Is local plant extinction a product of mutualism breakdown? A case study of the Namaqualand spring flora
| dc.contributor.advisor | Bond, William | |
| dc.contributor.author | Smuts, Rowena | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-12-07T11:38:01Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-12-07T11:38:01Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1994 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2021-12-07T11:23:37Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | A mutualism-centred risk assessment model, proposed by Bond (1993), was used to predict which plant species are vulnerable to extinction in the absence of insect pollinators. The predictions of this model were then compared with actual plant species compositions between adjacent disturbed and undisturbed sites in a Namaqualand flowering community. It was found that autogamous annuals were at the lowest risk of extinction and were consequently abundant in disturbed lands. Geophytes were completely eliminated by ploughing, however, the cause of their local extinction is not necessarily due to mutualism breakdown and may be explained by a lack of seed banks. The model was shown to be useful for predicting distribution patterns for annuals. However, further studies of seed banks, germination cues and colonisation success are necessary to make predictions for the geophytic species. The study illuminated the fact that both plant and associated insect species diversity decline rapidly in disturbed areas and that the elimination of insects, by ploughing, may lead to extensive loss of plant species. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Smuts, R. (1994). <i>Is local plant extinction a product of mutualism breakdown? A case study of the Namaqualand spring flora</i>. (). ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35432 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Smuts, Rowena. <i>"Is local plant extinction a product of mutualism breakdown? A case study of the Namaqualand spring flora."</i> ., ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35432 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Smuts, R. 1994. Is local plant extinction a product of mutualism breakdown? A case study of the Namaqualand spring flora. . ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35432 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis AU - Smuts, Rowena AB - A mutualism-centred risk assessment model, proposed by Bond (1993), was used to predict which plant species are vulnerable to extinction in the absence of insect pollinators. The predictions of this model were then compared with actual plant species compositions between adjacent disturbed and undisturbed sites in a Namaqualand flowering community. It was found that autogamous annuals were at the lowest risk of extinction and were consequently abundant in disturbed lands. Geophytes were completely eliminated by ploughing, however, the cause of their local extinction is not necessarily due to mutualism breakdown and may be explained by a lack of seed banks. The model was shown to be useful for predicting distribution patterns for annuals. However, further studies of seed banks, germination cues and colonisation success are necessary to make predictions for the geophytic species. The study illuminated the fact that both plant and associated insect species diversity decline rapidly in disturbed areas and that the elimination of insects, by ploughing, may lead to extensive loss of plant species. DA - 1994 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Flora LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 1994 T1 - Is local plant extinction a product of mutualism breakdown? A case study of the Namaqualand spring flora TI - Is local plant extinction a product of mutualism breakdown? A case study of the Namaqualand spring flora UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35432 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35432 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Smuts R. Is local plant extinction a product of mutualism breakdown? A case study of the Namaqualand spring flora. []. ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1994 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35432 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Biological Sciences | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Science | |
| dc.subject | Flora | |
| dc.title | Is local plant extinction a product of mutualism breakdown? A case study of the Namaqualand spring flora | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Other | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | BSc |