Grass invasion in urban lowland fynbos fragments on the Cape Flats : does nutrient addition play a role?

dc.contributor.advisorBond, William Jen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorWilson, Daniel Ten_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-10-12T08:25:38Z
dc.date.available2017-10-12T08:25:38Z
dc.date.issued1999en_ZA
dc.date.updated2017-02-07T13:43:14Z
dc.description.abstractInvasion by exotic grasses is a major threat to natural ecosystems in many parts of the world. On the Cape Flats in Cape Town, grasses were observed to be invading lowland fynbos fragments which are a high priority for conservation. The observation in other parts of the world that nutrient additions from deposition of airborne pollutants were responsible for increased dominance of grass in natural ecosystems led us to test whether this was the case on the Cape flats. Phytometers were used to gauge the favourability for growth of soils from urban sites compared to those from rural control sites. An attempt was also made to demonstrate the negative effects of grass invasion on seedling establishment and diversity of native species by removal of grass cover and addition of smoke water. Phytometer results were inconclusive, but soil from city sites generally had higher total N than control sites for comparable amounts of organic matter, suggesting that N addition may be occurring. Total seedling emergence was significantly increased by removal of grass cover (p<0.001) and smoke water addition (p<0.05). The implications of our results for conservation of urban fynbos fragments are discussed and further, more detailed investigation of this topic is recommended.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationWilson, D. T. (1999). <i>Grass invasion in urban lowland fynbos fragments on the Cape Flats : does nutrient addition play a role?</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25608en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationWilson, Daniel T. <i>"Grass invasion in urban lowland fynbos fragments on the Cape Flats : does nutrient addition play a role?."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25608en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationWilson, D. 1999. Grass invasion in urban lowland fynbos fragments on the Cape Flats : does nutrient addition play a role?. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Wilson, Daniel T AB - Invasion by exotic grasses is a major threat to natural ecosystems in many parts of the world. On the Cape Flats in Cape Town, grasses were observed to be invading lowland fynbos fragments which are a high priority for conservation. The observation in other parts of the world that nutrient additions from deposition of airborne pollutants were responsible for increased dominance of grass in natural ecosystems led us to test whether this was the case on the Cape flats. Phytometers were used to gauge the favourability for growth of soils from urban sites compared to those from rural control sites. An attempt was also made to demonstrate the negative effects of grass invasion on seedling establishment and diversity of native species by removal of grass cover and addition of smoke water. Phytometer results were inconclusive, but soil from city sites generally had higher total N than control sites for comparable amounts of organic matter, suggesting that N addition may be occurring. Total seedling emergence was significantly increased by removal of grass cover (p&lt;0.001) and smoke water addition (p&lt;0.05). The implications of our results for conservation of urban fynbos fragments are discussed and further, more detailed investigation of this topic is recommended. DA - 1999 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1999 T1 - Grass invasion in urban lowland fynbos fragments on the Cape Flats : does nutrient addition play a role? TI - Grass invasion in urban lowland fynbos fragments on the Cape Flats : does nutrient addition play a role? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25608 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/25608
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationWilson DT. Grass invasion in urban lowland fynbos fragments on the Cape Flats : does nutrient addition play a role?. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1999 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25608en_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.otherStangeriaceaeen_ZA
dc.subject.otherBotanyen_ZA
dc.titleGrass invasion in urban lowland fynbos fragments on the Cape Flats : does nutrient addition play a role?en_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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