Phytosociology, Vegetation Structure and Landscapes of the ... · 6.4 Sclerocarva caffra - Acacia...

DISSERTATIONES BOTANIC^BAND 69

Phytosociology, Vegetation Structureand Landscapes

of the Central District, Kruger National ParkSouth Africa

REl

(03

by

BEN JOHAN COETZEE

UNIVERSITATS-BIBLIOTHEK

1983 • J. CRAMERIn der A.R. Gantner Verlag Kommanditgesellschaft

FL-9490 VADUZ

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CONTENTS

Preface Page

Abstract

Acknowledgements

I. INTRODUCTION 1

Historical perspective 1Scope 5

1. Phytosociologioal classification 52. Structural classification 93. Classification of landscapes 10

II. VEGETATION OF THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AND ITS CENTRALDISTRICT IN BROAD ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE 13

Climate 13Physiography 15Bushveld 18Kruger National Park Vegetation 24

Four major dimensions of variation 24

1. Rainfall 242. The phytogeographical importance of temperature 263. Geologically controlled topography and substrate 28t. Rivers and streams 30

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Page

Twenty major vegetation regions 31

A. Azonal region 31

1. Riparian ' 31

B. Subhumid Regions 32

2. Subhumid Plains 32

3. Southern Subhumid Hills and Mountains 32I. Northern Subhumid Hills and Mountains 32

C. Semi-arid Regions 33

5. Semi-arid Granitic Plains 336. Semi-arid Amphlbolitic and Andesitic Plains 347. Semi-arid Doloritic Plains 348. Semi-arid Basaltic Plains 359. Semi-arid Karoo Sediment Plains 3510. Semi-arid Sand Plateau 35II. Semi-arid Hills and Inselberge 36

D. Arid Regions 36

12. Arid Granitic Plains 3613. Arid Doloritic Plains 3711. Arid Basaltic Plains 3715. Arid Karoo Sediment Plains 3716. Southern Spiny Arid Bushveld 3817. Northern Spiny Arid Bushveld 3818. Arid Sand Plateau 3919. Arid Sandstone Hills 3920. Arid Inselberge, Ridges and Rhyolitic Range 40

The Central District 41

III. PHYTOSOCIOLOGY AND VEGETATION STRUCTURE (1): 42METHODS

Data gathering 42

Phytosoeiological table structuring 47

Syntaxonomic considerations 54

Structural classification of vegetation 57

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PHYTOSOCIOLOGY AND VEGETATION STRUCTURE (2):RESULTS 66

SYNOPTIC SPECIES CLASSIFICATION 66

PLANT COMMUNITIES 71

CHLORICO VIRGATAE - JUSTICEION FLAVAE 71(Allliance on deflocculated soil)

1 . Eucleo divinori - Acacietum welwitschii 762. Justiceo flavae - Albizietum petersianae 803. Pupalio lapaceae - Acacietum nigrescentis 841. Albizio harveyi - Eucleetum divinori 87

POGONARTHRIO SQUARROSAE - COMBRETION APICULATI 90(Alliance on mesic sand)

5. Perotido patentis - Terminalietum sericeae 926. Diheteropogono amplectentis - Ozoroetum engleri 100

ALLIANCE UNSPECIFIED

7. Themedo triandrae - Acacietum gerrardii 108(Association on mesic clay)

8. Acacietum gerrardio - tortilis 119(Association on moderately dry clay)

ACACIO NIGRESCENTIS - GREWION BICOLORIS 127(Alliance of arid habitats)

9. Themedo triandrae - Grewietum bicoloris 130

10. Boscio albltruncae - Terminalietum prunioldis 139

ALLIANCE UNSPECIFIED

11. Acacio nigrescentis - Setarietum woodii 143

ALLIANCE UNSPECIFIED12. Androstachyetum 147

(Association of low rainfall areas withheavy winter fog)

Page

LANDSCAPES (1): CONCEPTS AND METHODS 156

Introduction 156

Landscapes as ecosystems 153

Landscape data 159

Data processing 159

Correspondence Analysis 160

LANDSCAPES (2): RESULTS OF ORDINATION OF HERBIVORESAND LANDSCAPES 1°3

Introduction

Presentation of results

First Correspondence Analysis

Axis 2 (Buffalo Breeding Herds)Axis H (Elephant Breeding Herds)

Second Correspondence Analysis

Axis 1ImpalaZebra and Blue WildebeestOstrich, Tsessebe, and Kudu Breeding Herds

Axis 2Kudu Breeding Herds, Kudu Bulls and UaterbuckTsessebe, Warthog and Blue WildebeestGround Hornbill

Axis 3SableWarthogWaterbuckReedbuck

Axis H 4 5

Detrended Correspondence Analysis

Axis 1

Axis 2Sable, Warthog and White RhinoKaterbuck, Kudu, Zebra and FleedbuckComparison of Axi3 2 with previous analysis

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LANDSCAPES (3): DESCRIPTION OF CLIMATE, PHYSIO-GRAPHIC AND VEGETATION PATTERNS, AND MEDIUM TOLARGE HERBIVORE FAUNA 190

Tropical Arid Granitic Lowveld of the Sable

River Valley 191

Introduction 191

Physiographic pattern 192

Vegetation pattern 1941.1 Acacia exuvialls - A- tortilis - Grewia spp.

- Dichrostachvs cinerea - Ziziphus mucronata

-dominated brushveld and treeveld of crestsand middleslopes with poorly developed soils

1.2 Sclerocarva oaffra - Combretum apioulatum -dominated brushveld and treeveld of crestsand middleslopes with moderatelywell-developed soils

1.3 Acacia nicrescens - Combretum zevheri z_ £.apiculatum - dominated treeveld ofwell-drained, sandy lower slopes

1.4 Acacia grandicornuta - dominated brushveldand treeveld of bottomlands with sodic,duplex soils

1.5 Riparian bush and thicket and reed stands ofseasonal river beds

Fauna 198

Tropical Semi-Arid Granitic Lowveld 198

Introduction 198


Vegetation pattern 203

2.1 Vegetation of bouldery hills

2.2 Combretum zevheri - Pterocarpusrotundifolius - Terminalia sericeadominated treeveld and brushveld of crestswith deep sandy soils

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2.3 Combretum aplculatum - dominated treeveldand brushveld of crests with relativelyshallow sandy soils

2.4 Grassveld on high pH duplex soils withloose, granular A horizons

2.5 Euolea divinorum - dominated sparsebrushveld on bottomland duplex soils withmassive A horizons

2.6 Acacia gerrardii - dominated brushveld andtreeveld on well-drained relatively low pHduplex soils with loose, granular A horizons

2.7 Pterooarpus rotundifolius - Combretumhereroense - Peltophorum africanumBolusanthus soeciosus - Mavtenusheterophvlla - Acacia niarescens - A-gerrardii - Sclerocarva eaffra - dominatedbrushveld and treeveld of non-duplexbottomland soils

2.8 Drainage line vegetation

Fauna 208

Tropical Semi-arid Doloritic Lowveld 209

Introduction 209



3.1 Outcrop vegetation

3.2 Lannea stuhlmannii - Pterocarpusrotundifolius - Themeda triandra - dominatedsparsely shrubby, sparse brushveld or sparetreeveld of level doloritic plateaux withrelatively clayey A or deep clay B horizons

3.3 Acacia nlgrescens - various spp. - Themedatriandra - dominated shrubby, brushy,treeveld of doloritic crests andmiddleslopes with sandy clay loam and sandyclay B horizons

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3.4 Combretum apiculatum - and £..dominated shrubby brushveld and shrubby,brushy treeveld of enclaves of graniticcrests on predominantly doloritic plains

3.5 Acacia nigrescens - Combretum apiculatum -Digjtaria eriantha - Aristida spp. -((Sporobolus fimbriatus and Panicum maximum)or Bothriochloa radicans) - dominatedshrubby, brushy treeveld on crests andmiddleslopes on doloritic plains with stronggranitic influence

3.6 Moderately shrubby to scrubby, shrubveld,scrub, brushveld or treeveld of doloriticfootslopes

3.7 Themeda triandra - Panicum coloratum -DiEltaria eriantha - dominated grassveld ofrelatively non-sodic doloritio bottomlands

3.8 Dactvloctaenium aegypteum - characterizedgrassveld and shrubveld of doloriticbottomlands that are sodic with stronggranitic influence

3.9 Spruit complex

Fauna 220

Tropical Semi-arid Karoo Sediment Lowveld 221

Introduction 221



4.1 Sandstone outcrop vegetation

4.2 Terminalia sericea - dominated brushveld onsingle grain structureless soils of uplandsandstone sites

4.3 Combretum zevheri - dominated brushveld andtreeveld of near-upper slopes

4.4 Dichrostachvs cinerea - dominated brushveld,thicket and treeveld, on Clovelly Form soilswith massive, structureless A- and/orB-horizons and on some soils of the Pinedeneand Sterkspruit forms

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4.5 Albizia peterslana - dominated brushveld,thicket and treeveld on Mispah and HuttonForm soils with massive, structureless A-and/or B-horizons and on some soils of thePlnedene and Sterkspruit Forms

4.6

4.7

4.8

Fauna

Acacia welwitschii - dominated treeveld onlevel bottomland duplex soils

Acacia welwitschii - Spirostachvs afrlcana -Euclea dlvinorum - dominated floodplainvegetation

Spruit complex

5. Tropical Semi-arid Lowveld on Karoo Sedimentanticline with dolorite

Introduction

Physiographic pattern

Vegetation pattern

5.1 Sandstone outcrop vegetation

5.2 Grewia bicolor - Acacia tortilis - Schmidtiapappophoroides - dominated shrubveld andbrushveld of relatively shallow and sandysoils

5.3 Dichrostachvs cinerea - Digitaria eriantha -Soorobolus fimbriatis - Panicum maximum -Eragrostis rieidior - dominated brushveldand shrubveld of relatively deep and sandysoils

5.4 Combretum hereoense - Dichrostachvs cinerea- Panicum maximum Digitaria eriantha -dominated shrubveld of relatively clayeysoils

232

233

233

235

238

maximum - Digitaria eriantha - Themedatriandra - Bothriochloa radicans - dominatedshrubveld of relatively clayey soils

6 Grassveld of broad, flat relatively clayey,drainage beds, presumably on doloritic dykes

5.7 Acacia welwitschii - dominated treeveld andscattered trees of flat, level upland siteswith sodic influence

5.8 Spirostachvs africana - Acacia welwitschii -dominated treeveld and bush along the sodicdrainage lines of the upper Guweni Spruitand parts of the Shituntweni-NwatinunguSpruit system

5.9 Drainage line complexes of the Mrunzuluku,Marheya and Sweni Spruits and parts of theShituntweni-Nwatinungu Spruit system

Fauna 246

Non-Vertic Tropical Semi-arid Basaltic Lowveld 247

Introduction 247

Physiographic and grazing pattern 247


6.1 Acacia gerrardii - dominated brushveld ofwide plateau divides

6.2 Sclerocarva caffra - (Dichrostachvscinerea or Pterocarous rotundifolius)Themeda triandra - dominated treeveld, withrelatively mesio indicator species (e.g.Albizia harvevi. Acacia gerrardii. Mavtenusheterophvlla. Ximenia caffra. Heteropogoncontortus. Vernonia oligocephala . Rhvnchoslaminima. Chascanum hederaceum), of lightlygrazed, gently undulating basaltic terrainwith comparatively low pH and lowconductivity soils, in the relatively highrainfall region south of Tshokwane

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6.3 Solerocarva caffra - Acacia nigresoens -Themeda triandra - Bothriochloa radlcans -dominated treeveld of lightly grazed gentlyundulating basaltic terrain withcomparatively high pH and - highconductivity soils and A horizon claycontent exceeding 20 per cent, in therelatively low rainfall region north ofTshokwane

6.4 Sclerocarva caffra - Acacia nlgreseens-Combretum hereroense - Digitaria eriantha -Panicum maximum - Soorobolus fimbriatus -dominated shrubby, brushy, treeveld oflightly grazed, gently undulating terrainwith strong sandstone influence and lessthan 15 per cent clay in A horizon

6.5 Solerocarva caffra - Dichrostachvs cinerea -dominated shrubby, brushy treeveld, andgrassveld with scattered Dichrostachvscinerea - dominated shrub and brush; withThemeda triandra - Panicum coloratum -Bothriochloa radicans - Digitaria eriantha -dominated field layers; and with relativelyxerio indicator species (e.g. Acacianigrescens • A. tortilis. Securinega virosa.Chloris vlrgata. Heliotrooium steudnerl andBoerhavia bracteosa) : of lightly grazed,gently undulating terrain with moderatesandstone influence and 15-20 per cent clayin A horizon

6.6 Solerocarva caffra - Acacia nigrescens -Combretum apiculatum or Acacia exuvialis -Bothriochloa radicans - Themeda triandra -dominated treeveld of relatively stronglyundulating, non-rocky, basaltic terrain

6.7 Acacia nigrescens - Grewla blcolor -Termlnalia prunioides - Combretum apiculatum

dominated brushveld associated withextremely shallow soils where sheet outcropis common and with strongly undulatingterrain

6.8 Dichrostachvs cinerea - Acacia tortilis -dominated shrubveld and brushveld of heavilygrazed upland sites

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6.9 Grewia bicolor - Acacia tortilis - A.nigrescens - dominated brushveld of heavilygrazed bottomlands

6.10 Dalbercia melanoxvlon - Combretum imberbe -Lannea stuhlmannii - dominated treeveld,brushveld and shrubveld of lightly grazed,non-vertic, non-sodic, bottomlands that aremoderately dry with relatively high soilconductivity and relatively low pH

6.11 Themeda triandra - Panicum coloratum -dominated grassveld with scattered Albiziaharvevi shrubs, and Albizia harvevi -Diohrostachvs cinerea - Themeda triandra -dominated shrubveld and brushveld of lightlygrazed, non-vertic non-sodic bottomlandsthat are mesic with relatively low soilconductivity and relatively high pH

6.12 Acacia nigrescens - dominated brushveld ofvertic and near-vertio bottomlands

6.13 Euclea dlvinorum - Sporobolus smutsii -Trianthema triauetra - dominated vegetationof sodic bottomlands

6.14 Vlei, spruit and river complex

Fauna 275

Vertic Tropical Semi-arid Basaltic Lowveld 279

Introduction 279



7.1 Themeda triandra - Bothriochloa radicans -Digitaria eriantha - dominated grassveld \inhigh terrain with non-vertic non-calcareoussoils of the Swartland, Mayo and Bonheimforms

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7.2 Acacia nigrescens - Themeda triandra -Bothriochloa radicans - Panicum coloratum -Digitaria eriantha - dominated shrubbybrushveld of upper-middleslope terrain withnon-vertic, non-calcareous soils of theGlenrosa, Mayo and Bonheim forms

7.3 Acacia nigrescens - Panicum maximumSetaria woodii - Ischaemum brachvaterum -Digitaria eriantha - dominated shrubbybrushveld of lower mlddleslope terrain withnon-calcareous to calcareous vertisols ofthe Arcadia Form

7.4 Panicum maximum - Setaria woodii - dominatedgrassveld of moderately poorly drained lowterrain with calcareous vertisols of theArcadia Form

7.5 Tetrapogon mossambicensis - dominatedgrassveld, with Acacia borleae scrubclumps,of poorly drained broad, level bottomlandswith vertisols of the Arcadia Form

7.6 Lonchocarpus caoassa - dominated treeveld oflevees

7.7 Soorobolus consimilis - dominated grassveldof vleis

Fauna 286

Tropical Arid Basaltic Lowveld of the OlifantsRiver Valley 287

Introduction 287



8.1 Acacia nierescens - Grewia bicolor -dominated brushveld of non-rocky,non-stoney, gently undulating areas withMayo and Glenrosa Form soils

8.2 Outcrop - associated vegetation of stronglyundulating areas

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8.3 Terminalia prunloldes - Combretum apiculatum- Acacia nigrescens - A*, exuvlalis -dominated brushveld of strongly undulatingareas with stoney Mispah Form soils and lowoutcrop

8.4 Terminalia prunioides - Schmidtiapappophoroldes - dominated brushveld of theundulating alluvial banks of the OlifantsRiver

8.5 Sporobolus smutsii - dominated grassveld ofsodic bottomlands

8.6 Spruit and river complex

Fauna 296

9. Tropical Semi-arid Rhyolitic and Granophyric

Lowveld 298

Introduction 298



9.1 Outcrop vegetation9.2 Acacia erubescens - Combretum apiculatum -

dominated brushveld of summits and gentle tomoderate upper slopes with litholitic soilsand intermittant, vertically inclined,amygdaloid, low rhyolitic outcrop

9.3 Combretum apiculatum - Themeda triandra -Digitaria eriantha - Andropoaon gavanus -dominated dense brushveld and thicket ofsummits and gentle to moderate upper slopeswith extremely shallow litholitic soils andintermittant, horizontally bedded,non-amygdaloid, low rhyolitic outcrop

9.4 Combretum apiculatum - Pterocarpusrotundifolius - Themeda triandra - Digitariaeriantha - Brachiaria nigropedatadominated sparse to moderate shrubveld andbrushveld of summits and gentle to moderateupper slopes with loose litholitic soils andintermittant, horizontally bedded,non-amygdaloid, low rhyolitic outcrop

9.5 Combretum apiculatum - Arlstida spp.dominated sparse shrubveld and sparsebrushveld with Mundulea serlcea • of smallplateaux and terraces with hard, panlikesurfaces, litholitic soils and intermittant,horizontally bedded, non-amygdaloid, lowrhyolitic outcrop

9.6 Combretum apiculatum - Digitaria eriantha -Panicum maximum - £j_ deustum - dominatedmoderate to dense brushveld and shrubby,brushy sparse treeveld of moderate to steepmiddleslopes with scattered, low brokenoutcrop

9.7 Acacia nigrescens - Sclerocarva caffra -Combretum apiculatum - Panicum maximum -dominated shrubby, densely brushy, sparse tomoderate treeveld of steep granophyricmiddleslopes with relatively high pH, lowconductivity, deep litholitic soils

9.8 Combretum zevheri - Themeda triandra -Digitaria eriantha - Andropogon gavanus -Braehiaria serrata - dominated densebrushveld, thicket and shrubby, brushytreeveld of moderately steep to steep,stoney rhyolitic middleslopes and footslopeswith relatively low pH, high conductivity,deep (non-rocky) litholitic soils

9.9 Acacia nigrescens - Panicum maximum -dominated treeveld with scattered shrub andbrush, of moderate, non-stoney footslopeswith relatively low pH, moderately highconductivity, sandy clay loam soils

9.10 Acacia gerrardii - Panicum maximum -dominated dense brushveld and thicket ofmoderate to moderately steep, non-stoneyfootslopes with relatively low pH, highconductivity, sandy loam and silty loamsoils

9.11 Euclea divinorum - Sporobolus smutsii -dominated grassveld, shrubveld and brushveldof level, sodic bottomlands


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Fauna 312

10. Zonal Tropical Arid Rhyolitic Lowveld 314

Introduction 314Physiographic pattern 315Vegetation pattern 316

10.1 Combretum apiculatum - dominated denselyshrubby, dense brushveld of summits andwaxing slopes

10.2 Boludery outcrop vegetation

10.3 Acacia nigrescens - Panicum maximum -dominated treeveld of upper and middlepediment slopes

10.4 Colophospermum mo-pane - dominated shrubveldand shrubby, brushy, treeveld of upper tomiddle pediment slopes

10.5 Acacia nigrescens - Grewia bicolor -Bothrioohloa radicans - dominated brushveldof lower pediment slopes

10.6 Spruit complex

Fauna 320

11. Tropical Arid Rhyolitic Lowveld of the Olifants

River Valley 321

Introduction 321


Vegetation pattern 32311.1 Androstachvs iohnsonii - dominated brushveld

on summit divides with sheet outcrop

11.2 Androstachvs iohnsonii - dominated scrubbythicket on moderate waxing summit slopes

11.3 Conbretum apiculatum - dominated brushveldenclaves of summits and waxing slopes

11.4 Bouldery outcrop vegetation

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11.5 Androstachvs Iohnsonii - dominated scrubby,thicketed, bush of steep talus slopes withdeep litholitic soil


Fauna 329

12. Cretaceous plateau with tertiary aeolian sand

in Tropical Semi-arid Lowveld 329

Introduction 329


Vegetation pattern 33112.1 Combretum zevheri - £j_ molle - £j_ apiculatum

- Terminalia sericea - dominated treeveld,brushveld and thicket on Quaternary aeoliansand plateau

12.2 Combretum apiculatum - dominated brushveldof the Cretaceous pebbly plateau edge

12.3 Grassveld of moist depressions on theplateau

ON RESEARCH, MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL APPLICATIONS 333

Recording vegetation composition and structural types 334Further exploitation of available data • 33°

Rational evaluation and planning of disturbance bymonitoring changes in conservation status, per landscapeand plant community •>->'

Monitoring fire-associated and seasonal rhythms, mediumterm cycles and long term trends per landscape and plantcommunity 540

Introducing tourists to the ecosystems of the Park 341

CONCLUSIONS 343

SUMMARY 345

CURRICULUM VITAE 361

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XII. REFERENCES

Page

363

APPENDIX 1. VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND DOMINANTS 381APPENDIX 2. SPECIES WITH LOW PRESENCE, TRUNCATED FROM TABLES 2-9- 394APPENDIX 3. LIST OF PLANT SPECIES MENTIONED IN TEXT AND IN

TABLES 410APPENDIX 4. SCIENTIFIC EQUIVALENTS OF COMMON ANIMAL SPECIES

NAMES USED IN TEXT AND IN TABLES 446APPENDIX 5. FIGURES 2-20 447FOLDER: FIG. 1 (MAP) AMD TABLES 2-9

Phytosociology, Vegetation Structure and Landscapes of the ... · 6.4 Sclerocarva caffra - Acacia...

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