Short Communication:Habitat preferences of twenty-three grass species in the Bankenveld.

Abstract

Some grass species occur more frequently in certain habitats than in others, but uncertainty as to exactly which factors are responsible for this phenomenon exist. Species composition as well as habitat data were collected from plots situated on the mild slopes of the study area, and the data were analysed by means of a classification as well as a transformation method to determine habitat performances. From the results it appears that the four most important factors which influenced the occurrence of a species were effective soil depth, stoniness in the soil profile, pH value and P status of the soil; Some grass species occur more frequently in certain habitats than in others. There is, however, uncertainty as to exactly which factors are responsible for this phenomenon. Species composition as well as habitat data were collected from plots situated on the midslopes of the study area. The data were analysed by means of a classification as well as a transformation method to determine habitat preferences. From the results it appears that the four most important factors which influenced the occurrence of a species were: effective soil depth; stoniness in the soil profile; pH value and P status of the soil.Language: English

Keywords: Bankenveld; Effective soil depths; Grass species; Phosphates; effective soil depth; habitat; ph; ph status; phosphate status; preference; soil depth; species composition; twinspan; classification; composition; grasses; habitats; method; habitat preferences; p; south africa