Abstract
We use multivariate analyses (ordination and classification) to assess both the floristic uniqueness of the woody vegeation of Sand Forest in relation to a range of other forest types in the region, and the range of variation within Sand Forest. Two broad Sand Forest subtypes and related Ecotonal Forests are described and grouped under the term Tropical Dry Forest, distinct from all evergreen forests in South Africa. Sand Forest, a dry semi-deciduous type in northeastern KwaZulu-Natals defined by the presence of the canopy dominant Cleistanthus schlechteri as well as Hymenocardia ulmoides, Psydrax fragrantissima, Croton pseudopulchellus and Drypetes arguta. Sand Forests form a cohesive group in both DCA and TWINSPAN analyses, with similar composition of canopy dominants at sampled sites. This implies that ecological funcioning is similar across the geographical range in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal. However, turnover of subdominant species between recognisable Sand Forest types emphasizes the need to conserve the full range of extant forests.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Two Sand Forest subtypes and related Ecotonal Forests were grouped as Tropical Dry Forest distinct from evergreen forests.
Verbatim
e0“Two broad Sand Forest subtypes and related Ecotonal Forests are described and grouped under the term Tropical Dry Forest, distinct from all evergreen forests in South Africa”
Claim · model-written summary
Sand Forest was described as dry semi-deciduous with several named canopy species.
Verbatim
e0“Sand Forest, a dry semi-deciduous type in northeastern KwaZulu-Natals defined by the presence of the canopy dominant Cleistanthus schlechteri as well as Hymenocardia ulmoides, Psydrax fragrantissima, Croton pseudopulchellus and Drypetes arguta”
Claim · model-written summary
Sand Forests formed a cohesive analytical group with similar canopy dominants across sampled sites.
Verbatim
e0“Sand Forests form a cohesive group in both DCA and TWINSPAN analyses, with similar composition of canopy dominants at sampled sites”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors inferred similar ecological functioning across northeastern KwaZulu-Natal.
Verbatim
e0“This implies that ecological funcioning is similar across the geographical range in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal”
t0“Sand Forest”
Claim · model-written summary
Subdominant species turned over among recognizable Sand Forest types.
Verbatim
e0“turnover of subdominant species between recognisable Sand Forest types emphasizes the need to conserve the full range of extant forests”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend conserving the full range of extant Sand Forests.
Verbatim
e0“turnover of subdominant species between recognisable Sand Forest types emphasizes the need to conserve the full range of extant forests”