The use of degradation gradients for the assessment and ecological interpretation of range condition.

Abstract

Multivariate procedures were used to subdivide the Southern African climatic climax grasslands of the 700-800 mm rainfall zone into relatively homogeneous grazing areas. The Euclidean distances from the first axis were used to determine the appropriateness of the degradation gradients for the assessment of the condition of a particular site. Knowledge of species response to grazing, community dynamics and recovery potential obtained through the ordination and regression studies was used to interpret the condition assessmentsLanguage: English

Keywords: Degradation gradients; Euclidean distances; Grasslands; Grazing impact; Homogeneous grazing areas; Key species; Multivariate procedures; Ordination; Recovery potential; Vegetation dynamics; grazing; gradients; range condition; pca; recovery; regression; procedure; degradation gradient; south africa