monitoring of fire intervals at rare Proteaceae sites and the removal of the Argentine Ant are considered priorities for conservation management of rare Proteaceae.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationBrown, S. A. (1988). <i>Ecological correlates of rare Cape Proteaceae, South Africa, and the implications for their conservation</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18485en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBrown, Susan Ann. <i>"Ecological correlates of rare Cape Proteaceae, South Africa, and the implications for their conservation."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18485en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBrown, S. 1988. Ecological correlates of rare Cape Proteaceae, South Africa, and the implications for their conservation. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Brown, Susan Ann AB - This thesis examines the ecology of rare Proteaceae of the Fynbos Biome. South Africa. The aim was to determine whether there are any unifying ecological parameters which might be significant for their conservation. The current status of all Cape Proteaceae was initially assessed. A total of 124 taxa were ascribed the I U C N status of recently extinct (3 taxa), endangered (33 taxa), vulnerable (29 taxa) and naturally rare (59 taxa). The distributions of rare taxa are characteristically small in size and range, 59 taxa occurring in only one or two populations and 63 taxa being restricted to a range of less than 5 km². Small nature reserves are proposed for the protection of such restricted taxa. An examination of the distribution of all the rare taxa shows exceptionally high concentrations in the Cape Town urban area and the lowlands north of Cape Town. This indicates the need for conservation considerations by urban and regional planners in the long term development of this area. Naturally rare taxa exhibit nodes (areas of high concentrations) over the centres of well-defined centres of endemism. Such areas merit conservation as representative and diverse habitats of fynbos plant species. Threats occurring at rare Proteaceae sites were recorded. An inappropriate fire interval and invasion by the Argentine ant. Iridomyrmex humilis, were shown to be the probable cause of rarity in Proteaceae exhibiting short lifespans and myrmecochorous seed stores. The monitoring of fire intervals at rare Proteaceae sites and the removal of the Argentine Ant are considered priorities for conservation management of rare Proteaceae. DA - 1988 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1988 T1 - Ecological correlates of rare Cape Proteaceae, South Africa, and the implications for their conservation TI - Ecological correlates of rare Cape Proteaceae, South Africa, and the implications for their conservation UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18485 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/18485
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBrown SA. Ecological correlates of rare Cape Proteaceae, South Africa, and the implications for their conservation. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1988 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18485en_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.otherBiological Conservationen_ZA
dc.subject.otheren_ZA
dc.titleEcological correlates of rare Cape Proteaceae, South Africa, and the implications for their conservationen_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
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