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Title Influence of former cultivation on the endangered renosterveld in the Cape lowlands (South Africa) and implications for restoration management

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Short title Vegetation studies in Cape lowland Renosterveld

Author(s) Heelemann, S.(1); Krug, C.B.(2); Esler, K.(3); Reisch, C.(1); Poschlod, P.(1)

Presenting author Heelemann, S.(1)

Institution(s) (1) Department of Botany, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany; (2) Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; (3) Department of Conservation Ecology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa

Keywords Renosterveld; old fields; pine plantations; restoration

Abstract Renosterveld is a characteristic and once dominant vegetation type of the Cape Floristic Region and highly threatened by conversion to agricultural areas and urbanization. Therefore, attempts were made to restore renosterveld communities on former arable land, pastures and pine plantations. However, information is still lacking on potential long term effects of practices like burning, mowing and cutting on species number and composition. Both, seed dispersal from adjacent pristine habitats and soil seed bank of the transformed habitat play a crucial part in species recolonisation. Especially information about soil seed bank in renosterveld vegetation is insufficient. Therefore, predictions about potential species composition after restoration in abandoned fields and on pine plantations are difficult and in this regard renosterveld restoration practices are still lacking a fundamental conception. Our ongoing study tackles this knowledge gap by comparing pristine and transformed renosterveld and cleared pine plantations at Tygerberg Nature Reserve (City of Cape Town) by means of seed bank analysis and germination experiments. The used restoration technique was realized by pine cutting, removal of pine stems and burning of branch material on-site. Together with vegetation surveys and chemical soil analyses the ecosystem status of the area was assessed.

Congress Topic Land use, impact and value

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