Implications of changing land use and introducing extralimital giraffe on vegetation in the subtropical thicket, South Africa
- Authors: Trafford, Bronwyn Kate
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Land-use change , Land use South Africa Eastern Cape , Tropical plants South Africa Eastern Cape , Vegetation change , Herbivory , Giraffe Food South Africa Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422356 , vital:71935
- Description: Land use change has increased in southern Africa as many livestock farms convert to game reserves, to restore degraded and overgrazed lands. This leads to a change in herbivore communities with potential positive and negative consequences for vegetation and landscape productivity. This study aimed to look at the effect of land use change and subsequent herbivore community changes, on thicket vegetation structure, composition, and landscape productivity. To attain the study objectives, data were collected from four game reserves and their adjacent livestock farms within the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. These sites were selected because they are within the Subtropical Thicket biome (similar vegetation) and were once used for livestock farming. At each study site, vegetation composition and structure were assessed using a unique bush clump sampling technique along fence line contrasts. Six plots were sampled at each site, three plots on the game reserve lands and three plots on the adjacent livestock farmlands during the dry (July/August 2020) and wet (January/February 2021) seasons. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), in-situ leaf area index (LAI) and the fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (FIPAR), were used to assess vegetation productivity between the two land use types. Additionally, diet of an extralimital herbivore, giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), was assessed during contrasting seasons (dry and wet) to infer the role this species might have on these landscapes. The diet of giraffes was assessed through field observations, recording plant species that giraffes were feeding on. Floristic results showed that there were no differences in vegetation structure, species composition and richness between the two land types. There was no difference in the overall diversity of plant species on the game reserves than in the adjacent livestock farms. The primary productivity was greater on the game reserves compared to the livestock farms. Field observations of giraffe feeding showed that they fed predominantly on Vachellia karroo followed by Searsia longispina. Their diets did not differ between the two seasons. My study provides an insight into the effects of changing land use and this information can be used to infer the extent to which these changes might have on restoration of degraded landscape and how land use changes may be effective in restoring the degraded thicket vegetation caused by overgrazing and overstocking of domestic livestock. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
- Authors: Trafford, Bronwyn Kate
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Land-use change , Land use South Africa Eastern Cape , Tropical plants South Africa Eastern Cape , Vegetation change , Herbivory , Giraffe Food South Africa Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422356 , vital:71935
- Description: Land use change has increased in southern Africa as many livestock farms convert to game reserves, to restore degraded and overgrazed lands. This leads to a change in herbivore communities with potential positive and negative consequences for vegetation and landscape productivity. This study aimed to look at the effect of land use change and subsequent herbivore community changes, on thicket vegetation structure, composition, and landscape productivity. To attain the study objectives, data were collected from four game reserves and their adjacent livestock farms within the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. These sites were selected because they are within the Subtropical Thicket biome (similar vegetation) and were once used for livestock farming. At each study site, vegetation composition and structure were assessed using a unique bush clump sampling technique along fence line contrasts. Six plots were sampled at each site, three plots on the game reserve lands and three plots on the adjacent livestock farmlands during the dry (July/August 2020) and wet (January/February 2021) seasons. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), in-situ leaf area index (LAI) and the fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (FIPAR), were used to assess vegetation productivity between the two land use types. Additionally, diet of an extralimital herbivore, giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), was assessed during contrasting seasons (dry and wet) to infer the role this species might have on these landscapes. The diet of giraffes was assessed through field observations, recording plant species that giraffes were feeding on. Floristic results showed that there were no differences in vegetation structure, species composition and richness between the two land types. There was no difference in the overall diversity of plant species on the game reserves than in the adjacent livestock farms. The primary productivity was greater on the game reserves compared to the livestock farms. Field observations of giraffe feeding showed that they fed predominantly on Vachellia karroo followed by Searsia longispina. Their diets did not differ between the two seasons. My study provides an insight into the effects of changing land use and this information can be used to infer the extent to which these changes might have on restoration of degraded landscape and how land use changes may be effective in restoring the degraded thicket vegetation caused by overgrazing and overstocking of domestic livestock. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
The distribution and perceptions of invasive alien plants in small towns in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa
- Authors: Seboko, Tshepiso Collen
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Invasive plants South Africa Eastern Cape , Land use South Africa Eastern Cape , Invasive plants Control South Africa Eastern Cape , Public opinion South Africa Eastern Cape , Urban ecology (Biology) South Africa Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:65669
- Description: Invasive alien plants (IAP) of different life forms have major effects on biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, economies, and livelihoods worldwide. There is evidence that IAP are rapidly increasing around the world, and the negative impacts associated with them are expected to worsen due to continuing land transformation, climate change, and urbanisation. Yet, information on the distribution, abundance, knowledge, and perceptions of IAP is limited, especially in small towns. Most previous research has largely focused on rural settings and larger cities, thus hindering the effective control and management of IAP in smaller urban settings. It is therefore important to assess the distribution of IAP to provide useful information to guide clearing and mitigation efforts to reduce the impacts and proliferation of IAP in smaller urban settings. Consequently, the aim of the study was to determine the distribution, composition, abundance, and perceptions of woody IAP in small towns in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa and assess how and why they may differ within and between towns. To achieve this aim, a drive by road survey was undertaken across all suburbs and land use types in 12 small towns located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The 12 randomly selected small towns were, Adelaide, Alexandria, Barkley East, Bedford, Burgersdorp, Cathcart, Kirkwood, Middelburg, Paterson, Somerset East, St. Francis Bay and Willowmore. All woody IAP visible from the surveyed roads were counted across all suburbs and land use types within each town. A total of 38 427 woody IAP were enumerated, with 56 species across different land use types and suburbs in all towns. Affluent suburbs accounted for 58% of the IAP enumerated, while the Reconstructed Development Programme (RDP) suburbs accounted for only 5%. In terms of the land use type, most of the IAP were encountered in the residential areas (54%), as compared to, road verges (32%) and public urban green spaces (PUGS) (14%). Of the 12 towns, Middleburg had the highest number of woody IAP, with 5 573 individuals, while Paterson had the lowest number with 947. The most common IAP species across all towns was Melia azedarach with 4 384 individuals, followed by Pinus elliotti (4 051), and Jacaranda mimosifolia (3 640). Spathodea campanulata, Ardisia crenata, and Parkinsonia aculeata had the lowest number of individuals with only two individuals each across all towns. This study also assessed the knowledge, perceptions, and willingness of urban residents to control IAP in their home yards using household surveys. A total of 240 household surveys were administered in the 12 towns. The results showed that more than half of the respondents (59%) had no knowledge of IAP, while 14% had neutral knowledge and only 2% had high knowledge. Forty percent of the respondents agreed that IAP pose a problem to the environment whilst 11% did not think IAP posed a problem to the environment, and 49% stated that they do not know. Most of the respondents (91%) perceived IAP positively, and stated that they benefit from the IAP, with the most mentioned benefit being shade (50%). Almost two-thirds of the respondents (65%) were willing to report on the IAP in their yards to the relevant authorities that deal with the control and management of IAP. Over half (56%) of the respondents were willing to have the IAP removed from their gardens, with the most stated reason for removal was because the IAP caused damage to property (13%). Respondents thought that the local government (35%) or district government (30%) should be responsible for the control and management of IAP. Overall, the study showed that IAP species were most common in residential land use type and affluent suburbs. These findings can assist the relevant authorities that deal with IAP, regarding which plant species, suburbs, and land use types to prioritise regarding awareness and investment for control and management. This will also help explore alternative indigenous species that can be used as replacements that may offer the same benefits derived from IAP by urban residents. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Seboko, Tshepiso Collen
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Invasive plants South Africa Eastern Cape , Land use South Africa Eastern Cape , Invasive plants Control South Africa Eastern Cape , Public opinion South Africa Eastern Cape , Urban ecology (Biology) South Africa Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:65669
- Description: Invasive alien plants (IAP) of different life forms have major effects on biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, economies, and livelihoods worldwide. There is evidence that IAP are rapidly increasing around the world, and the negative impacts associated with them are expected to worsen due to continuing land transformation, climate change, and urbanisation. Yet, information on the distribution, abundance, knowledge, and perceptions of IAP is limited, especially in small towns. Most previous research has largely focused on rural settings and larger cities, thus hindering the effective control and management of IAP in smaller urban settings. It is therefore important to assess the distribution of IAP to provide useful information to guide clearing and mitigation efforts to reduce the impacts and proliferation of IAP in smaller urban settings. Consequently, the aim of the study was to determine the distribution, composition, abundance, and perceptions of woody IAP in small towns in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa and assess how and why they may differ within and between towns. To achieve this aim, a drive by road survey was undertaken across all suburbs and land use types in 12 small towns located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The 12 randomly selected small towns were, Adelaide, Alexandria, Barkley East, Bedford, Burgersdorp, Cathcart, Kirkwood, Middelburg, Paterson, Somerset East, St. Francis Bay and Willowmore. All woody IAP visible from the surveyed roads were counted across all suburbs and land use types within each town. A total of 38 427 woody IAP were enumerated, with 56 species across different land use types and suburbs in all towns. Affluent suburbs accounted for 58% of the IAP enumerated, while the Reconstructed Development Programme (RDP) suburbs accounted for only 5%. In terms of the land use type, most of the IAP were encountered in the residential areas (54%), as compared to, road verges (32%) and public urban green spaces (PUGS) (14%). Of the 12 towns, Middleburg had the highest number of woody IAP, with 5 573 individuals, while Paterson had the lowest number with 947. The most common IAP species across all towns was Melia azedarach with 4 384 individuals, followed by Pinus elliotti (4 051), and Jacaranda mimosifolia (3 640). Spathodea campanulata, Ardisia crenata, and Parkinsonia aculeata had the lowest number of individuals with only two individuals each across all towns. This study also assessed the knowledge, perceptions, and willingness of urban residents to control IAP in their home yards using household surveys. A total of 240 household surveys were administered in the 12 towns. The results showed that more than half of the respondents (59%) had no knowledge of IAP, while 14% had neutral knowledge and only 2% had high knowledge. Forty percent of the respondents agreed that IAP pose a problem to the environment whilst 11% did not think IAP posed a problem to the environment, and 49% stated that they do not know. Most of the respondents (91%) perceived IAP positively, and stated that they benefit from the IAP, with the most mentioned benefit being shade (50%). Almost two-thirds of the respondents (65%) were willing to report on the IAP in their yards to the relevant authorities that deal with the control and management of IAP. Over half (56%) of the respondents were willing to have the IAP removed from their gardens, with the most stated reason for removal was because the IAP caused damage to property (13%). Respondents thought that the local government (35%) or district government (30%) should be responsible for the control and management of IAP. Overall, the study showed that IAP species were most common in residential land use type and affluent suburbs. These findings can assist the relevant authorities that deal with IAP, regarding which plant species, suburbs, and land use types to prioritise regarding awareness and investment for control and management. This will also help explore alternative indigenous species that can be used as replacements that may offer the same benefits derived from IAP by urban residents. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
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