Abstract
Within the framework of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA), the purpose of this study was to produce a classification of the woody vegetation of the Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe, and a map of its potential distribution. Cover-abundance data of woody species were collected in 330 georeferenced relevés across the Park. These data were used to produce two matrices: the first one using the cover-abundance values as collected in five height layers and the second one based on merging the layers into a single cover value for each species. Automatic classifications were produced for both matrices to determine the optimal number of vegetation types. The two classification approaches both produced 14 types belonging to three macro-groups: mopane, miombo and alluvial woodlands. The results of the two classifications were compared looking at the constant, dominant and diagnostic species of each type. The classification based on separate layers was considered more effective and retained. A high-resolution map of the potential distribution of vegetation types for the whole study area was produced using Random Forest. In the model, the relationship between bioclimatic and topographic variables, known to be correlated to vegetation types, and the classified relevés was used. Identified vegetation types were compared with those of other national parks within the GLTFCA, and an evaluation of the main threats and pressures was conducted.Conservation implications: Vegetation classification and mapping are useful tools for multiple purposes including: surveying and monitoring plant and animal populations, communities and their habitats, and development of management and conservation strategies. Filling the knowledge gap for the Gonarezhou National Park provides a basis for standardised and homogeneous vegetation classification and mapping for the entire Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Highlights
Samples were classified into 14 groups or vegetation types
While the type includes a number of typical mopane constant species (Cassia abbreviata s. beareana, Cissus cornifolia, Combretum mossambicense, Dichrostachys cinerea s. africana, Flueggea virosa s. virosa, Maerua parvifolia and Markhamia zanzibarica), it shares a number of constant species that are characteristic of the miombo woodlands (Strychnos madagascariensis and Xeroderris stuhlmannii, plus Combretum zeyheri, Lannea schweinfurthii v. stuhlmannii, Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia, Sclerocarya birrea s. caffra, Terminalia sericea and Xeroderris stuhlmannii)
The only dominant species is Cordyla africana, but there are a high number of constant species: Acacia tortilis s. heteracantha, Berchemia discolor, Boscia mossambicensis, Capparis sepiaria v. subglabra, Capparis tomentosa, Cleistochlamys kirkii, Combretum imberbe, Combretum mossambicense, Cordyla africana, Croton megalobotrys, Deinbollia xanthocarpa, Diospyros loureiriana s. loureiriana, Diospyros mespiliformis, Drypetes mossambicensis, Flueggea virosa s. virosa, Kigelia africana, Maclura africana, Philenoptera violacea, Tabernaemontana elegans, Thilachium africanum and Xanthocercis zambesiaca. Most of these are unique to the alluvial woodlands, other than Combretum imberbe, Combretum mossambicense, Diospyros loureiriana s. loureiriana, Drypetes mossambicensis, Flueggea virosa s. virosa, Philenoptera violacea, which are shared predominantly with the mopane types and a few species with the miombo types (Combretum mossambicense and Drypetes mossambicensis)
Summary
Samples were classified into 14 groups or vegetation types. In terms of species composition these form three main clusters: mopane woodlands (seven types, including one type transitional with miombo woodland), miombo woodlands (six types), plus alluvial woodland (one type). While the type includes a number of typical mopane constant species Virosa, Maerua parvifolia and Markhamia zanzibarica), it shares a number of constant species that are characteristic of the miombo woodlands Constant species include: Xeroderris stuhlmannii (five types), Cassia abbreviata s. Other species which achieve high (> 75%) constancy levels, but in a more limited number of types, include Androstachys johnsonii, Boscia angustifolia v. Virosa, Kigelia africana, Maclura africana, Philenoptera violacea, Tabernaemontana elegans, Thilachium africanum and Xanthocercis zambesiaca Most of these are unique to the alluvial woodlands, other than Combretum imberbe, Combretum mossambicense, Diospyros loureiriana s. Virosa, Philenoptera violacea, which are shared predominantly with the mopane types and a few species with the miombo types (Combretum mossambicense and Drypetes mossambicensis) Most of these are unique to the alluvial woodlands, other than Combretum imberbe, Combretum mossambicense, Diospyros loureiriana s. loureiriana, Drypetes mossambicensis, Flueggea virosa s. virosa, Philenoptera violacea, which are shared predominantly with the mopane types and a few species with the miombo types (Combretum mossambicense and Drypetes mossambicensis)
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