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© University of Hamburg 2018 All rights reserved Klaus Hess Publishers Göttingen & Windhoek www.k-hess-verlag.de ISBN: 978-3-933117-95-3 (Germany), 978-99916-57-43-1 (Namibia) Language editing: Will Simonson (Cambridge), and Proofreading Pal Translation of abstracts to Portuguese: Ana Filipa Guerra Silva Gomes da Piedade Page desing & layout: Marit Arnold, Klaus A. Hess, Ria Henning-Lohmann Cover photographs: front: Thunderstorm approaching a village on the Angolan Central Plateau (Rasmus Revermann) back: Fire in the miombo woodlands, Zambia (David Parduhn) Cover Design: Ria Henning-Lohmann ISSN 1613-9801 Printed in Germany Suggestion for citations: Volume: Revermann, R., Krewenka, K.M., Schmiedel, U., Olwoch, J.M., Helmschrot, J. & Jürgens, N. (eds.) (2018) Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa – assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions. Biodiversity & Ecology, 6, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek. Articles (example): Archer, E., Engelbrecht, F., Hänsler, A., Landman, W., Tadross, M. & Helmschrot, J. (2018) Seasonal prediction and regional climate projections for southern Africa. In: Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa – assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions (ed. by Revermann, R., Krewenka, K.M., Schmiedel, U., Olwoch, J.M., Helmschrot, J. & Jürgens, N.), pp. 14–21, Biodiversity & Ecology, 6, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek. Corrections brought to our attention will be published at the following location: http://www.biodiversity-plants.de/biodivers_ecol/biodivers_ecol.php Biodiversity & Ecology Journal of the Division Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology of Plants, Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg Volume 6: Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa Assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions Edited by Rasmus Revermann1, Kristin M. Krewenka1, Ute Schmiedel1, Jane M. Olwoch2, Jörg Helmschrot2,3, Norbert Jürgens1 1 Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg 2 Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management 3 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University Hamburg 2018 RPlease cite the article as follows: Tshireletso, K., Makhabu, S.W., Nsinamwa, M., Kgosiesele, E., Setlalekgomo, M.R., Seletlo, Z., Majaga, S. &Legwatagwata, B. (2018) Diversity patterns of woody vegetation of Kgatleng District, Botswana. In: Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa – assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions (ed. by Revermann, R., Krewenka, K.M., Schmiedel, U., Olwoch, J.M., Helmschrot, J. & Jürgens, N.), pp. 416-423, Biodiversity & Ecology, 6, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek. doi:10.7809/b-e.00353 Diversity patterns of woody vegetation of Kgatleng District, Botswana Koketso Tshireletso1*, Shimane W. Makhabu2, Mackenzie Nsinamwa1, Ednah Kgosiesele3, Mpho R. Setlalekgomo2, Zibanani Seletlo1, Sipho Majaga1, and Boipuso Legwatagwata2. 1 Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana 2 Department of Basic Sciences, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana 3 Department of Agricultural Engineering and Land Use Planning, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana * Corresponding author: [email protected] Biodiversity Abstract: Vegetation assessments have intensifi ed around the globe to document plant diversity in the wake of climatic shifts and local environmental changes. Botswana also recognises the value of documenting plant diversity, and in this study we present the results of a vegetation survey of Kgatleng District. Between November 2013 and December 2016 we assessed tree species abundance on 77 plots sized 20 m × 50 m. Vegetation classifi cation resulted in the identifi cation of fi ve woody plant communities: Terminalia sericea–Maytenus tenuispina, Dichrostachys cinerea–Combretum apiculatum, Combretum zeyheri–Vachellia tortilis, Senegalia erubescens–Senegalia mellifera, and Grewia fl ava–Rhigozium brevispinosum. One- way analysis of variance indicated that species richness was not diff erent among the fi ve plant communities, nor was tree density. We furthermore provide a vegetation map of the district based on supervised classifi cation of Landsat 8 imagery. Resumo: Estudos de vegetação intensifi caram em todo o mundo, de modo a documentar a diversidade de plantas na se- quência das alterações climáticas e de mudanças ambientais locais. O Botswana também reconhece o valor de documentar a diversidade de plantas e, neste estudo, apresentamos os resultados do levantamento da vegetação do Districto de Kgatleng. Entre Novembro de 2013 e Dezembro de 2016, avaliámos a abundância de espécies de árvores em 77 parcelas de 20 m × 50 m. A classifi cação da vegetação resultou na identifi cação de cinco comunidades de plantas lenhosas: Terminalia seri- cea–Maytenus tenuispina, Dichrostachys cinerea–Combretum apiculatum, Combretum zeyheri–Vachellia tortilis, Senegalia erubescens–Senegalia mellifera, e Grewia fl ava–Rhigozium brevispinosum. A análise da variância a um factor indicou que nem a riqueza específi ca, nem a densidade de árvores, eram diferentes entre as cinco comunidades de plantas. Fornecemos ainda um mapa da vegetação do districto baseado na classifi cação supervisionada de imagens de Landsat 8. Introduction species composition (Moore & Attwell, tally friendly and sustainable methods 1999). of farming observing correct rangeland Botswana, like most southern African Bush encroachment threatens the eco- stocking rates have been advocated for in countries, comprises expansive areas of logical integrity of savanna ecosystems Botswana (Kgosikoma et al., 2012). savanna woodlands. Kgatleng District and is of concern in southern Africa (Trol- Species such as Dichrostachys cinerea lies within the woodland and thorn bush lope, 1980; Skarpe 1990; Ward, 2005; can aff ect the development of other savanna ecosystems. Th ese ecosystems Britz & Ward, 2007) and Botswana (Rho- woody vegetation (Mudzengi et al., provide browse for domestic and wild de et al., 2006), as it reduces diversity of 2013), thus reducing species diversity animals, habitat cover for wild animals, vegetation. A number of causal drivers to and richness. A study by Mudzengi et al. wood products, and traditional medi- changes in vegetation composition have (2013) observed signifi cant diff erences cines, among other uses. Th e diversity of been proposed, ranging from low rainfall between invaded and uninvaded sites ecosystems is integral to rural livelihoods, to support grass growth, overgrazing, re- in abundance, density, and richness of as they use veld products to sustain them- duced fi re frequency favouring woody woody species. selves. As such, eff ective management of plant establishment (Kgosikoma et al., Environmental variables such as soil savannas requires proper knowledge and 2012) and climatic shifts (O’Connor and topography infl uence the occur- documentation of vegetation types and et al., 2014). To that end, environmen- rence of plant species and as such govern 416 C A Biodiversity Figure 1: Location map for Kgatleng District, Botswana. Map on the bottom right shows the location of Kgatleng District in Botswana. species composition and the diversity of Kgatleng District, with a land area of the results of the phytosociological clas- the vegetation (Miyamoto et al., 2003). 7960 km2, is relatively small and is un- sifi cation, and (4) to determine the spe- A study by Dahlberg (2000) in north- der immense pressure from diff erent cies richness of the tree communities. eastern Botswana observed that woody land uses. Like most communal parts of species richness was higher on red soil Botswana, the district is exposed to both than on white soil, but species richness arable farming and open-access com- Methods did not diff er between ranching and com- munal livestock grazing. For sustainable munal grazing land. The study also found management of vegetation resources, Study area signifi cantly (P < 0.01) more shrubs on documentation of plant communities and The study was conducted between No- communal land than on ranch land, prob- species richness in these areas is of piv- vember 2013 and December 2016. The ably because of less competition with otal importance. Meanwhile, literature is study area covered the Kgatleng District the herbaceous plants, resulting in shrub lacking as far as plant diversity and rich- of Botswana, located between latitude seedling establishment. In Dahlberg’s ness in these areas are concerned. Thus, 23.88°S–24.51°S and longitude 25.89°E– (2000) study conducted in the north- defi ning plant communities in these 26.82°E (Fig. 1). The district covers an east district of Botswana, Senegalia ni- systems in an era of climate-change ef- area of 7,960 km2 and is characterized by grescens, Combretum apiculatum, and fects on vegetation is critical to serve as vegetation dominated by Vachellia spp., Grewia spp. were observed to prefer red reference points for vegetation changes. Senegalia spp., and Grewia spp., among soil whereas Colophospermum mopane Therefore, the objectives of the study others. Annual rainfall for the district preferred white soil. Other environmen- were to (1) determine the abundance of ranges between 450 mm and 550 mm. tal variables such as elevation have also woody (trees and shrubs)