Ecological status of species on grazing gradients on the shallow soils of the western grassland biome in South Africa

Abstract

Grasses on the shallow soils of the western grassland biome of South Africa were classified on their ecological status on the basis of their reaction to grazing. Vegetation data were gathered in such a way that those of different successional stages could be identified. An ordination technique was used to define the grazing gradient. Species abundance curves were statistically fitted to the grazing gradient and used to classify the species into decreaser and increaser categories. Keywords: bc land type; degradation; ecological status; grasses; grassland; grassland biome; grazing; grazing gradients; ordination; south africa; species abundance; succession; technique; veld condition assessment; western transvaal