Disturbance ecology and size class structure of the Mulanje cedar of Malawi, Widdringtonia whytei and associated broadleaved forest

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dc.contributor.advisorFebruary, Edmund Cen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBurger, Nielen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-24T07:08:52Z
dc.date.available2017-05-24T07:08:52Z
dc.date.issued2010en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe disturbance ecology and regeneration patterns of the emergent conifer, Widdringtonia whytei, and five broadleaved species, Aphloia theiformis, Rapanea melanophloeos, Maesa lanceolata, Maytenus accuminata and Psychotria mahonii, were inferred from population size structures in the mixed conifer-broadleaved forests of Mt. Mulanje, Malawi. The size-class structures of the emergent cedar populations were characterised by even-sized, disjunct frequency distributions. Seedling recruitment was found in recently burnt sites and not in middle-aged or oldgrowth forest. This indicates reliance on the catastrophic mode of regeneration for W. whytei, which takes advantage of the well-lit, competition free environment after large-scale disturbances provided by fire. The sub-canopy angiosperms primarily had all-sized frequency distributions, with at least some individuals found in each class within their size range, indicating continuous regeneration under a closed forest canopy. These results emphasize the dependence of long-lived conifers such as the Mulanje cedar on large-scale disturbance for regeneration and long-term persistence of the species.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationBurger, N. (2010). <i>Disturbance ecology and size class structure of the Mulanje cedar of Malawi, Widdringtonia whytei and associated broadleaved forest</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24397en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBurger, Niel. <i>"Disturbance ecology and size class structure of the Mulanje cedar of Malawi, Widdringtonia whytei and associated broadleaved forest."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24397en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBurger, N. 2010. Disturbance ecology and size class structure of the Mulanje cedar of Malawi, Widdringtonia whytei and associated broadleaved forest. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Burger, Niel AB - The disturbance ecology and regeneration patterns of the emergent conifer, Widdringtonia whytei, and five broadleaved species, Aphloia theiformis, Rapanea melanophloeos, Maesa lanceolata, Maytenus accuminata and Psychotria mahonii, were inferred from population size structures in the mixed conifer-broadleaved forests of Mt. Mulanje, Malawi. The size-class structures of the emergent cedar populations were characterised by even-sized, disjunct frequency distributions. Seedling recruitment was found in recently burnt sites and not in middle-aged or oldgrowth forest. This indicates reliance on the catastrophic mode of regeneration for W. whytei, which takes advantage of the well-lit, competition free environment after large-scale disturbances provided by fire. The sub-canopy angiosperms primarily had all-sized frequency distributions, with at least some individuals found in each class within their size range, indicating continuous regeneration under a closed forest canopy. These results emphasize the dependence of long-lived conifers such as the Mulanje cedar on large-scale disturbance for regeneration and long-term persistence of the species. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - Disturbance ecology and size class structure of the Mulanje cedar of Malawi, Widdringtonia whytei and associated broadleaved forest TI - Disturbance ecology and size class structure of the Mulanje cedar of Malawi, Widdringtonia whytei and associated broadleaved forest UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24397 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/24397
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBurger N. Disturbance ecology and size class structure of the Mulanje cedar of Malawi, Widdringtonia whytei and associated broadleaved forest. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2010 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24397en_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.titleDisturbance ecology and size class structure of the Mulanje cedar of Malawi, Widdringtonia whytei and associated broadleaved foresten_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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