Impact of Seriphium plumosum densification on Mesic Highveld Grassland biodiversity in South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Mesic Highveld Grassland is important for biodiversity conservation, but is threatened by bush densification from Seriphium plumosum. This indigenous densifier spreads rapidly and outcompetes other herbaceous species, changing the species composition and structure of grasslands. This study looks at three different densities of S. plumosum and how these affect grassland biodiversity within Telperion, Mpumalanga, South Africa. An intermediate density of S. plumosum (1500 individuals (ind) ha^-1) resulted in the highest plant species diversity (H = 2.26), a low density (24 ind ha^-1) was moderately diverse (H = 1.96) and a high density (9500 ind ha^-1) was least diverse (H = 1.78). There were differences between the three

SUBMITTER: Graham SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7211835 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature