A GRADIENT ANALYSIS AND SELECTION OF KEY ECOLOGICAL SPECIES FOR VELD MANAGEMENT IN A DEGRADED ENVIRONMENT NEAR VILLA-NORA, NORTH-WESTERN TRANSVAAL, SOUTH-AFRICA
Ag. Schmidt et al., A GRADIENT ANALYSIS AND SELECTION OF KEY ECOLOGICAL SPECIES FOR VELD MANAGEMENT IN A DEGRADED ENVIRONMENT NEAR VILLA-NORA, NORTH-WESTERN TRANSVAAL, SOUTH-AFRICA, South African journal of botany, 60(4), 1994, pp. 202-210
An indirect gradient analysis was carried out on vegetation and enviro
nmental data collected in a disturbed area of the Mixed and Arid Sweet
Bushveld near Villa Nora, north-western Transvaal. Vegetation ordinat
ion axes were correlated with environmental variables deduced to have
influenced plant species composition. Soil type proved to be the most
significant variable, followed by bush density and canopy cover. Herba
ceous species most responsive to the discerned gradients were selected
as key ecological species using multiple regression analysis. These s
pecies are useful indicators of habitat type and range condition.