Impact of land use on the biodiversity integrity of the moist sub-biome of the grassland biome, South Africa

Journal of Environmental Management

Volumn 90, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 384-395

  O'Connor, T G ^a   Kuyler, P ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND   (South Africa)

^b UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE   (South Africa)

Author keywords

Agriculture; Analytic hierarchy process; Biodiversity indicator; Ecosystem functioning; Forestry; Landscape; Livestock

Indexed keywords

ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS; CONSERVATION; ECOSYSTEMS; FARMS; FORESTRY; LAND USE; TIMBER; URBAN GROWTH;

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION; BIODIVERSITY INDICATORS; ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING; ECOSYSTEM SERVICES; LANDSCAPE; LANDSCAPE COMPOSITION; LIVESTOCK; PROTECTED AREAS; SERVICE SUPPORT; SOUTH AFRICA;

BIODIVERSITY;

ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS; BIODIVERSITY; BIOINDICATOR; BIOME; ECOLOGICAL IMPACT; ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION; ECOSYSTEM SERVICE; GRASSLAND; LAND USE;

ARTICLE; CONSERVATION BIOLOGY; CONTROLLED STUDY; CROPPING SYSTEM; DAIRYING; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; GRASSLAND; HABITAT FRAGMENTATION; IRRIGATION (AGRICULTURE); LAND USE; LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY; LIVESTOCK; NONHUMAN; PLANTATION; RECREATION; RESIDENTIAL AREA; RURAL AREA; SOUTH AFRICA; SPECIES DIVERSITY; TOURISM; URBAN AREA;

AFRICA; SOUTH AFRICA; SOUTHERN AFRICA; SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA;

EID: 55249101047     PISSN: 03014797     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.10.012     Document Type: Article

References (56)

1. Angermeier P.L., and Karr J.R. Biological integrity versus biological diversity as policy directives. Bioscience 44 (1994) 690-697
2. Armstrong A.J., Benn G., Bowland A.E., Goodman P.S., Johnson D.N., Maddock A.H., and Scott-Shaw C.R. Plantation forestry in South Africa and its impact on biodiversity. S. Afr. For. J. 182 (1998) 59-65
3. Barnes K.N. The Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (2000), BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg
4. Bromilow C. Problem Plants of South Africa (1995), Briza Publications, Arcadia, South Africa
5. Cowling R.M., and Hilton-Taylor C. Phytogeogaphy, flora and endemism. In: Cowling R.M., Richardson D.M., and Pierce S.M. (Eds). Vegetation of Southern Africa (1997), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 43-61
6. Cunningham A.B., and Davis G.W. Human use of plants. In: Cowling R.M., Richardson D.M., and Pierce S.M. (Eds). Vegetation of Southern Africa (1997), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 474-506
7. Davis A.L.V., Scholtz C.H., and Chown S.L. Species turnover, community boundaries and biogeographical composition of dung beetle assemblages across an altitudinal gradient in South Africa. J. Biogeogr. 26 (1999) 1039-1055
8. De Leo G.A., and Levin S. The multifaceted aspects of ecosystem integrity. Cons. Ecol. 1 (1997) 1-25.
9. Dickens C.W.S., and Graham P.M. Biomonitoring for effective management of wastewater discharges and the health of the river environment. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Manag. 1 (1998) 199-217
10. Du Toit M.E., and Du Preez C.C. Effect of cultivation on the nitrogen fertility of selected dryland soils in South Africa. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 12 (1995) 73-81
11. Dye P.J. Water use efficiency in South African Eucalyptus plantations: a review. S. Afr. For. J. 189 (2000) 17-26
12. Eastman J.R. IRIDISI Kilimanjaro. Guide to GIS and Image Processing (2003), Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA
13. Everson, C.S., 1985. Ecological Effects of Fire in the Montane Grasslands of Natal. Ph.D. thesis, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
14. Fairbanks D.H.K., Thompson M.W., Vink D.E., Newby T.S., and Van den Berg H.M. The South African land-cover characteristics database: a synopsis of the landscape. S. Afr. J. Sci. 96 (2000) 69-82
15. Forman R.T.T. Interactions among landscape elements: a core of landscape ecology. In: Tjallingii S.P., and de Veer A.A. (Eds). Perspectives in Landscape Ecology. Proceedings of the International Congress of Landscape Ecology, Veldhoven (1981), Pudoc Publisher, Wageningen, The Netherlands 35-48
16. Forman R.T.T., and Godron M. Landscape Ecology (1986), John Wiley and Sons, New York
17. Franklin J.F. Structural and functional diversity in temperate forests. In: Wilson E.O. (Ed). Biodiversity (1988), National Academic Press, Washington, D.C., USA 166-175
18. Goodman P.S. Non-marine biodiversity conservation targets for KwaZulu-Natal - non-technical summary (2003), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg
19. Greyling, T., Huntley, B.J., 1984. Directory of southern African conservation areas. S.Afr. Natl. Sci. Prog. Rep. No. 98.
20. Hutchings A. Zulu Medicinal Plants. An Inventory (1996), University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg
21. Karr J.R., and Dudley D.R. Ecological perspective on water quality goals. Environ. Manag. 5 (1981) 55-68
22. Kinvig, R.G., 2006. Biotic Indicators of Grassland Condition in KwaZulu-Natal, with Management Recommendations. Ph.D. thesis, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
23. Knapp A.K., Briggs J.M., Blair J.M., and Turner C.L. Patterns and controls of aboveground net primary production in tallgrass prairie. In: Knapp A.K., Briggs J.M., Hartnett D.C., and Collins S.L. (Eds). Grassland Dynamics. Long-term Ecological Research in the Tallgrass Prairie (1998), Oxford University Press, New York 193-221
24. Lombard A.T. Introduction to an evaluation of the protection status of South Africa's vertebrates. S. Afr. J. Zool. 30 (1995) 71-82
25. Low A.B., and Rebelo A. Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (1996), Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Pretoria
26. Mander M. Marketing of Indigenous Medicinal Plants in South Africa. A Case Study in KwaZulu-Natal (1998), FAO, Rome
27. McNaughton J., Ruess R.W., and Seagle S.W. Large mammals and process dynamics in African ecosystems. Bioscience 38 (1988) 794-800
28. Mentis M.T., and Tainton N.M. The effects of fire on forage production and quality. In: Booysende P.d.V., and Tainton N.M. (Eds). Ecological Effects of Fire in South African Ecosystems (1984), Springer-Verlag, Berlin 245-254
29. Mills A.J., and Fey M.V. Soil carbon and nitrogen in five contrasting biomes of South Africa exposed to different land uses. S. Afr. J. Plant and Soil 21 (2004) 94-103
30. Mills A.J., O'Connor T.G., Donaldson J.S., Fey M.V., Skowno A.L., Sigwela A.M., Lechmere-Oertel R.G., and Bosemberg J.D. Ecosystem carbon storage under different land uses in three semi-arid shrublands and a mesic grassland in South Africa. S. Afr. J. Plant Soil 22 (2005) 183-190
31. Noss R.F. A regional landscape approach to maintaining diversity. BioScience 33 (1983) 700-706
32. Noss R.F. Indicators for monitoring biodiversity: a hierarchical approach. Cons. Biol. 4 (1990) 355-364
33. O'Connor T.G. Influence of land use on plant community composition and diversity in Highland Sourveld grassland in the southern Drakensberg, South Africa. J. Appl. Ecol. 42 (2005) 975-988
34. O'Connor T.G., Morris C.D., and Marriott D.J. Change in land use and botanical composition of KwaZulu-Natal's grasslands over the past fifty years: Acock's sites revisited. S. Afr. J. Bot. 69 (2003) 105-115
35. O'Reagain P.J., and Turner J.R. An evaluation of the empirical basis for grazing management recommendations for rangeland in southern Africa. J. Grassl. Soc. S. Afr. 6 (1992) 71-76
36. Pimentel D., Stachow U., Takacs D.A., Brubaker H.W., Dumas A.R., Meaney J.J., O'Neil J.A.S., Onsi D.E., and Corzilius D.B. Conserving biological diversity in agricultural/forestry systems. BioScience 42 (1992) 354-362
37. Poiani K.A., Richter B.D., Anderson M.G., and Richter H.E. Biodiversity conservation at multiple scales: functional sites, landscapes, and networks. BioScience 50 (2000) 133-146
38. Reyers B., and Tosh C.A. National Grasslands Initiative: Concept Document (2003), Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Land Affairs, Johannesburg
39. Rowe-Rowe, D.T., 1982. Ecology of Some Mammals in Relation to Conservation Management in Giant's Caste Game Reserve. Ph.D. thesis, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
40. Rowe-Rowe D.T., and Scotcher J.S.B. Ecological carrying capacity of the Natal Drakenserg for wild ungulates. S. Afr. J. Wildl. Res. 16 (1986) 12-16
41. Saaty T.L. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (1980), McGraw-Hill, New York
42. Samways M.J., and Moore S.D. Influence of exotic conifer patches on grasshopper (Orthoptera) assemblages in a grassland matrix at a recreational resort in Natal. S. Afr. Biol. Cons. 57 (1991) 205-219
43. Samways M.J., and Sergeev M.G. Orthoptera and landscape change. In: Gangwere S.K., Muralirangan M.C., and Muralirangan M. (Eds). The Bionomics of Grasshoppers, Katydids and Their Kin (1997), Wallinford, Oxon 147-162
44. Schmoldt, D.L., Peterson, D.L., 1997. Using the analytic hierarchy process for decision-making in ecosystem management. Analysis Notes of the W/O Ecosystems Management Centre, Fort Collins Colorado, USA, 7, 17-22.
45. Schmoldt D.L., and Peterson D.L. Analytical group decision making in natural resources: methodology and application. For. Sci. 46 (2000) 62-75
46. Scotcher, J.S.B., 1986. Interrelations of Vegetation and Eland (Taurotragus oryx Pallas) in Giant's Castle Game Reserve, Natal. Ph.D. thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
47. Scott-Shaw R. Rare and Threatened Plants of KwaZulu-Natal and Neighbouring Regions (1999), KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg
48. 2, and predictive modeling. Past and future climate change scenarios for the Tallgrass prairie. In: Knapp A.K., Briggs J.M., Hartnett D.C., and Collins S.L. (Eds). Grassland Dynamics. Long-term Ecological Research in the Tallgrass Prairie (1998), Oxford University Press, New York 283-300
49. Short A., O'Connor T.G., and Hurt C.R. Medium-term changes in grass composition and diversity of Highland Sourveld grassland in the southern Drakensberg in response to fire and grazing. Afr. J. Range Forage Sci. 20 (2003) 1-10
50. Tainton N.M. Veld Management in South Africa (1999), University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg
51. Tapson D. Biological sustainability in pastoral systems: the KwaZulu case. In: Behnke R.H., Scoones I., and Kerven C. (Eds). Range Ecology at Disequilibrium (1993), Overseas Development Institute, London 118-135
52. Urban D.L., O'Neill R.V., and Shugart H.H. Landscape ecology: a hierarchical perspective can help scientists understand spatial patterns. BioScience 37 (1987) 119-127
53. Venter J., Liggit B., and Tainton N.M. The influence of different land use practices on soil erosion, herbage production and on grass species richness and diversity. J. Grassl. Soc. S. Afr. 6 (1989) 89-98
54. Walters D., Kotze D., and O'Connor T.G. Impact of land use on community organization and carbon stores in the southern Drakensberg mountains, South Africa. Wetl. Ecol. Manag. 14 (2006) 329-348
55. Wischmeier, W.H., Smith, D.D., 1978. Predicting rainfall erosion losses - a guide to conservation planning. US Department of Agriculture handbook No. 537.
56. Zipperer W.C., Wu J., Pouyat R.V., and Pickett S.T.A. The application of ecological principles to urban and urbanizing landscapes. Ecol. Appl. 10 (2000) 685-688