Abstract
Natural vegetation in urban environments is greatly impacted by human activities and it is in constant threat of degradation and destruction as a result of urbanisation. This vegetation, although fragmented, serves an important ecological function and needs to be properly managed and conserved. Studies on urban vegetation are lacking in South Africa, with only a handful having been carried out since the end of the last century. This study was initiated to identify, classify and describe the grassland communities of the urban open spaces in Bloemfontein. Relevés were compiled in 61 sample plots, where species present and habitat information were recorded. Care was taken to restrict sample plots to vegetation in pristine condition, wherever possible, and severely degraded stands were avoided. A two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed two distinct major communities, seven communities and four sub-communities. Both detrended and canonical correspondence analyses indicated the vegetation units to be associated with soil texture and pH, although biotic factors such as overgrazing, burning and mowing also influence the composition of the vegetation. The proper management and conservation of urban open spaces requires in-depth knowledge of the spatial distribution, floristic, structural and functional compositions within the major vegetation types in this environment. The present study further contributed towards formulating ways for the proper management, utilisation and functioning of the open spaces within the Bloemfontein area.Conservation implications: The Grassland Biome of South Africa is poorly conserved, mainly because of its status as an agricultural hub of the country. The preservation of natural and semi-natural forms of urban vegetation is important because such vegetation, although often disturbed and degraded, could form dispersal corridors between peri-urban and rural vegetation.
Highlights
Bloemfontein lies within the Grassland Biome (Rutherford & Westfall 1994) and is classified by Acocks (1988) as part of the Dry Cymbopogon – Themeda Veld (VT 50)
Natural and semi-natural vegetation is constantly impacted by urban development and, according to Low and Rebelo (1996), many of the natural areas in the biome have been lost as a result of urbanisation
The grassland communities of the Bloemfontein area are classified as Bloemfontein Dry Grassland by Mucina et al (2006) The vegetation is dominated by T. triandra, a companion species with a wide ecological amplitude and Eragrostis lehmanniana as a typical associate
Summary
Bloemfontein lies within the Grassland Biome (Rutherford & Westfall 1994) and is classified by Acocks (1988) as part of the Dry Cymbopogon – Themeda Veld (VT 50). Bloemfontein is situated in a semi-arid region, where precipitation is low and highly variable (Noy-Meir 1973; Sala & Lauenroth 1982). The Grassland Biome of South Africa is an important agricultural region, especially for the intensive production of crops such as maize and wheat (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2010). It is important for extensive stock farming; mainly for dairy, beef and wool production. Natural and semi-natural vegetation is constantly impacted by urban development and, according to Low and Rebelo (1996), many of the natural areas in the biome have been lost as a result of urbanisation. In recognition of the poor conservation status of the biome, Cohen and Hugo (1986) emphasise the importance of conservation outside officially designated nature reserves, such as in urban open spaces
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