Abstract
The coastal thicket and dune vegetation of Andrew’s Field and Tsaba-Tsaba Nature Reserve was classified using Braun-Blanquet procedures and TWINSPAN. The vegetation was sampled using 74 randomly stratified sample plots. The floristic composition, cover- abundance of each species, and several environmental variables were recorded in each sample plot. Six plant communities were identified, namely, Rhus glauca - Euclea racemosa low to tall closed thicket community; Chrysanthemoides monilifera - Solanum africanum low closed dune shrub community; Chrysanthemoides monilifera - Ehrharta villosa var. maxima low to high closed dune shrub community; Ehrharta villosa var. maxima low to short closed dune grassland community; Ammophila arenaria low to short closed dune grassland community; and Arcthotheca populifolia - Thinopyrum distichum low to short open beach community. These were subdivided into eight subcommunities and four variants. All communities, sub-communities and variants were described and ecologically interpreted. The distribution of the communities, sub-communities and variants can mainly be ascribed to differences in landform, rockiness of the soil surface the degree of protection / exposure of the vegetation to the dominating winds of the area.
Highlights
A sound knowledge of the ecology of the area is an essential prerequisite for the establishment of efficient wildlife management programmes and compilation of conservation policies for any area (Edwards 1972)
To obtain knowledge of the ecology of the study area, a study of the vegetation of the area should be made at the plant community level of organisation (Bredenkamp & Brown 2001)
Relevés were compiled in 74 stratified sample plots, placed in relatively homogeneous areas, representative of particular plant communities that occur in a mosaic distribution pattern
Summary
A sound knowledge of the ecology of the area is an essential prerequisite for the establishment of efficient wildlife management programmes and compilation of conservation policies for any area (Edwards 1972). Vegetation science has been applied in the fields of nature conservation for years, but recent developments relate to the application of plant ecological knowledge to environmental management (Scheepers 1983). Bredenkamp & Brown (2001) emphasise the use of plant communities as a reliable basis for any ecological planning and management. To obtain knowledge of the ecology of the study area, a study of the vegetation of the area should be made at the plant community level of organisation (Bredenkamp & Brown 2001). Studying the vegetation of an area allows the identification, description and classification of plant communities. Vegetation studies allow the identification of ecologically sensitive areas, bush encroached areas or areas infested with alien plants, degraded areas, habitats of rare or endangered plant species, and habitats of specific animals
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