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Volume 51, Issue 1. 2021 A peer-reviewed publication of the South African National Biodiversity Institute Bothalia – African Biodiversity and Conservation is published by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), a government funded entity under the Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries. Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Michelle Hamer Managing Editor and Copyediting: Yolande Steenkamp Design and Layout: Elizma Fouché Associate Editors for this Special Edition Stefan Siebert, North-West University Jonathan Taylor, North-West University Associate Editors: Dave Balfour, Independent contractor Nicola Bergh, South African National Biodiversity Institute Matthew Bird, University of Johannesburg David Ehlers-Smith, University of KwaZulu-Natal Yvette Ehlers-Smith, University of KwaZulu-Natal Karin Jacobs, Stellenbosch University Natasha Karenyi, University of Cape Town John Manning, South African National Biodiversity Institute Robyn Powell, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Krystal Tolley, South African National Biodiversity Institute Ruan Veldtman, South African National Biodiversity Institute Cover photograph: E. Fouché (SANBI) Website: http://abcjournal.org General enquiries: +27 (0) 843 5017 ISSN: 2311-9284 (Online) ISSN: 0006-8241 (Print) Obtainable from: SANBI Bookshop, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 843 5000 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sanbi.org Printed by: Harry’s Printers Tshwane, 69 Pretorius Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa. Tel. no.: +27 12 3264514. Website: www.harrysprinters.com Copyright © 2021 by South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of SANBI. The authors and publisher have made their best efforts to prepare this journal and make no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the contents herein. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned and no responsibility is accepted by the publisher or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising from the contents of this publication. BOTHALIA – African Biodiversity & Conservation ISSN: (Online) 2311-9284, (Print) 0006-8241 Table of Contents Information for Authors and Readers ...................................................... v Reviewer Acknowledgement . vi Guest Editorial Knowledge for a different urban future: a reflection....................................... 1 E. Andersson Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Original Research, Reviews, Strategies, Case Studies Hundred years of Botany at NWU: contributions towards understanding plant and algae function, diver- sity and restoration in a changing environment ...................................... 7 S.S. Cilliers, S. Janse van Vuuren, K.Kellner, G.H.J. Krüger, M. Struwig, C.J.G. van Niekerk & S.J. Siebert Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. The influence of land use–impacted tributaries on water quality and phytoplankton in the Mooi River, North West Province, South Africa . 23 L. Koekemoer, S. Janse van Vuuren & A. Levanets Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Plant diversity and conservation value of wetlands along a rural–urban gradient.................. 45 M.J. du Toit, C. du Preez & S.S. Cilliers Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Diatom responses to river quality in the Kruger National Park, South Africa . 63 P. Shikwambana, J.C. Taylor, D. Govender & J. Botha Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Impact of land-use and flow conditions on the phytoplankton of the Sabie River, South Africa....... 75 S. Barnard, T.L. Morgenthal, M. Stolz & A. Venter Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Restoration after bush control in selected rangeland areas of semi-arid savannas in South Africa . 93 K. Kellner, R.T. Mangani, T.J.K. Sebitloane, J.G. Chirima, N. Meyer, H.C. Coetzee, P.W. Malan & K. Koch Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Effects of land-use change on herbaceous vegetation in a semi-arid Mopane savanna . 107 F. Siebert, N. van Staden, D.M. Komape, A.M. Swemmer & S.J. Siebert Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Short Communications A baseline assessment of the photosynthetic potential of Welwitschia mirabilis using the JIP-test for mon- itoring and conservation purposes ................................................ 133 J.M. Berner, H. Cloete & J. Shuuya Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Drought tolerant forb flora of a semi-arid protected savanna in the Lowveld of southern Africa ...... 141 H. van Coller, J. Klem & F. Siebert Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. http://abcjournal.org | iii | Open access A floristic assessment of grassland diversity loss in South Africa............................... 147 M. Muller, S.J. Siebert, B.R. Ntloko & F. Siebert Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Book review Open Ecosystems: Ecology and Evolution beyond the Forest Edge by William Bond............... 157 F. Siebert Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation, Vol. 51(1). 24 February 2021. Guidelines for authors . 160 http://abcjournal.org | iv | Open access Information for Authors and Readers Focus and scope integrate biodiversity management with local and regional socio-economic systems. The journal aims to disseminate, to a wide audience, knowledge, information and innovative approaches Submissions from authors anywhere in Africa as well as that promote and enhance the wise use and manage- those based outside of Africa are invited if the content ment of biodiversity in order to sustain the systems and relates to African biodiversity. species that support and benefit the people of Africa. The journal publishes original research findings, as well Peer review process as reviews, commentaries or perspectives, strategies All manuscripts submitted to Bothalia – African Biodiver- and short communications. Special focus issues ema- sity & Conservation will be reviewed by experts in the nating from symposia or conferences that fall within the field and will undergo a double-blind review process. scope of the journal may also be published. Authors should contextualise submissions within the Publication frequency framework of the value chain of biodiversity knowledge from its generation, to its application and use. We are Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation publishes especially interested in articles that are written using manuscripts on its website on a rolling basis throughout language and terminology that is accessible to a wide the year (i.e. as soon as they are ready for publication). audience. A hard copy version of the volume is published at the end of the year. Specifically, the scope of the journal covers the follow- ing areas: Manuscript preparation and submission 1. Generation of new knowledge that provides a foundation for assessment, planning or manage- All articles must be submitted online at https://abcjour- ment of biodiversity, including new taxonomic nal.org/index.php/BothaliaABC. discoveries within Africa, from across all King- doms of organisms, documenting the abundance, diversity and distribution of genes, species and Copyright ecosystems in Africa (including temporal chang- Copyright on published articles is retained by the es in these), and understanding the interactions author(s). among components of biodiversity that contribute to the functioning of ecosystems. 2. Assessment of biodiversity, including the status of Distribution populations, species and ecosystems, the impacts of threats, harvesting and disturbance or of inter- The journal is an online open access publication, avail- ventions on populations, species and ecosystems, able at https://abcjournal.org/index.php/BothaliaABC and the value of the goods and services provided to read. The hard copy is distributed to those individu- by biodiversity. als who order a copy from SANBI. 3. Innovation in science- or evidence-based deci- sion-making for biodiversity in Africa. This in- Bothalia – African Biodiversity & Conservation is includ- cludes the publication of case studies, best prac- ed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), tices, tools and plans for the conservation, use SciELO SA, Thomson Reuters Web of Science Core Col- and management of biodiversity. lection, Science Citation Index Expanded, SCIE (previ- 4. Cross-cutting fields specifically developments and ously known as ISI). innovation in human capital development in the biodiversity sector and innovation in biodiversity Accreditation information management and dissemination sys- tems and tools for use of biodiversity information. The journal meets the criteria of the Department of 5. Strategic frameworks that provide guidance and Higher Education and Training (DoHET). It is therefore direction for biodiversity research, assessment accredited and approved by the DoHET for its inclu- and management at community, local, national, sion in the subsidy system for being a research publica- regional or continental levels, especially