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Flora of the Cape Peninsula : endemism, threatened plants and conservation in perspective

Bibliography: pages 72-83.

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Main Author: Trinder-Smith, Terry H
Other Authors: Linder, H P
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Biological Sciences 2016
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access_status_str Open Access
author Trinder-Smith, Terry H
author2 Linder, H P
author_browse Linder, H P
Trinder-Smith, Terry H
author_facet Linder, H P
Trinder-Smith, Terry H
author_sort Trinder-Smith, Terry H
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description Bibliography: pages 72-83.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
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license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2016
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/21346 Flora of the Cape Peninsula : endemism, threatened plants and conservation in perspective Trinder-Smith, Terry H Linder, H P Botany Bibliography: pages 72-83. An updated and nomenclaturally accurate species list of flora of the Cape Peninsula was established. distribution of each of species was then databased from c. 42 000 herbarium sheets housed in the three main herbaria in South Africa. The composition of flora, taxonomic and biological aspects of endemic and threatened taxa and the conservation status the flora and endemic fauna of the Cape Peninsula were then investigated. A large nomenclatural and taxonomic change was detected with % of having undergone name changes since the last taxonomic survey in 1950. There are more families and genera than previously recorded as a result of many taxonomic revisions. Monocotyledons, though only representing 18% of families, are well represented at the generic %) and specific (29.4%) level with both petaloid and non-petaloid monocotyledons being important. Pteridophytes in contrast represent 10.9 % of families and only of species. Of the 2285 in the flora 90 are endemics and 141 are threatened. The Bykov's level of endemism at 1 for the Peninsula was high in global terms. Endemic and threatened taxa were found not to be a random assemblage taxonomically, with and Proteaceae overrepresented in terms of endemics. The aforementioned families Restionaceae and Orchidaceae were over-represented with respect to threatened taxa. A logistic regression analysis on the biological traits of endemic taxa showed the most likely biological profile of a Peninsula endemic to be a low, non-sprouting shrub with short-distance dispersal mechanisms. The profile of threatened taxa was found to be similar to endemic taxa. Many of these biological characteristics make these taxa vulnerable to extinction and therefore have certain management implications concerning their sustained existence. Furthermore, Peninsula endemics and threatened plants were found to be significantly over-represented in mid- to high altitude, mesic to wet habitats. However, urbanization has reduced certain lowland vegetation types thus causing over-representation of these taxa in these areas. These habitats require urgent protection. An analysis using a Geographic Information System (GIS) showed the present reserve system inadequate in terms of protecting all plant and endemic faunal species on the Peninsula. The inclusion of all publicly owned land into the reserve system improved the conservation status dramatically, with only 13 species remaining unconserved. A third scenario is assessed whereby it is assumed that no public land is available for inclusion into a reserve system. An iterative reserve selection algorithm was then applied to allocate areas outside existing reserves to ensure each species is protected at least once. A total of 51 cells were required. All cells but for one lay in close proximity to existing reserves and could be incorporated at relatively little expense. Finally, based on a minimum cost consideration, it was suggested that all publicly owned land become incorporated into a reserve system and private reserves be created to protect the few unprotected species. It was also stressed that the current management system was inadequate and a new, single, scientifically based management plan needs to be implemented. 2016-08-18T13:56:54Z 2016-08-18T13:56:54Z 1995 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21346 eng application/pdf Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Botany
Trinder-Smith, Terry H
Flora of the Cape Peninsula : endemism, threatened plants and conservation in perspective
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Flora of the Cape Peninsula : endemism, threatened plants and conservation in perspective
title_full Flora of the Cape Peninsula : endemism, threatened plants and conservation in perspective
title_fullStr Flora of the Cape Peninsula : endemism, threatened plants and conservation in perspective
title_full_unstemmed Flora of the Cape Peninsula : endemism, threatened plants and conservation in perspective
title_short Flora of the Cape Peninsula : endemism, threatened plants and conservation in perspective
title_sort flora of the cape peninsula endemism threatened plants and conservation in perspective
topic Botany
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21346
work_keys_str_mv AT trindersmithterryh floraofthecapepeninsulaendemismthreatenedplantsandconservationinperspective