Seedbank phytosociology of the Strandveld Succulent Karoo, South Africa: a pre-mining benchmark survey for rehabilitation

✍ Scribed by A. J. De Villiers; M. W. Van Rooyen; G. K. Theron

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 258 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1085-3278
• DOI: 10.1002/ldr.443

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Prior to the mining of heavy minerals, the seedbank of the Strandveld Succulent Karoo was investigated to serve as a benchmark for the future rehabilitation of the area. Seedbank composition and species' abundance were determined with the seedling emergence method. By using the Braun‐Blanquet method, five main vegetation units were identified in concordance with results obtained for the standing vegetation. A total of 108 species were recorded in the seedbank, which represents c. 50 per cent of the species recorded in the standing vegetation of the total study area. Seven annual species (3 per cent) were unique to the soil seedbank. On community level, similarity in species composition between the standing vegetation and the soil seedbank ranged between 39·2 per cent and 48·8 per cent, with a similarity of 54·3 per cent for the total study area. Annual and perennial species' similarity in species composition between the standing vegetation and the seed bank totalled 74·8 per cent and 43·1 per cent respectively. Post‐mining topsoil replacement as well as seeding and transplanting of selected local species will be essential to revegetate this area. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.