The sand forest of tembe elephant park and environs, maputaland

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Sparse Woodland on sand

This vegetation unit only occured in Tembe and Manqakulane. In Manqakulane only three species (Table 14) were evaluated, with Dichrostachys cinerea and Gymnosporia senegalensis in the full analysis and Sclerocarya birrea in the limited analysis. The first species dominated the subcanopy while the last species was prevalent at the canopy level. Sclerocarya birrea was found in equal densities at subcanopy and canopy levels. All three species belonged to Type 1 (Table 3) and mean centroid 2 for the full analysis was biased to the left. There were large shifts in size classes between the positions of mean centroids 1 and 2, indicating an influence of seedlings and saplings on the populations. In Tembe, ten species were evaluated (Table 14). The unit was dominated by a low stratum of Dichrostachys cinerea, Strychnos madagascariensis, Terminalia sericea, Acacia burkei and Combretum molle, while the canopy level was a mix of Strychnos madagascariensis and Terminalia sericea. Mean centroid 2 locations indicated some bias to the left, but there were large shifts in size classes between the positions of mean centroids 1 and 2. Only the populations of Dichrostachys cinerea could be compared between sites and they were similar (Table 6).

Grain of species and communities

The grain of species was noted for all species for which it was possible to identify grain by using the general model presented in Figure 1 (Figures 2 – 20). Most species that could be classified according to the grain model were fine-grained (Table 15), and therefore most vegetation units sampled here were considered fine-grained (Table 15). However, the Closed Woodland on Clay and Open Woodland on Sand of Tembe were intermediate-grained vegetation units, as were the Open Woodland on Abandoned Household sites unit in Manqakulane and the Closed Woodland Thicket in Tshanini. In contrast to the grain model presented by Lawes and Obiri (2002), the species for which grain could be established, but for which frequency of occurrence in the plots should have precluded their inclusion in the model, were also used to determine the woodland communities’ grain.

Study area

The study area is situated in Maputaland, northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (-26.85º to -27.15º South and 032.35º to 032.60º East). Tembe Elephant Park covers an area of 30 000 ha and was proclaimed in 1983 after negotiations with the local tribal authorities. The management of the park was given to the then KwaZulu-Natal Bureau of Natural Resources. The park was subsequently completely fenced in 1989. Little tourist development has occurred in the park and its main purpose was to preserve the region’s rare wildlife (Kwazulu-Natal Nature Conservation Services 1997; Browning 2000). The park has also served as a barrier to protect the local people from elephants raiding their crops. A full description of the topography, geology, soils, climate and vegetation of Tembe Elephant Park is provided in Matthews et al. (2001).
The park is characterised by a sandy plain interspersed with ancient littoral dunes with the Muzi Swamp running along the eastern boundary. It is covered by an Open to Closed Woodland, with patches of Short Intermediate and Tall Sand Forest.
Maputaland lies on the southern boundary of the tropical zone. The summers are hot, wet, and humid, while the winters are cool to warm and dry. Tembe Elephant Park received a mean annual rainfall of 721 mm in the period from 1981 to 2003 (Matthews 2006).

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
The biodiversity and conservation debate in Maputaland
The rural people of Maputaland and the biodiversity conservation question
Key questions
Note on the layout of the thesis
References
CHAPTER 2: STUDY AREA
General location and baseline information
People of the study area
Climate
Geology and soils
A note on biodiversity
The study sites
References
CHAPTER 3: GENERAL METHODS
Fieldwork details
Fieldwork phase, important aspects and the lighter side
References
CHAPTER 4: THE SAND FOREST OF TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK AND ENVIRONS, MAPUTALAND, SOUTH AFRICA
Abstract
Introduction
Study Area and general aspects of Sand Forest
Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgments
References
CHAPTER 5: AN ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF HERBIVORES AND MAN ON VEGETATION STRUCTURE, A CASE STUDY IN NORTHERN MAPUTALAND, SOUTH AFRICA
Abstract
Introduction
Study area
Material and Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgments
References
CHAPTER 6: A SPECIES LEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF HERBIVORES AND MAN ON THE SAND FOREST VEGETATION OF NORTHERN MAPUTALAND, KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA
Abstract
Introduction
Study area
Methods
Results
Discussion
Note on the methodology
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
CHAPTER 7: A SPECIES LEVEL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF HERBIVORES AND MAN ON THE STRUCTURE, AND DYNAMICS OF WOODLAND VEGETATION OF NORTHERN MAPUTALAND, KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA
Abstract
Introduction
Study area
Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgments
References
CHAPTER 8: AN OVERVIEW OF WOODY VEGETATION UTILISATION IN TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA
Abstract
Introduction
Study area
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
CHAPTER 9: AN OVERVIEW OF WOODY VEGETATION UTILISATION IN THE MANQAKULANE RURAL COMMUNITY, KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA
Abstract
Introduction
Study area
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
CHAPTER 10: THE UTILISATION OF WOODY VEGETATION BY ELEPHANTS IN TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK, MAPUTALAND, SOUTH AFRICA
Abstract
Introduction
Study area
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
CHAPTER 11: SYNTHESIS AND DISCUSSION. OF FORESTS, ELEPHANTS, AND MAN: A DELICATE BALANCE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NORTHERN MAPUTALAND ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN – MOZAMBICAN BORDERLAND
Abstract
Introduction
A review of results from recent studies on the ecology of Maputaland
A synthesis of insight gained from the present study
Sand Forest and Woodlands dynamics and their management
Conservation and the elephant question in the Transfrontier context
Conservation in a human dominated rural landscape
References