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Fire Regimes in Eastern Coastal Fynbos

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Fire Regimes in Eastern Coastal Fynbos Fire regimes in eastern coastal fynbos: drivers, ecology and management by Tineke Kraaij Submitted in fulfilment/partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate in Philosophy in the Faculty of Science at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University August 2012 Promotor: Prof. R.M. Cowling Co-promotor: Dr B.W. van Wilgen Declaration I, Tineke Kraaij, student number 211211583, hereby declare that the thesis for Doctorate of Philosophy is my own work and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment or completion of any postgraduate qualification to another University or for another qualification. I am now presenting the thesis for examination for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy. Tineke Kraaij Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 7 List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. 9 List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... 10 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 11 References ................................................................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 1 – Past approaches and future challenges to the management of fire and invasive alien plants in the new Garden Route National Park ................................................................. 15 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 16 The Garden Route mountain catchments ................................................................................................... 17 Management challenges ............................................................................................................................. 29 Way forward ................................................................................................................................................ 31 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 34 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 35 References ................................................................................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER 2 – Historical fire regimes in a poorly-understood, fire-prone ecosystem: eastern coastal fynbos .......................................................................................................................... 42 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... 42 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 42 Methods ...................................................................................................................................................... 44 Results ......................................................................................................................................................... 49 Discussion .................................................................................................................................................... 54 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 59 References ................................................................................................................................................... 59 CHAPTER 3 – Lightning and fire weather in eastern coastal fynbos shrublands: seasonality and long-term trends ...................................................................................................................... 65 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... 65 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 65 Methods ...................................................................................................................................................... 67 Results and Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 69 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 76 References ................................................................................................................................................... 76 CHAPTER 4 – Proteaceae juvenile periods and post-fire recruitment as indicators of minimum fire return interval in eastern coastal fynbos ............................................................................ 80 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... 80 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 81 Methods ...................................................................................................................................................... 82 Results ......................................................................................................................................................... 85 Discussion .................................................................................................................................................... 89 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 94 References ................................................................................................................................................... 94 CHAPTER 5 – Vegetation responses to season of fire in an aseasonal, fire-prone environment and implications for management ................................................................................................. 101 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................... 101 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 102 Materials and methods ............................................................................................................................. 103 Results ....................................................................................................................................................... 107 Discussion .................................................................................................................................................. 112 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................... 117 References ................................................................................................................................................. 118 CHAPTER 6 – Fire regimes in eastern coastal fynbos: imperatives and thresholds in managing for diversity ................................................................................................................................. 123 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................... 123 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 123 Study area .................................................................................................................................................. 125 Fire regimes in eastern coastal fynbos ...................................................................................................... 125 East-west comparisons at study area- and Cape Floral Kingdom-scales................................................... 126 Managing fire for biodiversity conservation: ecological thresholds ......................................................... 127 Fire management approach: operational considerations ......................................................................... 133 Future research
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