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Vulnerability of selected native and invasive woody species to streamflow variability in Western Cape fynbos riparian ecotones
Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2010
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| _version_ | 1867614132086243328 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Crous, Casparus Johannes |
| author2 | Jacobs, Shayne Martin |
| author_browse | Crous, Casparus Johannes Jacobs, Shayne Martin |
| author_facet | Jacobs, Shayne Martin Crous, Casparus Johannes |
| author_sort | Crous, Casparus Johannes |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | University of Stellenbosch |
| description | Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4203 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:47:10.728Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| publishDateRange | 2010 |
| publishDateSort | 2010 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4203 Vulnerability of selected native and invasive woody species to streamflow variability in Western Cape fynbos riparian ecotones Crous, Casparus Johannes Jacobs, Shayne Martin Esler, Karen J. University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Conservation Ecology and Entomology. Fynbos riparian ecosystems -- South Africa -- Wsetern Cape Dissertations -- Conservation ecology and entomology Theses -- Conservation ecology and entomology Streamflow -- South Africa -- Western Cape Invasive alien plants -- South Africa -- Western Cape Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Riparian ecosystems of the Mediterranean south-western Cape region are projected to experience significant decreases in streamflow due to climate change and increased demands for water associated with human demographic trends and increasing living standards. Aggravating this problem are woody invasive alien plants, such as Acacia mearnsii, whose impacts, including those on catchment water yields, have justified extensive eradication programmes such as Working for Water (WfW). WfW has been highly successful in managing invasive alien species in some areas, while at the same time enhancing the quality of life of poor South Africans. Unfortunately, the managers of these eradication initiatives often experience a lack of information on the species- and site-specific ecological properties that may aid in prioritising sites more prone to invasion, essentially inhibiting accurate management output. Knowledge, such as that associated with the possible future distribution of invasive species in a changing environment, may help to optimise eradication initiatives. I therefore determined whether woody plants portray different physiological (vulnerability to cavitation) and wood anatomical traits (wood density, vessel resistance to implosion, vessel lumen and wall diameters) across three prominent riparian zones in the south-western Cape that each differ in streamflow quantity – to gain a mechanistic understanding of how woody species, especially invasive species, adapt their hydraulic strategy across this proxy for water availability. Using factorial ANOVA’s, to distinguish any differences in plant physiological and wood anatomical responses to water availability within and between species, showed Acacia mearnsii having consistently higher drought-tolerance (lower P50 values and denser wood) compared to native species under reduced water availability. These results supported the significant variation in drought-tolerance strategies that exist within and between taxonomically different species across different environments. Water availability thus has a strong selective effect on functional traits of species; however, minimum water potentials were more useful in describing in situ hydrological conditions than streamflow. Additionally, a non-causal relationship between wood anatomical traits and drought-induced cavitation was observed. Therefore, using only wood anatomical measurements to assess drought-tolerance of species might not be accurate across all species. This mechanistic approach to assess the invasive potential of species under projected drier conditions has great practical value. It can be used to improve species selection for restoration initiatives, and is of great value for future use in prioritizing eradication programmes. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Rivieroewer ekosisteme in die Mediterreense Suidwes-Kaap streek kan groot afnames in stroomvloei verwag, wat meestal toegeskryf kan word aan klimaatsverandering en die verhoogde aanvraag na water geassosieerd met stygende populasiegrootte. Uitheemse indringerplante soos Acacia mearnsii vererger hierdie probleem. Laasgenoemde spesies plaas groot druk op opvanggebiede se water opbrengs, en vorm grootliks die rede waarom uitroeiing programme soos Werk vir Water (WfW) gestig is. WfW het al groot suksesse behaal in die bestuur van uitheemse indringerplante, en terselfdertyd die lewenskwaliteit van arm Suid-Afrikaners verhoog. Ongelukkig sukkel hierdie indringer uitroeiing inisiatiewe telkens met ongenoegsame bewyse wat kan help om leiding te verskaf by die prioritisering van areas meer geneig tot indringing. Die gevolg is dat onvoldoende bestuurs besluite gemaak kan word. Gevolglik sal kennis geassosieerd met die moontlike toekomstige verspreiding van hierdie indringerplant in ʼn veranderlike omgewing help om uitroeiing programme meer akkuraat te stel en gevolglik waardevol wees t.o.v. prioritisering van kwesbare areas. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die kwesbaarheid van sleutel inheemse houtagtige rivier spesies en veral die dreigende indringerplant Acacia mearnsii, te bestudeer in terme van verlaagde stroomvloei soos voorspel vir die Wes-Kaap fynbos ekosisteem. Deur te bepaal of houtagtige plante verskillende fisiologiese (kwesbaarheid teen xileem blokkasie) en anatomiese (hout digtheid, vat weerstandbiedendheid teen inmekaarkolking, vat holte en wand deursnee) hidrologiese eienskappe tentoonstel gemeet tussen drie prominente rivieroewer sones in die suidwes Kaap wat variëer in stroomvloei kwantiteit, verskaf ʼn meganistiese begrip van hoe spesies, veral die indringerplante, hul hidrologiese strategieë ten opsigte van droogtes kan aanpas. Faktoriële ANOVAS’s tussen spesies en liggings het getoon dat beide plant fisiologiese en hout anatomiese data beduidend variëer tussen taksonomies verskillende spesies. Veral Acacia mearnsii het deurgaans laer P50 waardes asook hoër houtdigtheid getoon, ‘n teken van hierdie spesies se verhoogde droogte toleransie in vergelyking met die inheemse spesies. Wat beduidend is is dat spesies-spesifieke lewensstrategieë ten opsigte van droogte toleransie in hierdie rivieroewer sones voorkom. Resultate het bevestig dat water beskikbaarheid ʼn groot rol speel in die seleksie van funksionele karaktereienskappe in plante, maar, dat minimum water potensiaal meer akkuraat was om in situ hidrologiese toestande te beskryf as wat stroomvloei kon. Die verhouding tussen plant fisiologiese en hout anatomiese karaktereienskappe was indirek as gevolg van spesies-spesifieke lewensstrategieë. Gevolglik sal die allenige gebruik van hout anatomiese eienskappe om droogte toleransie in plante te assesseer onakkuraat wees omdat daar ʼn swak verhouding tussen hout anatomie en droogte-geïnduseerde xileem blokkasie bestaan. ʼn Meganistiese benadering om die indringing potensiaal van spesies onder voorspelde droër kondisies te assesseer, asook om spesies seleksie vir restourasie doeleindes op te skerp, is prakties uitvoerbaar, en van groot waarde vir toekomstige gebruik in uitroeiing en restourasie inisiatiewe. Masters 2010-02-21 2010-02-21 2010-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4203 en University of Stellenbosch 102 p. : ill., maps application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| spellingShingle | Fynbos riparian ecosystems -- South Africa -- Wsetern Cape Dissertations -- Conservation ecology and entomology Theses -- Conservation ecology and entomology Streamflow -- South Africa -- Western Cape Invasive alien plants -- South Africa -- Western Cape Crous, Casparus Johannes Vulnerability of selected native and invasive woody species to streamflow variability in Western Cape fynbos riparian ecotones |
| title | Vulnerability of selected native and invasive woody species to streamflow variability in Western Cape fynbos riparian ecotones |
| title_full | Vulnerability of selected native and invasive woody species to streamflow variability in Western Cape fynbos riparian ecotones |
| title_fullStr | Vulnerability of selected native and invasive woody species to streamflow variability in Western Cape fynbos riparian ecotones |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vulnerability of selected native and invasive woody species to streamflow variability in Western Cape fynbos riparian ecotones |
| title_short | Vulnerability of selected native and invasive woody species to streamflow variability in Western Cape fynbos riparian ecotones |
| title_sort | vulnerability of selected native and invasive woody species to streamflow variability in western cape fynbos riparian ecotones |
| topic | Fynbos riparian ecosystems -- South Africa -- Wsetern Cape Dissertations -- Conservation ecology and entomology Theses -- Conservation ecology and entomology Streamflow -- South Africa -- Western Cape Invasive alien plants -- South Africa -- Western Cape |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4203 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT crouscasparusjohannes vulnerabilityofselectednativeandinvasivewoodyspeciestostreamflowvariabilityinwesterncapefynbosriparianecotones |