Light microsite requirements of seedlings of some Afromontane forest tree species: the role of canopy gaps promoting regeneration

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dc.contributor.advisorCowling, Richard Men_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVan Coller, Alanen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-10-30T13:47:20Z
dc.date.available2017-10-30T13:47:20Z
dc.date.issued1989en_ZA
dc.date.updated2017-03-09T14:43:05Z
dc.description.abstractPredictions of microsite requirements for seven common Afromontane forest tree species were made by testing above ground relative growth rate (RGR) and photosynthetic response of seedlings of the respective species under different light intensities. Virgilia oroboides and Halleria lucida, with either a very high photosynthetic rate or RGR, were regarded to be pioneer species. Podocarpus latifolius was regarded to be a deep shaded species due to its low photosynthetic and RGR's. Rapanea melanophloeos, Ilex mitis, Olea capensis sub Ssp. macrocarpa and Kiggelaria africana either had moderately high RGR or photosynthetic rate and were regarded to be light shaded species. Predictions were tested in Grootvadersbosch (34ᵒ05's,20ᵒ50'E) forest, where frequency of seedlings beneath the canopy and under a canopy gap were recorded and tested using a x²-goodness of fit test, against the null hypothesis that there are equal frequencies of seedlings beneath the canopy and canopy gaps. Results confirmed predictions made for latifolius, O. capensis sub sp. macrocarpa, and R. melanophloeos. Low seedling frequencies for the other species, either due to a restricted distribution of adult trees (e.g. V. oroboides) or high levels of herbivore attack, made it difficult to test predictions. Significantly higher frequencies of seedlings of P. latifolius and O. capensis sub sp. macrocarpa beneath the canopy than in the gap of dry forest suggest that gaps in drier forests are stressful sites for regeneration. This led to the hypothesis of expecting a greater dominance of shade tolerant species in the canopy of dry forests than in moist forests. McKenzie's (1978) findings support this hypothesis. It was concluded that Afromontane forests are largely made up of deep or light shaded tree species, with pioneer species confined to forest margins. The role of canopy gaps can be seen to play a minor role promoting regeneration.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationVan Coller, A. (1989). <i>Light microsite requirements of seedlings of some Afromontane forest tree species: the role of canopy gaps promoting regeneration</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25918en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationVan Coller, Alan. <i>"Light microsite requirements of seedlings of some Afromontane forest tree species: the role of canopy gaps promoting regeneration."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25918en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationVan Coller, A. 1989. Light microsite requirements of seedlings of some Afromontane forest tree species: the role of canopy gaps promoting regeneration. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Van Coller, Alan AB - Predictions of microsite requirements for seven common Afromontane forest tree species were made by testing above ground relative growth rate (RGR) and photosynthetic response of seedlings of the respective species under different light intensities. Virgilia oroboides and Halleria lucida, with either a very high photosynthetic rate or RGR, were regarded to be pioneer species. Podocarpus latifolius was regarded to be a deep shaded species due to its low photosynthetic and RGR's. Rapanea melanophloeos, Ilex mitis, Olea capensis sub Ssp. macrocarpa and Kiggelaria africana either had moderately high RGR or photosynthetic rate and were regarded to be light shaded species. Predictions were tested in Grootvadersbosch (34ᵒ05's,20ᵒ50'E) forest, where frequency of seedlings beneath the canopy and under a canopy gap were recorded and tested using a x²-goodness of fit test, against the null hypothesis that there are equal frequencies of seedlings beneath the canopy and canopy gaps. Results confirmed predictions made for latifolius, O. capensis sub sp. macrocarpa, and R. melanophloeos. Low seedling frequencies for the other species, either due to a restricted distribution of adult trees (e.g. V. oroboides) or high levels of herbivore attack, made it difficult to test predictions. Significantly higher frequencies of seedlings of P. latifolius and O. capensis sub sp. macrocarpa beneath the canopy than in the gap of dry forest suggest that gaps in drier forests are stressful sites for regeneration. This led to the hypothesis of expecting a greater dominance of shade tolerant species in the canopy of dry forests than in moist forests. McKenzie's (1978) findings support this hypothesis. It was concluded that Afromontane forests are largely made up of deep or light shaded tree species, with pioneer species confined to forest margins. The role of canopy gaps can be seen to play a minor role promoting regeneration. DA - 1989 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1989 T1 - Light microsite requirements of seedlings of some Afromontane forest tree species: the role of canopy gaps promoting regeneration TI - Light microsite requirements of seedlings of some Afromontane forest tree species: the role of canopy gaps promoting regeneration UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25918 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/25918
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationVan Coller A. Light microsite requirements of seedlings of some Afromontane forest tree species: the role of canopy gaps promoting regeneration. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1989 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25918en_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.otherPlant ecologyen_ZA
dc.titleLight microsite requirements of seedlings of some Afromontane forest tree species: the role of canopy gaps promoting regenerationen_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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