I declare the dissertation hereby submitted by me for the partial fulfilment
of the requirements of the degree M. Agric. (Wildlife Management) at the University
of the Free State is my own independent work and has not previously been submitted
by me at another university / faculty. I furthermore cede copyright of the dissertation
in favour of the University of the Free State.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE............... 5
1. INTRODUCTION 5
CHAPTER TWO.............. 9
2. STUDY AREA..... 9
2.1 Location....... 9
2.2 Geology and soils.....................................................................................................................
10
2.3 Climate ...... 16
2.4 History ....... 18
2.5 Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................
20
2.6 Fauna and Flora........................................................................................................................
21
2.7 Water supply and wetland aspects.........................................................................................
28
2.8 Burning program......................................................................................................................
32
CHAPTER THREE........ 34
3. MATERIAL AND METHODS..........................................................................................................
34
CHAPTER FOUR .......... 37
4. RESULTS........... 37
4.1 Andropogon schirensis Aristida congesta Community ...........................................................
38
4.2 Gladiolus crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Community ...........................................................
42
4.3 Eragrostis chloromelas - Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata Community
................................. 43
4.4 Eragrostis chloromelas - Cynodon dactylon Community ..........................................................
46
4.5 Setaria verticillata Phragmites australis Community .............................................................
50
4.6 Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana Community ......................................................
51
4.7 Description of Vegetation units from the Synoptic Table ..........................................................
52
4.8 The Vegetation map and Management units of Rietvlei Nature Reserve
................................... 54
CHAPTER FIvE............. 57
5. DISCUSSION..... 57
5.1 Andropogon schirensis Aristida congesta Community ...........................................................
57
5.2 Gladiolus crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Community ...........................................................
58
5.3 Eragrostis chloromelas - Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata Community
................................. 59
5.4 Eragrostis chloromelas - Cynodon dactylon Community ..........................................................
59
5.5 Setaria verticillata Phragmites australis Community .............................................................
60
5.6 Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana Community ......................................................
61
5.7 The Vegetation units from the Synoptic Table ...........................................................................
62
5.8 Aspects of veld and wildlife management ..................................................................................
63
CHAPTER SIX .............. 65
6. CONCLUSIONS 65
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: ..........................................................................................................................
68
ABSTRACT: .................. 69
UITTREKSEL:............... 71
REFERENCES:.............. 73•4
LIST OF TABLES:
Table 2.1: List of larger Mammals and their numbers found on Rietvlei
(September 2004).
Table 2.2: Feeding selection of the larger mammal species found on
Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Table 2.3: The major grass species found on Rietvlei Nature Reserve
and their ecological
classifications.
Table 3.1: The Braun-Blanquet cover values used in this study.
LIST OF FIGURES:
Figure 2.1: A View of Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Figure 2.2: Location of Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Figure 2.3: Map of Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Figure 2.4: Geology Map of Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Figure 2.5: Soil forms of Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Figure 2.6: Rainfall for Rietvlei Nature Reserve (1995 2004).
Figure 2.7: Burning program for Rietvlei Nature Reserve (1998
2002).
Figure 4.1: DECORANA Ordination Diagram.
Figure 6.1: Plant communities identified on Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Figure 6.2: Proposed Management areas for the Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
LIST OF APPENDICES:
Appendix A: Bird list
Appendix B: Mammal list
Appendix C: Indigenous and Exotic Plant list
Appendix D: Herpetofauna list
Appendix E: Graves on Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Appendix F: Old Farmhouse and Outbuildings
Appendix G: Braun-Blanquet Data Form
Appendix H: Table 4.1: Phytosociological table of the plant communities
on the Dolomite (1) &
Shales, Quartzites, and Chert (2) Formations
Appendix I: Table 4.2: Phytosociological table of the plant communities
on the Andisitic Lava.
Appendix J: Table 4.3: Phytosociological table of the Low-lying Grassland
Communities
Appendix K: Table 4.4: Phytosociological table of the Wetland Communities
Appendix L: Table 4.7: Synoptic table of the Vegetation of Rietvlei
Nature Reserve•5
CHAPTER ONE
1. INTRODUCTION
Rietvlei Nature Reserve belongs to the City of Tshwane Metropolitan
Municipality and
came into existence because of a water scheme to supply drinking water
for the city of
Pretoria. Since the main function of the area is to provide water,
the catchment area needs
to be conserved and the water needs to be accumulated and distributed.
For this reason the
dam was built in the Six Mile Spruit or River and the Rietvlei Nature
Reserve (3 870 ha)
was proclaimed (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).
The main aims of the Reserve are:
- To supply the city with clean drinking water;
- To protect and conserve a sample of the natural environment around
the
city in a relatively pristine state;
- To conserve genetic diversity and prevent the loss of animal and
plant
species;
- To make live game available for relocation when available;
- To give local and foreign visitors the opportunity to visit the reserve
and
participate in outdoor activities; and
- To supply facilities and opportunities for environmental education,
research and monitoring (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).
At the time of the proclamation of the reserve, the minimum size of
land needed for the
declaration of a game reserve on the Bankenveld veldtype in the previous
Transvaal
Province was 1 000 ha according to the policy of the Provincial Nature
and Environmental
Conservation Directorate. An economic farming unit in this area was
considered to be 300
ha. The reserve is therefore equal to thirteen farming units with a
combined carrying
capacity of 1 200 to 2 000 head of game or 486 LSU (large stock units),
depending on
factors such as species of game or the carrying capacity of the veld.
The entire reserve
falls within the municipal boundaries of the City of Tshwane. The Rietvlei
Nature Reserve
is therefore a fairly large nature reserve in an urban setting.•6
Sound nature conservation principles are adhered to in the management
of the reserve and
one of the first goals was to re-establish species of game indigenous
to the area. As these
game species evolved in this area and management kept their numbers
within the grazing
capacity of the reserve, sufficient grazing is always available to
them to ensure their
continued existence. Nevertheless, it is necessary to provide additional
salt and mineral
licks in winter and to implement a system of rotational grazing in
the available space of
the fenced-in reserve (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).
The Rietvlei Nature Reserve has survived as a conservation area since
1929, but despite
this long existence no annual plant monitoring program has ever been
undertaken. The
only deliberate veld management program that took place was an annual
burning program
and that created a rotational grazing system. Many different ad hoc
and unpublished
studies were done on the reserve (mainly short student projects) but
no quantitative
management units or data exist that can be compared from one year to
the next. No data
on changes in plant composition or species diversity over time or trends
of veld condition
are available. This means that the management of the reserve don’t
know if the veld
condition has remained the same, improved or deteriorated over time.
The only available and published data that were collected during this
entire period was
that of a thesis done by Du Plessis (1968) on the Blesbok (Damaliscus
dorcas phillipsi)
and some work that was done on the plant communities in the reserve.
Seven main plant
communities were identified and Brachiaria serrata was used to divide
the communities
into two main groups. Venter et al. (2003) did a baseline vegetation
survey of rehabilitated
peatland on Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Van Riet (1994) examined the effect of development on the future of
the Rietvlei Dam as
a nature reserve. There were 72 grass species identified but only two
grassland types,
namely Andropogon and Setaria grasslands. Quantitative data that may
indicate whether
the applied management principles and actions had the correct results
do not exist. It is not
known if the burning program that is being applied, delivers the desired
effects or not and
it is up to the personnel of the reserve to resort to their training
and experience to make a
subjective visual evaluation of the success of these management actions.•7
As far as the grazing capacity of the reserve is concerned, the recommendations
of the
Department of Agriculture are used for this veld type, which is described
by Acocks
(1988) as Bankenveld (Acocks no 61). Annual changes caused by fire
or variable rainfall
on the plant species composition or basal cover, were never taken into
account. The
managers again had to rely on their personal experience.
The grazing and browsing capacity are species inherent characteristics
of the habitat but
are also influenced by the specific grazer and browser species (Bothma,
1988). It is
important to take the game species composition and number of each species
into account.
Different species have different habitat requirements and will make
use of different
niches.
Van Wyk (1997) in a talk to the Friends of Rietvlei, stated that in
grassland like Rietvlei
Nature Reserve, as many as 82 plant species per 1 000 m• can be found,
but that more than
60% of grasslands have already been changed or destroyed and that only
2.4% of
grasslands fall within conservation areas. Bredenkamp & Van Rooyen
(1996) stated that
± 65% of Rocky Highveld Grassland have been transformed and
only 1.38% is being
conserved. These statistics serve as a warning that natural grasslands
are disappearing fast
and should be conserved at all cost, especially in existing conservation
areas. It was stated
that grasslands can be revegetated, but can never be completely rehabilitated.
Ehrenfeld (2000) stated that restorations carried out to meet goals
of conserving species,
or providing specific services, or revegetating extremely damaged lands,
are both
appropriate and necessary. He stated that these restorations should
be recognized for what
they are, without the pretence that they result in a replica of the
original, “natural” system,
or that they are, by definition, superior to or inferior to community-
or ecosystem-based
restoration. These restorations with specific goals are appropriate
under certain sets of
conditions. Restoration thus has limitations and these should be realistically
recognised.
Bakker & Berendse (1999) discussed the constraints in the restoration
of ecological
diversity in grassland communities and made the statement that the
European nature
reserves are, at present, to small to conserve these communities. For
restoration purposes
the conservation areas need to be as big as possible.•8
At present, formal protection of grasslands is minimal. Transformation
of grasslands (both
current and predicted), degradation from overgrazing, invasion by alien
vegetation and
high levels of fragmentation, all point to the crucial need for a conservation
strategy for
the remaining semi-pristine grassland areas (Neke & Du Plessis,
2004).
Ecological studies are a prerequisite for the appropriate management
of all renewable
natural resources both domesticated and wild (Thomson, 1992).
Rational pro-active
renewable natural resource management, therefore, is not possible without
ecological
studies. In other words, if you do not know what you have and how it
functions, you will
not be able to manage it properly. Subsequently this study was undertaken
with the
objective to identify and quantify different homogeneous management
units on the
Rietvlei Nature Reserve to facilitate more effective management as
far as grazing
utilization, burning and monitoring are concerned.
The different management units identified in this study will then provide
management an
opportunity to decide how much of each unit should be burned and whether
different units
should be burned in the same year. More objective management of the
numbers of certain
animal species and the creation or improvement of habitat can address
specific aspects
such as increased species diversity of the reserve.•9
CHAPTER TWO
2. STUDY AREA
2.1 Location
The Rietvlei Nature Reserve surrounds and includes the Rietvlei dam
(Figure 2.1) and is
situated south east of Pretoria, in the Gauteng Province of South Africa,
between the R21
highway (Johannesburg International Airport highway) on the western
side and the R50
(Delmas / Babsfontein) road on the north-east (Figure 2.2). The site
lies in the quarter
degree grid square 2528CD (Rietvlei Dam), between 25º50’S and
25º56’S latitude and
28º15'E and 28º19'E longitude (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).
The mean elevation
above sea level is approximately 1 525 metres, with the highest point
at 1 542 m and the
lowest point at 1 473 m (at the dam’s outflow). The reserve covers
a surface area of
approximately 3 870 ha or 38 km• and a network of roads crosses the
entire area, which
makes the reserve accessible to visitors and management (Figure 2.3).
Figure 2.1: A View of Rietvlei Nature Reserve.•10
2.2 Geology and soils
The geological map of Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Figure 2.4) shows the
geological
composition of the reserve from the Geological survey map of the South-African
Republic, Department of Mines (Rietvleidam 2528CD, 1:50 000 Geological
Series, 1973).
Rietvlei Nature Reserve forms part of the Transvaal System. Towards
the southern parts
of the reserve are two small Series that form part of the Karoo System.
In the Transvaal
System two Series, namely the Pretoria and Dolomite Series are present
and the Daspoort
Stage forms the most prominent part of Rietvlei (Rietvleidam 2528CD,
1:50 000
Geological Series of the Department of Mines, 1973).
The most important geological formation is lava, which extends in a
broad band from
north to south through the reserve (See Figure 2.4: Geology Map). This
gives rise to heavy
red loam soil suitable for producing grass for grazing. Belts of shale
and quartzite run on
either side of the andesitic lava, which give rise to grey loamy soil
(See Figure 2.5: Soil
Forms). The eastern part consists of dolomite covered by shale and
chert. Sandy red loam
soils are found there. Dolomite is a sedimentary limestone formation,
which gives rise to
caves with stalactites and stalagmites. Sinkholes or dolines occur
when the roof of a
subterranean chamber collapses (Kearey, 2001). Groundwater that accumulates
in large
subterranean chambers is supplemented annually by rainwater. The overflow
of
subterranean water then appears as dolomite springs, which sometimes
produce a strong
flow of water. The shale and quartzite form ridges that run from north
to south across the
reserve on the western and central side (Rietvleidam 2528CD, 1:50 000
Geological Series,
1973).
The specific soils of an area can differ dramatically as far as water
retention is concerned.
The ground water potential is mainly a function of soil matrix potential,
osmotic potential
and gravitational potential (MacVicar, et al., 1977). The organic layer
on top of the soil
also plays a very important part in ground water retention and water
loss to the
atmosphere. The depth of the soil also influences the growth forms
of plants and the
amount of water the soil profile can store. All of these factors will
have an influence on
the plants and plant species composition of an area.•11
Plant communities play an important role as far as soil formation is
concerned, by
supplying organic material to the system and the influence that community
has on the
weathering possesses (Tainton, 1988). Organic material, together with
the mineral clay
fraction, plays an important role in controlling many of the properties
concerned with soil
productivity such as water absorption, absorption of mineral nutrients
and acting as
cementing agents (Tainton, 1988).
The importance of soil as a determinant of plant species composition
and structure is
demonstrated by Fraser et al., (1987) who showed that there were correlations
between
certain tree communities and different soils in the Kruger National
Park. Palmer et al.
(1988) also investigated the interactions between plant communities
and soils. Eight soil
variables that have an influence on plants were identified, namely:
moisture content,
organic matter content, conductivity, pH, Ca, Mg, K and Na concentrations.
The soils in
the bush clumps contained more minerals and organic material than in
the grasslands.
Soils with different characteristics will be able to sustain different
plant communities, but
often certain soil conditions, such as soil nutrient status, are a
direct consequence of the
plants that grow there. Even though both these studies were done in
other veld types than
what are found at Rietvlei Nature Reserve with the climatic conditions
and rainfall that are
also different, the assumption can still be made that different soils
on Rietvlei will also
sustain different plant communities. The following soil forms occur
on Rietvlei namely:
Avalon, Rensburg, Hutton, Mispah and Dundee (MacVicar et al., 1977;
Patterson, 1999).
One of the most important features of the soils on Rietvlei Nature
Reserve is the fact that
most of it is very shallow. Where a B-horizon can be found, it is very
shallow and layered.
The limiting material is mostly lava, quartzite, diabase and dolerite.
The soils are highly
erodible but this is only a problem where the gravel roads are graded.
There are soils with
a high clay and organic material composition in the wetlands and surroundings
that are
periodically flooded (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).•12
Figure 2.2: Location of Rietvlei Nature Reserve.•13
Figure 2.3: Map of Rietvlei Nature Reserve.•14
Figure 2.4: Geology Map of Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Rietvleidam 2528CD,
1:50 000
Geological Series, 1973).•15
Figure 2.5: Soil forms of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Soil classification
according to
MacVicar, et al., 1977).•16
2.3 Climate
Water and temperature represent the most important environmental factors
(Rutherford &
Westfall, 1986). Water is essential for all life, including plants.
Temperature influences
metabolic processes and water loss (evaporation and transpiration),
and the higher the
temperatures, the higher the quantity of water lost to the atmosphere.
Rainfall quantity, frequency of showers, soil type as well as plant
cover all have an effect
on the groundwater status and consequently the vegetation. The dates
of first and last frost
will determine the growth period for grasses. Frost is one of the major
limiting factors for
plants on Rietvlei and has a big influence on tree and shrub species
and their distribution.
The Rietvlei Nature Reserve falls in the summer rainfall region of
South Africa and has an
average seasonal (July to June) rainfall of 724 mm (1970-1999). The
rainfall for Rietvlei
Nature Reserve for the period 1995/96 to 2003/4 as measured on the
reserve, is illustrated
in Figure 2.6. The summer temperatures can be as high as 34 °C
and during the dry winter
months the temperatures can be as low as -2 °C with regular frost
at night (Rietvlei Nature
Reserve, Undated).
From approximately 11 000 B.P. to 6 330 B.P. the climatic conditions
in the Rietvlei area
were not markedly different from those of the present day (Scott &
Vogel, 1983). Slightly
drier conditions followed, while the vegetation remained essentially
open grassland. A
temporary expansion of the bushveld elements over the northern parts
of the highveld
plateau occurred around 6 580 ± 70 B.P. and can probably be
attributed to relatively warm
temperatures and favourable moisture conditions (Scott & Vogel,
1983).•17
1264
984
642
691
929
637
511
397
673
724
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/2000 2000/2001 2001/2002 2002/2003 2003/2004
Average
PERIOD (JULY TO JUNE)
Seasonal Rainfall (mm)
Figure 2.6: Rainfall for Rietvlei Nature Reserve 1995 2004.•18
2.4 History
When the City Council of Pretoria acquired the farm in 1929, it was
not open to the
public. However, biological and infrastructural planning of the area
continued and game
(67 Blesbuck from General Jan Smuts’ nearby farm to the east) was introduced
by Mr A.
Weyers in August 1938 (Fauna and Flora, 1950). This was done by herding
the animals
from his farm Doornkloof onto the reserve with horses. Subsequently,
a nature reserve
was proclaimed. The reserve had a small herd of 12 springbuck and other
small game
species like oribi, grey duiker, steenbok, mountain reedbuck, etc.
In 1935 the reserve, which covered an area of about 3 500 ha, was known
as the Rietvlei
Reserve. In an Administrator’s Notice of 1937, the reserve was declared
a game reserve
and was subsequently known as the Rietvlei Game Reserve. In terms of
Administrator’s
Notice 205, on the 1 st September 1948 it was proclaimed a reserve
for indigenous flora,
and for the next six years it was called the Rietvlei Reserve for Game
and Indigenous
Flora (City Council of Pretoria, 1997).
Certain areas of the reserve were lost or seperated from the larger
reserve because of
newly built roads. Re-proclamation of the present nature reserve (west
of the Delmas
Road) as the Maria van Riebeeck Nature Reserve was published in the
Provincial Gazette
on 24 November 1954. In 1992 the name was again changed to Rietvlei
Nature Reserve
(City Council of Pretoria, 1997).
The Rietvlei Dam, built during the Great Depression, was completed
in 1934. Manual
labour was mainly used for constructing the dam wall and surrounding
brickwork. During
those difficult years of the depression, labourers were only too grateful
to receive a fixed
income of four shillings a day. Mule carts were used to move the soil
on the site where the
dam was built (City Council of Pretoria, 1997).•19
Three types of recreational sport are exercised at the Rietvlei Dam
namely: yachting,
canoeing and angling. The clubhouse of the Sailing Yacht club is located
northwest of the
Rietvlei Dam and the angling area is on the northern and western shores.
The angling area
was officially opened to the public on 13 October 1951 by the Mayor
Mr. J.H. Visser (The
Star, 1951). The Pretoria Yacht Club, formed in July 1959 under the
name of the Pretoria
Postal Sailing Club, was the only sailing club in Pretoria, which provincial
and national
yacht clubs recognised at the time. Since 19 December 1963, the City
Council has leased a
portion of Rietvlei Dam to the Yacht club (Rietvlei Nature Reserve,
Undated).
Because the dam is an important source of water for Pretoria and the
area surrounding the
dam is a proclaimed nature reserve, the Council at that time thought
it proper to grant only
400 ft (in those days) of the shore to the sailing club. Motorboats
are not allowed as the
noise disturbs anglers, birds and game and also causes an oil pollution
threat to drinking
water (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).
In 1957 the Blesbuck numbers on the reserve were reduced by 334 animals.
In 1958 there
were 281 animals shot or sold on the market, 431 were caught alive
and sold and about
133 were killed as a result of casualties (Pretoria News, 1958). These
animals reportedly
died for various reasons and were then eaten by vultures.
Among the historical sights in the Reserve is an old farmhouse and
outbuildings that
remained and were restored in the late 1980’s (see Appendix F). There
is also a stone
rampart where British forces are said to have either installed a cannon
during the second
occupation of Pretoria or laid the foundation of a Zink Blockhouse
(Van Vollenhoven,
2004). There are also three groups of graves, on which some of the
epitaphs are still
legible. Amongst those buried there, is a Voortrekker woman, Cecilia
Moodie, of the
Moodie trek and Michiel Christiaan Elardus Erasmus (see Appendix E).•20
2.5 Infrastructure
Roads in the reserve have been carefully planned and have a multi-purpose
function. They
are used by the visitors to view game, to patrol the reserve, to carry
out maintenance and
they also serve as firebreaks (see Figure 2.3). The boundary fence
patrol road or firebreak
is 35 km long. Altogether there are 91 km of roads in the reserve.
The offices, workshops,
vehicle garages, slaughtering facilities and storerooms are all located
at the main gate on
the periphery of the reserve in accordance with the zoning plan for
the reserve (Rietvlei
Nature Reserve, Undated).
On the boundary of the reserve is a 1.2 metre high cattle fence consisting
of single strands.
Approximately 4 meters inside this cattle fence is a 2.4 metre high
game fence. The lower
1.8 m of this fence is covered with mesh, with another 4 single strands
of barbed wire on
top. On the inside of this game fence is an electric fence system with
3 live wires that
receive their power from 4 energizers at different intervals along
the fence (Rietvlei
Nature Reserve, Undated).
A small section of the northern shore of the dam is also fenced off
with a game fence for
anglers. The purpose of this fence is to restrict the movement of the
anglers and to keep
dangerous game such as rhinoceros and buffalo out of the area (Rietvlei
Nature Reserve,
Undated).
This angling area, the sailing club and property to the west thereof
are zoned for higher
impact visitor’s activities (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).•21
2.6 Fauna and Flora
Biomes are defined as the largest land community unit, which is convenient
to recognize
and in a given biome the life form of the climax vegetation is uniform
(Odum, 1971).
Thus, the climax vegetation of the grassland biome is grass (Odum,
1971). The absolute
annual moisture levels, sometimes associated with edaphic factors,
appear to form an
appropriate basis for the major subdivision of biomes. These moisture
levels were used by
Rutherford & Westfall (1986) to describe the biomes of South Africa
as Savanna, Nama-Karoo,
Succulent Karoo, Fynbos, Desert, Forest and the Grassland biome. The
later biome
is applicable to Rietvlei Nature Reserve. The primary defining determinants
include
climate, soil, topography, and other environmental factors. These factors
can normally not
be altered by man and are thus a given.
A veld type can be described as a unit of vegetation of which the range
of variation is
small enough to permit the whole of it to have the same farming potential
(Trollope et al.,
1990 and Acocks, 1988). The Rietvlei Nature Reserve’s plant composition
is typical of the
Highveld Grassland and is generally in a very good condition. The vegetation
type can be
described as the central Variation of Bankenveld A.61b (Acocks, 1988).
It is also
described by Bredenkamp & Van Rooyen (1996) as ‘Rocky Highveld
Grassland’ (34),
which is part of the grassland biome. A study of the pollen content
of the clay and peat on
Rietvlei Nature Reserve by Scott & Vogel (1983) shows that the
vegetation of the early
phase, which is either of a Holocene or of a Late Glacial age (11 000
B.P.), corresponds to
open grassland, although the composition is different from that of
the present.
Indigenous trees occur in small groups on the reserve. These trees
are typical of the
highveld where the average annual rainfall is 724 mm and dry winters
with fire and frost
are the limiting factors. Coetzee et al. (1995) states that Bankenveld
vegetation has a
mixed origin and that the complex mosaic of Bushveld and Grassland
is a consequence of
its transitional geographical position. Woodland communities occur
on relatively warm
sites in sheltered valleys and on slopes, while grassland communities
occur on relatively
cold, exposed high altitude plateaux and plains (Bredenkamp & Brown,
2003).•22
Woody species are often associated with rock walls of archaeological
sites, where they
are better protected against fire and harsh climatic conditions, while
these sites are also
more moist than rock less plains (Bredenkamp & Brown, 2003).
Apart from the grasses (Table 2.3) occurring on the reserve there are
also many other
herbaceous plant species. They become particularly noticeable just
before the summer
rains, where game has grazed the grass short or where it was burned.
All the indigenous
and exotic plant species recorded on Rietvlei Nature Reserve to date
are listed in
Appendix C.
All of these plants have adapted to the main limiting factors on the
reserve, namely fire
and frost. For this reason most of the plants have underground structures
to protect them
under the soil in winter. In a good year an average of 2 000 kg of
grass and 1 300 kg of
other herbaceous plants (dry weight) are produced per hectare. The
reserve staff has
calculated this over a number of years by cutting, drying and weighing
1m• of plant
material above ground level, in different areas and then extrapolating
it to one hectare
(Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).
Because of previous farming activities, which disturbed the soil, several
exotic plants
occur in the reserve. Invader trees such as the black wattle (Acacia
mearnsii) represent a
serious threat. Imported from Australia, they locally have no natural
enemies and seed can
remain viable in the soil for up to fifty years (Bromilow, 1996). The
exotics are controlled
mechanically and chemically by the reserve staff. Burning stimulates
germination and can
be used to deplete the seed store (Henderson et al., 1987). Appendix
C also lists all the
Category 1 invasive plant species (Henderson, 2001) recorded on Rietvlei
Nature Reserve
to date (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).
This small urban reserve has a bird species list of more than 270 confirmed
species (see
Appendix A. This is mainly due to the fact that the reserve has open
grasslands,
indigenous bush clumps, open water and vlei or marshy areas. Because
of the proximity of
the reserve to a city, many species of so-called garden birds also
frequents the area
(Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated). Bird names used in Appendix A are
according to
Maclean (1993).•23
Appendix D lists all the Herpetofauna species recorded on Rietvlei
Nature Reserve to
date, including the African Giant Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus).
The reserve is one of
the few breeding sites of the African Giant Bullfrog that has a proclaimed
conservation
status in Gauteng (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).
Rotational grazing is achieved with the provision of additional salt
and mineral licks in
winter and the use of a controlled burning program. The condition of
the game in winter is
one of the ways of evaluating the accuracy of the calculated grazing
capacity of the veld.
The aim is to keep the game numbers just below the number that the
veld can support
without degradation (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).
A number of total game counts are done annually in February by vehicle
after which a
helicopter count is also done. The game numbers are consolidated and
game reduction
proposals are made if necessary. The reduction of animals is also done
in a three-year
cycle, if needed and they are mostly caught alive and relocated to
other conservation areas
(sold or exchanged for other species). By also monitoring the sex ratio
of the various game
species it is possible to decide how many rams or bulls should be culled.
The reserve staff
does the culling and the carcases are sold or hunters are given the
opportunity to hunt
these surplus animals under guidance of the reserve staff (Rietvlei
Nature Reserve,
Undated).
The numbers of larger grazing mammals on Rietvlei as on September 2004
are listed in
Table 2.1. A comprehensive list of the mammals found on the reserve
is attached in
Appendix B. A substantial number of red data mammal species (according
to Smithers,
1986) has been recorded for Rietvlei and listed in Appendix B (Rietvlei
Nature Reserve,
Undated). The Blesbuck and Black Wildebeest are endemics to the Southern
African
Highveld regions. The Reserve, geographically, also borders other vegetation
types from
east to west and north to south. This is why the veld type can also
be called a “transitional
veld type” linking true grassland and true bushveld. The Blesbuck and
Black Wildebeest
never naturally occurred north of the Magaliesberg Mountains (Smithers,
1983). The
Springbuck never naturally occurred further east than Rietvlei Nature
Reserve for very•24
long periods and avoided mountains and rocky areas and areas with tall
grasses and
thickets (Smithers, 1983).•25
Other species like the Suricate and Bat-eared Fox are also found on
the reserve even
though they are more common towards the drier west (Smithers, 1983).
Both these species
prefer short grasslands (Smithers, 1983).
Table 2.1: Larger Grazing Mammals found on Rietvlei Nature Reserve
and their numbers.
Common Name Scientific name Number
(September 2004)
Blesbuck Damaliscus pygargys phillipsi 393
Bushpig Potamochoerus larvatus * (14)
Buffalo Syncerus caffer 31
Grey Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia * (20)
Eland Taurotragus oryx 123
Oribi Ourebia ourebi * (10)
Reedbuck Redunca arundinum 60
Common Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus 69
Mountain Reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula * (15)
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius 4
Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis 76
Steenbok Raphicerus campestris * (20)
Black Wildebeest Connochaetes gnou 210
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus 64
White Rhinoceros Ceratothherium simum 8
Burchell’s Zebra Equus burchelli 91
* Numbers unknown, possible numbers in brackets (Rietvlei Nature Reserve,
Undated).•26
Table 2.2: Feeding preferences of the larger mammal species found on
Rietvlei Nature
Reserve (Smithers, 1983; Smit et al, 2000; Bothma et al., 2002).
Species A B C D E F G
Blesbuck X X X
Bushpig X X
Buffalo X X
Grey Duiker X X
Eland X
Oribi X X X
Reedbuck X X X
Common Hartebeest X X X X
Mountain Reedbuck X X X X
Hippopotamus X X
Steenbok X X X
Springbok X X X X
Black Wildebeest X X
Zebra X X X X X
Ostrich X X X
Waterbuck X X X
White Rhinoceros X X X
A: Selective grass B: Nonselective grass C: Mixed graze and browse
D: Short grass E: Tall grass F: Roughage and bulk
G: Selective patch feeding.•27
Table 2.3: The major grass species found on Rietvlei Nature Reserve
and their ecological
classifications.
SPECIES LIST ECOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATIONS *
Alloteropsis semialata Increaser I
Andropogon appendiculatus Decreaser
Andropogon schirensis Increaser I
Aristida bipartita Increaser II
Aristida canescens Increaser II
Aristida congesta barbicollis Increaser II
Aristida transvaalensis Uncertain
Bewsia biflora Uncertain
Bothriochloa radicans Increaser II
Brachiaria serrata Decreaser
Cloris virgata Increaser II
Ctenium concinnum Increaser I
Cymbopogon excavatus Increaser I
Cynodon dactylon Increaser II
Digitaria diagonalis Increaser I
Digitaria eriantha Decreaser
Digitaria monodactyla Increaser II
Diheteropogon amplectens Decreaser
Elionurus muticus Increaser III possibly a Decreaser
Eragrostis chloromelas Increaser II
Eragrostis curvula Increaser II
Eragrostis gummiflua Increaser II
Eragrostis nindensis Increaser II
Eragrostis racemosa Increaser II
Harpochloa falx Increaser II
Heteropogon contortus Increaser II
Hyparrhenia hirta Increaser I possibly a Decreaser
Hyparrhenia tamba Increaser I
Leersia hexandra Possibly a Decreaser
Loudetia simplex Increaser II
Melinis nerviglumis Increaser I
Melinus repens Increaser II
Microchloa caffra Increaser II
Miscanthus capensis Increaser I
Monocymbium ceresiiforme Decreaser
Panicum natalense Decreaser
Paspalum dilatatum Uncertain
Paspalum scrobiculatum Increaser II
Phragmites australis Decreaser
Pogonarthria squarrosa Increaser II
Schizachyrium sanguineum Increaser I
Setaria spp. Decreaser
Sporobolus fimbriatus Decreaser
Sporobolus pectinatus Uncertain
Themeda triandra Decreaser
Trachypogon spicatus Increaser I
Triraphis andropogonoides Increaser I
Tristachya leucothrix Increaser I
Urelytrum agropyroides Increaser I
Urochloa panicoides Increaser II
* From: Robinson (1996); Smit (1988); Van Oudtshoorn (1999).•28
2.7 Water supply and wetland aspects
The main reason for the Nature Reserve’s existence is to supply drinking
water to the city
of Pretoria. Since the main function of the area is to provide water,
the catchment area
needs to be conserved and the water needs to be accumulated and distributed.
For this
reason the dam was built in the Six Mile Spruit and has a storing capacity
of 12.024
million m• of water. The dam has a surface area of 204.13 ha when full.
The dam wall is
32 metres high and 350 metres long. At the wall it is 16 metres deep.
The overflow of the
dam is 191 metres long and 101 metres wide (Rietvlei Nature Reserve,
Undated).
The catchment area of the dam is 479 km• but the Rietvlei Nature Reserve
only occupies
38.70 km• (3 870 ha). The inflow into the dam exceeds 20 million litres
of water per day
in the dry winter months. The stream first flows through the Marais
dam that acts as a
sludge or silt dam for the larger dam and joins the Grootvlei spruit
that flows through the
reserve into the larger Rietvlei Dam. The wetland running through the
reserve is
approximately eight kilometres long and at some places 600 meters wide
(Rietvlei Nature
Reserve, Undated).
Rietvlei Nature Reserve’s wetlands were identified by Smuts (1997)
as having the
potential to sustain peatlands. A major part of the wetland system
consists of peatlands.
Peat is a natural organic resource presently being deposited in certain
wetlands in South
Africa. It forms an active part of the filter and storage capabilities
of wetlands and plays a
vital role as a water resource. Peat is formed when decaying organic
matter accumulates in
moist, reducing and low energy environments, as in swamps (Grundling
et al., 1998). Peat
is composed of humified organic matter, which, when dried, is a combustible
material that
can ignite spontaneously (Grundling et al., 1998).
The peatland in Rietvlei also acts as a natural filter and a sponge
that stores vast quantities
of water. Fifty percent of all the wetlands in the world are peatlands,
and most of these are
located in the Northern Hemisphere. Only one percent of all peatlands
occur in Africa and
South America, collectively. Peatlands such as the one in Rietvlei
Nature Reserve are thus
a rare feature in the southern African landscape (Grundling & Marneweck,
2000).•29
The Rietvlei wetland is a valley-bottom fen and the southern portion
(the northern section
of Witkoppies) is approximately 77 ha in extent and before mining commenced,
contained
up to 1 280 000 m• of peat with an average thickness of 1.7 meters
(Grundling, 2004). As
much as 70-90 % of this southern peatland surface area was mined and
portions of the
northern peatland were destroyed by fire. The southern wetland was
severely degraded by
the peat mining (Grundling & Marneweck, 2000).
The Central wetland portion is located from the old Witkoppies boundary
to just below the
confluence of the Grootvlei tributaries and Sesmyl spruit and is approximately
85 ha in
extent. It can be classified as a seasonal floodplain and seepage wetland.
The Northern
peatland stretches from the confluence of the two streams to the inflow
of the Rietvlei
Dam and is approximately 70 ha in extent. It has an average peat thickness
of 0.75 meters
and contained up to 525 000 m• of peat before large portions were lost
in a number of peat
fires (Grundling, 2004). The City Of Tshwane, Friends of Rietvlei and
the Working for
Water project have already done extensive rehabilitation of the wetlands
(Rietvlei Nature
Reserve, Undated).
Venter (2003) identified three plant communities and six sub-communities
during a
baseline vegetation survey of rehabilitated peatland on Rietvlei Nature
Reserve. It was
noted that the majority of the pioneer plant species were exotic weeds
but that the
vegetation already started to change in the direction of the climax
communities within a
single year.
During 1988, a two-year programme was implemented to increase the height
of the dam
wall and to make other improvements. An additional supply of water
comes from four
natural springs within the Reserve, a spring on the adjacent private
property and from five
boreholes on the dolomite areas in the reserve. The overflow of subterranean
water
appears as dolomite springs, which sometimes produce a strong flow
of water. The five
boreholes on the reserve have, because of water extraction, unfortunately
dropped the
water table and only one of the springs is still supplying a strong
flow. Today the Rietvlei
Nature Reserve provides 15% of Pretoria’s water requirements, estimated
at 41 million
litres of water per day. The rest of the water used in the city is
mainly bought from Rand•30
Water and the Vaal scheme. One of these pipelines for water supply
runs through the
reserve.•31
Natural watering holes or drinking areas for the game are spread evenly
throughout the
area (dams, streams and fountains), resulting in good use of the entire
area by the game
species. No man-made watering holes exist and the game cannot be rotated
by opening
and closing of watering holes (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated).•32
2.8 Burning program
The internal road system divides the reserve into approximately 31
management blocks as
far as the burning program is concerned. Rotational grazing is implemented
by
systematically burning these blocks according to a burning program
(Rietvlei Nature
Reserve, Undated). The game prefers new grass shoots on burnt veld
and will concentrate
on these areas. It is important not to burn too small an area as this
will lead to overgrazing
and trampling. Approximately a third of the reserve is burned every
year and the entire
reserve is thus burned in a three to four year cycle if enough dead
organic material is
available to sustain a fire (> 2 000 kg/ha). Figure 2.7 indicates the
blocks that were burnt
during the last few years.
A block is only burnt if it has more than 2 000 kg of dry organic material
per hectare
available, according to the reserve’s management plan. The burning
is mainly done at
night and shortly after the first thunderstorms and rain of the season.
The burning is done
against the wind (back fire) and by setting a long fire front alight.
These fires are then
allowed to slowly burn the entire block or die out on its own in areas
that are too wet or
not able to sustain a fire. The burning of these blocks is done as
quickly as possible but
not all in the same night (Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Undated). This
is so that monitoring
can take place and when sudden changes in wind direction appear, the
fire can be
controlled not to spread out of the block.
All fires are kept out of the wetland and peat areas to ensure that
the peat doesn’t ignite
and burn.
Accidental fires do occur and they are mainly extinguished if they
are small enough to
control. If they are too big, back burns are made and the entire block
is burnt down, even
if it was only scheduled for burning some time in the future (Rietvlei
Nature Reserve,
Undated).•33
Figure 2.7: Burning program for Rietvlei Nature Reserve (1998
2002).•34
CHAPTER THREE
3. MATERIAL AND METHODS
Recent aerial photos of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve were used to identify
visible
geographical differences in plant species composition. A stereoscope
was used to identify
differences and possible boundaries of homogenous plant units. Kellman
(1980) and Budd
(1991) also discussed the use of aerial photos in terms of vegetation
data collection.
The 1:4 000 aerial photos of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
(City Council
of Pretoria, 1996) were used as well as the 1:50 000 photos of the
Surveyor General
(1991). The South African Air force (JARIC) also supplied aerial photos
of 1998. Broader
communities such as grassland, wetland, old lands, exotic bush clumps
and indigenous
bush were identified. These visually identified homogenous plant units
were then used as
a basis for the random allocation of vegetation monitoring plots within
each community.
The phytosociological method, namely the Zürich-Montpellier, or
Braun-Blanquet method
was used to classify the vegetation of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
The Braun-Blanquet
method is being described by Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg (1974)
as a simple, but not a
superficial system for the analysis of vegetation data. The Braun-Blanquet
method was
first described in detail by Braun-Blanquet (1932), and further descriptions
of this method
was done by Becking (1957), Kershaw (1973), Werger (1974), Westhoff
& Van der
Maarel (1978), Barbour et al. (1987) and Kent & Coker (1992). This
method is widely
accepted and has been successfully used within the various biomes of
South Africa by
amongst others Werger (1973), Coetzee (1974), Bredenkamp (1975), Bredenkamp
&
Theron (1976), Bredenkamp & Theron (1978), Viljoen (1979), Bredenkamp
& Theron
(1980), Müller (1986), Van Wyk & Bredenkamp (1986), Behr &
Bredenkamp (1988),
Bezuidenhout (1988), Bredenkamp et al. (1989), Bezuidenhout & Bredenkamp
(1990),
Kooij et al. (1990a,b,c), Bezuidenhout & Bredenkamp (1991), Du
Preez & Bredenkamp
(1991), Matthews (1991), Du Preez & Venter (1992), Fuls et al.
(1992), Eckhardt et al.
(1993), Schulze et al. (1994), Smit et al. (1995), Brown et al. (1997),
De Frey (1999),
Malan et al. (1999), Bredenkamp et al. (1999), Venter (2001), Janecke
(2002), Müller
(2002) and Botha (2003).•35
Sample plots of 4 x 4 meters were placed randomly in the identified
broader homogenous
plant units, except for the indigenous and exotic bush clumps where
the sample plot size
was increased to 10 x 10 meters (Bredenkamp & Theron, 1978). The
sample site should be
the smallest area that will adequately describe the vegetation. For
this study, a total of 184
stratified randomly placed sample plots were surveyed, mainly during
the summer months
of 2002-2003. The exact location of the sample plots within the homogenous
plant units
was entirely non-random (Becking, 1957). These plots for vegetation
description are thus
deliberately and carefully selected as a representative area of a particular
vegetation type
and must reflect the species diversity of the immediate area. The study
area should be
uniform and homogeneous in terms of plant species composition and structure
of the
vegetation, also in terms of habitat.
The cover abundance scale (Table 3.1) was allocated according to the
Braun-Blanquet
scale for each species present in the sample plots surveyed. All other
environmental and
sampling data, such as the relevé number, date, GPS reference
(Global Positioning
System), locality, vegetation type, land type, altitude, aspect, slope,
geology, soil, biotic
influence, canopy cover were acquired and recorded for each sample
plot on a data form
(see Appendix G).
All the field data were tabulated into a matrix and the computer program
TURBOVEG
(Hennekens, 1996b) was used for the encoding of the data. The vegetation
data were
sorted into units with the MEGATAB program (Hennekens, 1996a). A table
was obtained
using TWINSPAN (Hill, 1979a) and this procedure was refined by using
Braun-Blanquet
measures which groups plots with similar species composition together.
Differential
species are species of medium to low constancy, which tend to occur
together in a series
of plots and can thus be used to characterise groups. These are recognized
and sorted. The
final phytosociological table displays the main synthetic characters
of the community
(Becking, 1957). The different vegetation groups were identified and
by using species as a
guideline, several physiognomic units could be interpreted (Kent &
Coker, 1992; De Frey,
1999; Müller, 2002; Botha, 2003).
Once associations have been defined and recognized, a synoptic table
can be produced
summarising the data for each association. Each community type is represented
by a•36
column in which each characterising species of each association is
indicated as a
percentage or class value (Kent & Coker, 1992).
The arrangement of species and plots in the table leads to a comprehensive
classification
system of syntaxa. This can be used as a basis for further ecological
studies. Species act as
indicators for the habitat typical for the community and the Braun-Blanquet
method
determines that patterns in the floristic composition correspond with
patterns in the
environment (Werger, 1974b; Botha, 2003).
Ordination was done, using the detrended correspondence analysis (DECORANA)
ordination algorithm for further analysis of the floristic data set
to illustrate the floristic
relationships between the various plant communities and environmental
factors (Hill,
1979b; Botha, 2003).
The latest changes in plant taxon names were used for this study (Germishuizen
et al.,
2003).
Table 3.1: The Braun-Blanquet cover values used in this study.
Cover Values
Description
r Rare occurrence, single or a few individuals
+ Cover less than 1 % of total plot area. (<1 %)
1 Cover less than 5 % of total plot area. (1 % - 5 %)
2a * Cover between 5 % 12.5 % of total plot area. (>5 %
12 %)
2b * Cover between 12.5 % 25 % of total plot area. (>12 %
25 %)
3 Cover between 25 % 50 % of total plot area. (>25 % 50
%)
4 Cover between 50 % 75 % of total plot area. (>50 % 75
%)
5 Cover between 75 % 100 % of total plot area. (>75 % 100
%)
* After Bredenkamp et al., (1993); Botha, (2003).•37
CHAPTER FOUR
4. RESULTS
The vegetation of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve was divided into six
main communities,
each with a number of sub-communities, some with variants.
Identification of the vegetation communities was done using the tables
attached in
Appendix H, I, J and K. The six communities that were identified are:
Andropogon
schirensis Aristida congesta Community, Gladiolus crassifolius
Brachiaria serrata
Community, Eragrostis chloromelas - Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata
Community,
Eragrostis chloromelas - Cynodon dactylon Community, Setaria verticillata
Phragmites
australis Community and Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana
Community.
These communities and the results from the synoptic table (Table 4.7
attached in
Appendix L), where five vegetation units were described, were used
to map the plant
communities and the proposed management areas for the Rietvlei Nature
Reserve (Figures
6.1 and 6.2).
A Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DECORANA) was done of the six
communities
identified. The detrended correspondence analysis revealed the discontinuity
between the
wetland and grassland communities further illustrating the floristic
relationships between
the various plant communities and environmental factors such as moisture.
Axis 1 (Figure
4.1) represented a moisture gradient between the dry grassland and
the deep flowing and
standing wetlands. The homogeneous grassland communities with their
slight differences
are very evident in Figure 4.1. The Eigen values on Axis 1 were 0.83
and on Axis 3 it was
0.35. The length of Gradient for Axis 1 was 5.524 and for Axis 3 it
was 4.361. No
defining variation could be identified on Axis 3.•38
4.1 Andropogon schirensis Aristida congesta Community
This community is located mainly on the Dolomite formations in the
eastern portions of
the reserve. From the classification of the dataset, the following
results were obtained:
four sub-communities and seven variants were identified (Table 4.1
attached in Appendix
H). The differential species of this community is in Species group
L. The Andropogon
schirensis Aristida congesta Community could be sub-divided into
the following:
4.1.1. Xerophyta retinervis Pellaea calomelanos Sub-community
A Buddleja salviifolia Variant
B Tristachya leucothrix Variant
4.1.2. Ctenium concinnum Vernonia galpinii Sub-community
4.1.3. Dianthus mooiensis Silene burchellii Sub-community
A Crinum graminicola Variant
B Eragrostis capensis Variant
4.1.4. Nemesia fruticans Senecio affinis Sub-community
A Helichrysum nudifolium Variant
B Indigofera comosa Variant
C Schizachyrium sanguineum Variant
4.1.1. Xerophyta retinervis Pellaea calomelanos Sub-community
The Xerophyta retinervis Pellaea calomelanos Sub-community was
well defined by
Species group C. Xerophyta retinervis (Species group C) is a good indicator
species of
this rocky sub-community and is mostly found on Rocky ridges such as
quartzite.
A Buddleja salviifolia Variant
Buddleja salviifolia (Species group A) is a shrub that is usually associated
with moist
conditions. In this case it was located on top of a ridge where a shallow
water table is
present. The grass Panicum natalense (Species group T) is normally
seen as an indicator
of rocky habitat and has a high cover in this habitat.•39
B Tristachya leucothrix Variant
The grass Urelytrum agropyroides (Species group M) as well as the sedge
Bulbostylis
burchellii (Species group H) has high cover values in the sample plots
that represent this
variant. Urelytrum agropyroides (Species group M) is known to grow
on well drained,
often moist soils. Bulbostylis burchellii (Species group H) is very
common on rocky
ridges. The grass Tristachya leucothrix (Species group B) and the multi-stemmed
shrublet
Protea welwitschii (Species group B) are both indicator species of
rocky habitats.
4.1.2. Ctenium concinnum Vernonia galpinii Sub-community
Species group D defines the Ctenium concinnum Vernonia galpinii
Sub-community. The
presence of dolomite as parent material plays an important role in
this habitat. Sinkholes
or dolines are common in this area and the typical soil formation is
Mispah. The grasses
Ctenium concinnum (Species group D) and Diheteropogon amplectens (Species
group M)
dominate in this area. Ctenium concinnum (Species group D) occurs mainly
on dry, sandy
soils and Diheteropogon amplectens (Species group M) prefers nutrient
poor, rocky soils
on an incline. Vernonia galpinii (Species group D), a perennial herb
is usually found in
rocky places. The absence of species from Species groups B, C and D
is also notable and
helps to characterise this sub-community.
4.1.3. Dianthus mooiensis Silene burchellii Sub-community
The perennial herbs Dianthus mooiensis (Species group G) and Silene
burchellii in
Species group G are differential species for this sub-community. Both
these species are
typical grassland species and are common on rocky outcrops. Although
the soil in the
sample plots was very shallow, it was generally more moist than the
soil of the Gladiolus
crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Communities. During this study
the sample plots with
the highest species richness, were found in this sub-community. Two
variant communities
could be distinguished in this sub-community.
A Crinum graminicola Variant
Crinum graminicola (Species group E), a bulbous plant, is a differential
species of this
variant. On the other hand, the grass Eragrostis capensis (Species
group F) is almost
completely absent from this variant.•40
B Eragrostis capensis Variant
Eragrostis capensis in Species group F was found in some of the sample
plots and it
defines this variant community. The absence of Crinum graminicola (Species
group E)
from this variant also characterises this variant. Eragrostis capensis
(Species group F) is a
grass that is normally found in areas where the soil is moist for the
greater part of the year.
4.1.4. Nemesia fruticans Senecio affinis Sub-community
No well defined Species group distinguishes this sub-community from
the others, but the
absence of species from Species groups F, G and H is noticeable. The
grasses Bewsia
biflora (Species group S) and Urelytrum agropyroides (Species group
M) are well
represented in the other sub-communities (Andropogon schirensis
Aristida congesta
Communities) but are completely absent in all three variants of this
sub-community. Both
these grass species prefer rocky inclines. All the sample plots of
the Nemesia fruticans
Senecio affinis Sub-community were located on fairly level surfaces.
The herbs Nemesia
fruticans (Species group L) and Senecio affinis (Species group S),
as well as the grass
Aristida congesta subsp. congesta (Species group L), were well represented
in this sub-community.
A Helichrysum nudifolium Variant
The perennial herbs Helichrysum nudifolium (Species group J) and Neorautanenia
ficifolius in Species group J define this variant. The perennial shrublet
Indigofera comosa
(Species group K) and the grass Eragrostis lehmanniana (Species group
L) are absent
from this variant community.
B Indigofera comosa Variant
No characteristic species group could be used to define this variant
community. Two
species namely the perennial shrublet Indigofera comosa (Species group
K) and the grass
Eragrostis lehmanniana (Species groups L) are present in this variant.
Eragrostis
lehmanniana (Species group L) often occurs on areas that have been
disturbed previously.
Stoebe vulgaris (Species group S) attained some high cover value in
this variant. This is a
perennial shrublet that is known to proliferate in overgrazed areas
and can cause further
degradation of the pasture.
C Schizachyrium sanguineum Variant•41
The grass Schizachyrium sanguineum (Species group S) grows in all soil
forms but often
in moist areas. This grass species, the herb Justicia angalloides (Species
group S) and the
grass Eragrostis nindensis in Species group S, define this variant
community.•42
4.2 Gladiolus crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Community
This community was found in a much drier habitat than the other undisturbed
grassveld
communities and was generally associated with rocky outcrops. Although
Brachiaria
serrata (Species group T) does have a high habitat tolerance, this
grass and Panicum
natalense (Species group T) can be regarded as indicators of rocky
grassland in good
condition. During the survey, termite damage was evident in a number
of sample plots.
The differential species of this community is in Species group P. From
the classification of
the dataset (Table 4.1 attached in Appendix H) two sub-communities
can be distinguished,
namely:
4.2.1 Dicoma zeyheri Hypoxis interjecta Sub-community
4.2.2 Gerbera viridifolia Solanum panduriforme Sub-community.
4.2.1. Dicoma zeyheri Hypoxis interjecta Sub-community
The perennial herbs Dicoma zeyheri (Species group N) and bulbous plant
Hypoxis
interjecta (Species group N) were found to be the diagnostic species.
The grass Eragrostis
chloromelas (Species group S) was recorded to have a high cover value
in many of the
sample plots. Although the sample plots were scattered evenly throughout
the reserve,
they were all restricted to rocky areas with steep slopes.
4.2.2. Gerbera viridifolia Solanum panduriforme Sub-community
This sub-community was well defined by Species group O that consisted
of Gerbera
viridifolia, Nidorella anomala, Schistostephium crataegifolium, Indigofera
zeyheri and
Polygala amatymbica. The absence of Solanum panduriforme (Species group
S) and
Selago densiflora (Species group S) distinguishes this sub-community
from the Nicoma
zither Hypoxias interject Sub-community. Seriphium plumosum (Species
group S), with
its high cover values, is well represented in this sub-community and
is also an indicator of
degraded grassland.•43
4.3 Eragrostis chloromelas - Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata Community
This community was found mainly in the centre of the reserve on the
Andesitic Lavas that
dominate the substrate. Although the soils in the sample plots were
found to be extremely
shallow, the habitat was found to be more moist than that of the Gladiolus
crassifolius
Brachiaria serrata Communities. The differential species of this community
is in Species
group J. From the classification of the dataset, four sub-communities
and two variants
were identified (Table 4.2 attached in Appendix I). The following Eragrostis
chloromelas
- Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata Sub-communities and variants were
identified:
4.3.1. Ledebouria ovatifolia Hyparrhenia hirta Sub-community
4.3.2. Ipomoea oblongata Crabbea angustifolia Sub-community
A Phyllanthus parvulus Variant
B Rhus discolor Variant
4.3.3. Rhus pyroides Schistostephium crateagifolium Sub-community
4.3.4. Gladiolus crassifolius Eragrostis chloromelas Sub-community
4.3.1. Ledebouria ovatifolia Hyparrhenia hirta Sub-community
The bulbous plant Ledebouria ovatifolia (Species group A) is the diagnostic
species and
Hyparrhenia hirta (Species group J) the diagnostic grass species in
this sub-community.
Other grass species that were found throughout this sub-community were
Setaria
sphacelata var sphacelata (Species group J) and Digitaria diagonalis
(Species group E).
Peucadanum magalismontanum (Species group J) is an erect perennial
herb with a
rootstock found in all the sample sites. The soils were very shallow
(< 300 mm deep), and
the Mispah soil form is very typical of the Andesitic Lava areas. Some
of the sample sites
showed signs of moderate trampling and grazing.•44
4.3.2. Ipomoea oblongata Crabbea angustifolia Sub-community
Ipomoea oblongata (Species group D), a prostrate herb and Crabbea angustifolia
(Species
group I) were found to be the diagnostic herbaceous species of this
community. Most of
the sample sites were on shallow Andesitic Lava dominated soils. The
grasses Eragrostis
chloromelas (Species group J) and Digitaria diagonalis (Species group
E) were found to
be dominant on the majority of the sites. Two sample plots were located
on Dolomite.
Slope does not have an influence on these communities, since they were
located on gently
sloping east and west facing inclines. Two variant communities were
found in this sub-community.
A Phyllanthus parvulus Variant
This variant community was mainly located in the northern portions
of the reserve and
Rhus discolor (Species group C) and Ipomoea bathycolpos (Species group
C) were absent.
Phyllanthus parvulus (Species group B), a small shrublet, characterises
this variant.
B Rhus discolor Variant
Rhus discolor (Species group C), a sparsely branched shrublet, and
the perennial forb
Ipomoea bathycolpos (Species group C), characterise this variant. Phyllanthus
parvulus
(Species group B) is poorly represented in this variant. Large colonies
of the shrublet
Ziziphus zeyheriana (Species group J) were also very evident in these
sample sites.
4.3.3. Rhus pyroides Schistostephium crateagifolium Sub-community
The erect forb Schistostephium crateagifolium (Species group I), the
shrub Rhus pyroides
(Species group F) and the succulent Aloe zebrine (Species group F),
occur in moist places
on rocky outcrops. Schistostephium crateagifolium (Species group I)
is a tufted perennial
herb and Rhus pyroides (Species group F) a much-branched shrub or tree.
Aloe zebrina
(Species group F) has a low growth form and sometimes forms dense colonies.
Large
boulders (> 200 mm) cover about 35% of these sites. Many of these boulders
are partially
buried and the soils are relatively shallow.•45
4.3.4. Gladiolus crassifolius Eragrostis chloromelas Sub-community
Gladiolus crassifolius in Species group H is the diagnostic bulbous
species and Eragrostis
chloromelas in Species group J is the differential grass species of
this sub-community.
Large colonies of Ziziphus zeyheriana (Species group J) are also very
evident in these
sample sites. Species group H, with Gladiolus crassifolius, Sonchus
dregeanus, Eragrostis
lehmanniana, Raphionacme hirsute, Heteropogon contortus, Nemesia fruticans
and
Eragrostis plana, defines this sub-community very well. Some signs
of grazing were
observed. The absence of plants from Species groups A to G is very
conspicuous in this
sub-community.•46
4.4 Eragrostis chloromelas - Cynodon dactylon Community
From the classification of the dataset, nine sub-communities and six
variants were
identified (Table 4.3 attached in Appendix J). Eragrostis chloromelas
(Species group V)
and Cynodon dactylon (Species group V) both recorded high cover values
in many of the
sample plots. The soil types and geology varied greatly in this community.
Various levels
of human and animal disturbance, ranging from fallow fields, planted
pasture to
overgrazed and trampled areas, occur in this community. Campuloclinium
macrocephalum
is a category 1 declared weed and was found extensively within this
community. The
differential species of this community is in Species group V. The following
Eragrostis
chloromelas - Cynodon dactylon Sub-communities and variants were identified:
4.4.1. Setaria sphacelata var torta Eragrostis chloromelas Sub-community
A Eragrostis gummiflua Variant
B Vernonia oligocephala Variant
4.4.2. Eragrostis lehmanniana - Heteropogon contortus Sub-community
4.4.3. Hemizigia pretoriae Setaria spahcelata var sphacelata
Sub-community
4.4.4. Cymbopogon excavatus Cassia comosa Sub-community
A Aristida bipartita Variant
B Heteropogon contortus Variant
4.4.5. Acacia karroo Asparagus transvaalensis Sub-community
4.4.6. Asparagus laricinus Cynodon dactylon Sub-community
A Rhus pyroides Variant
B Diospyros lycioides subsp. guerkei Variant
4.4.7. Solanum elaeagnifolium Cynodon dactylon Sub-community
4.4.8. Hyparrhenia tamba Asparagus laricinus Sub-community
4.4.9. Digitaria eriantha - Hyparrhenia hirta Sub-community
4.4.1. Setaria sphacelata var torta Eragrostis chloromelas Sub-community
Two grass species, namely Setaria sphacelata var torta (Species group
C) and Eragrostis
chloromelas (Species group V) are the diagnostic species for this sub-community.
The
absence of species from Species groups K to Q is very conspicuous in
this sub-community
and helps to characterise it. Species group C is well represented in
this sub-community.•47
A Eragrostis gummiflua Variant
This Eragrostis gummiflua variant is identified by the species in Species
group A of which
two species, namely Eragrostis gummiflua and Nidorella anomala are
conspicuous.
Nidorella anomala (Species group A) is often found in dense stands
in wet environments
and along roads, but in only 3 of these survey plots did this species
cover between 1 and 5
% of the total plot area.
B Vernonia oligocephala Variant
Species group B defines the Vernonia oligocephala variant community
with Vernonia
oligocephala, Pentanisia angustifolia, Elephantorrhiza elephantine,
Rhynchosia totta and
Vernonia natalensis. Vernonia oligocephala (Species group B) did not
record very high
cover scores, but is a conspicuous perennial herb of up to 1 metre
high with a woody
rootstock.
4.4.2. Eragrostis lehmanniana - Heteropogon contortus Sub-community
Eragrostis lehmanniana is well represented in this sub-community (Species
group D). The
majority of the sample plots in this sub-community were heavily grazed
and trampled. The
grasses Eragrostis chloromelas (Species group V) and Cynodon dactylon
(Species group
V) both recorded high cover values in some of the survey plots.
4.4.3. Hemizigia pretoriae Setaria spahcelata var sphacelata
Sub-community
Species group F defines this sub-community through Hemizigia pretoriae
and Dicoma
anomala. Setaria spahcelata var sphacelata (Species group G) was found
to be the
differential grass species in this sub-community.
4.4.4. Cymbopogon excavatus Cassia comosa Sub-community
This sub-community does not have a well defined species group and many
of these were
also recorded in several of the other species groups. Cymbopogon excavatus
(Species
group J) and Cassia comosa (Species group Q) are the differential species
with relatively
high constancy and cover values. Two variants were found in this sub-community.•48
A Aristida bipartita Variant
The grass Aristida bipartita (Species group H) was recorded in all
the sample sites and
may be an indicator of overgrazing. It is regularly found in moist
places but will also grow
in disturbed areas. Shrub forms of the tree species Acacia karroo (Species
group K) were
present in all the plots and showed signs of browse impacts. This species
is known to
encroach in areas where competition from grasses is diminished by heavy
grazing, for
example.
B Heteropogon contortus Variant
In this variant Heteropogon contortus (Species group S) and Eragrostis
chloromelas
(Species group V) are grasses with very high cover values in most of
the survey plots.
Heteropogon contortus (Species group S) can be an indicator of disturbed
areas. Cassia
comosa (Species group Q) was found in some of the plots of this variant
community.
4.4.5. Acacia karroo Asparagus transvaalensis Sub-community
Species group K defines this sub-community through Acacia karroo, Asparagus
transvaalensis and Gymnosporia heterophylla. Rhus pyroides (Species
group L) was also
strongly represented. The majority of tree species showed signs of
being browsed with a
distinctive browse line and broken branches. Bidens pilosa (Species
group O), a
cosmopolitan weed, (possibly a native of America) as well as Zinnia
peruviana (Species
group O) from South America, were both found in this sub-community.
These two species
are often found in disturbed places and in the shade of bush clumps.
4.4.6. Asparagus laricinus Cynodon dactylon Sub-community
In this sub-community two variant communities were found. This sub-community
can
either be described as being disturbed, in a rocky area or totally
under utilized. No well-defined
species group characterises this sub-community. The two exotic Verbena
species,
namely V. bonariensis and V. brasilliensis, Eragrostis chloromelas
and Cynodon dactylon,
dominate this sub-community (all from Species group V).•49
A Rhus pyroides Variant
Rhus pyroides (Species group L) characterises this variant. None of
the species of
Species group K are present. Rhus pyroides (Species group L) showed
signs of being
browsed by eland. Old stone kraals, probably dating back to the Iron
Age, are present in
this variant. These stone kraals could be the initial cause for the
development of this
variant at this site. The rocks and boulders that were used to build
these kraals, created a
sheltered environment (protection from fire and browsing) for shrub
seedlings.
B Diospyros lycioides subsp. guerkei Variant
Diospyros lycioides subsp. guerkei (Species group M) and Asparagus
laricinus (Species
group M) are the two differential species of herbaceous plants found
in this variant.
Asparagus laricinus forms dense, impenetrable bushes reaching 2 meters
in height. The
sharp curved thorns (from these the name Cat bush) further contribute
to making the area
unsuitable for most of the larger mammals. The grasses Eragrostis chloromelas
(Species
group V) and Cynodon dactylon (Species group V) are dominating the
open areas.
4.4.7. Solanum elaeagnifolium Cynodon dactylon Sub-community
The Solanum elaeagnifolium Cynodon dactylon sub-community (Species
group N) is
disturbed grassland. The following species had very high cover values
in most of the
survey plots: Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis chloromelas, Hyparrhenia
hirta and
Helichrysum rugulosum (all from Species group V). Helichrysum rugulosum
(Species
group V) was occasionally found in dense groups. Solanum elaeagnifolium
is a category
1 declared weed.
4.4.8. Hyparrhenia tamba Asparagus laricinus Sub-community
Hyparrhenia tamba (Species group P) and Asparagus laricinus (Species
group M) were
strongly represented. All these sample plots, except two, were in wetland
blocks defined
by the road network. The plant material was dense and almost no signs
of grazing or
trampling could be found. Hyparrhenia tamba (Species group P) is a
grass that is
normally associated with moist soils next to rivers and wetlands. It
is also known to
encroach into moist disturbed areas.•50
4.4.9. Digitaria eriantha - Hyparrhenia hirta Sub-community
All the sample plots within the old agricultural lands on the southern
portion of the
reserve were found to contain this sub-community. Species group U defines
this sub-community,
through the grasses Digitaria eriantha, Urochloa panicoides and Chloris
virgata. Hyparrhenia hirta (Species group V) was strongly represented.
Almost no
herbaceous species were encountered.
4.5 Setaria verticillata Phragmites australis Community
From the classification of the dataset, only one plant community was
identified (Table
4.4 attached in Appendix K): Setaria verticillata Phragmites
australis Community. The
differential species of this community is in Species group A.
Species group A defines this sub-community in the form of the grass
Setaria verticillata
and the herbs Amaranthus hybridus, Persicaria hydropiper and Physalis
angulata.
Setaria verticillata (Species group A) is known to occur in wet, disturbed
areas,
especially in the shade of other plants such as trees. The common reed,
Phragmites
australis (Species group B) is a very diagnostic species that is always
associated with
wet or moist soils and very seldom found far from watercourses. Phragmites
australis
(Species group B) recorded high cover values in many of the sample
plots. Persicaria
hydropiper (Species group A) is an exotic weed associated with damp
areas. The alien
invader, Cirsium vulgare (Species group B) is a category 1 declared
weed.•51
4.6 Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana Community
From the classification of the dataset, the following results were
obtained: two sub-communities
(Table 4.4 attached in Appendix K). The following species had very
high
cover values in most of the survey plots: Arundinella nepalensis, Eleocharis
dregeana
and the rush Mariscus congestus (all in Species group E). The sedge
Eleocharis
dregeana (Species group E) as well as Arundinella nepalensis (Species
group E) known
as River Grass, are most often found in wetlands. The differential
species of this
community is in Species group E. The following Arundinella nepalensis
Eleocharis
dregeana Sub-communities were identified:
4.6.1. Hyparrhenia tamba Phragmites australis Sub-community
4.6.2. Hemarthria altissima Eleocharis dregeana Sub-community
4.6.1. Hyparrhenia tamba Phragmites australis Sub-community
The grass Hyparrhenia tamba (Species group C) and all the species in
Species group C
define this sub-community. The strong presence of species from Species
group B
(including Phragmites australis) helps to define this sub-community
even further. The
near absence of species from Species group D also helps with the identification
of this
sub-community. Hyparrhenia tamba (Species group C) is a grass that
is normally
associated with moist soils next to rivers and wetlands. This sub-community
can be
described as being a Reedbed with an associated wet grassland community.
Phragmites
australis (Species group B) recorded high cover values in many of the
sample plots. The
alien invader, Cirsium vulgare (Species group B) is a category 1 declared
weed and was
found within this Sub-community.
4.6.2. Hemarthria altissima Eleocharis dregeana Sub-community
Species group D and the near absence of species from Species group
C and B define this
sub-community. The grass Hemarthria altissima (Species group D) is
associated with
wetlands and riverbanks and also helps with the identification of this
sub-community.
This sub-community can be described as being a wet grassland community.•52
4.7 Description of Vegetation units from the Synoptic Table
The synoptic table was used to describe five vegetation units for the
Rietvlei Nature
Reserve (Table 4.7 attached in Appendix L). From the classification
of the dataset the
following results were obtained:
4.7.1. Xerophyta retinervis Panicum natalense Rocky Ridges Unit
The grass Panicum natalense (Species group K) and all the species in
Species group A,
B, K and LL help to define this vegetation unit. Xerophyta retinervis
(Species group B) is
a good indicator species for rocky areas and is mostly found on Rocky
ridges and slopes.
This vegetation unit is made more obvious because of the absence of
species, rather than
the presence of defining species. Only the species of Species Groups
A, B, K and LL
were present and all the other species groups were conspicuously absent.
4.7.2. Diheteropogon amplectens Panicum natalense Rocky Grassland
Unit
Species Group J defines this Rocky Grassland Unit. The strong presence
of Panicum
natalense (Species group K) helps to define this vegetation unit even
further. The slope
varies greatly but the unique feature of this vegetation unit is the
rocky outcrops. Many
of the species found here prefer moist rocky soils on a slope.
4.7.3. Tephrosia capensis Cymbopogon excavatus Grassland Unit
Species Group Q with Tephrosia capensis, Aster harveyanus and Corchorus
confusus
defines this Grassland Unit. Species groups L to P are almost exclusively
found in this
Grassland Unit. This Unit represents the undisturbed, drier grasslands.
4.7.4. Eragrostis chloromelas Themeda triandra Grassland Unit
This Grassland unit only has a weak definition in Species group EE.
This species group
also indicates a level of disturbance in this unit. A number of species
groups are only
found in this unit (Species groups T, V, X, Y, AA, BB, CC and DD).
Eragrostis
chloromelas (Species group NN) and Themeda triandra (Species group
HH) were both
strongly represented. Most of the tree and shrub species are found
in this unit.•53
4.7.5. Cirsium vulgare Phragmites australis Wetland Unit
This wetland unit has an element of disturbed veld in it, as indicated
by the number of
species found in this unit that are indicators of disturbance. Species
groups OO to TT are
almost exclusively found in this Wetland Unit. Not one Species group
stands out as the
defining cluster.•54
4.8 The Vegetation map and Management units of Rietvlei Nature Reserve
A vegetation map (Figure 6.1) of the reserve and new data on species
lists are now
available for the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. Not all the plant communities
identified were
marked in Figure 6.1, as the determinations of the boundaries of these
often small areas,
were impossible. In Figure 6.1 only the communities that were visually
different and
where the boundaries could be clearly distinguished, were marked. The
wetland
communities were indicated as: 1. Setaria verticillata Phragmites
australis Wetland
Community and 2. Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana Wet-grassland
Community. The grassland communities were categorized under: 3. Grassland
Communities on Dolomite or 4. Low-lying Grassland Communities and Grassland
Communities on Andesitic lava.
The Sub-communities listed on Figure 6.1 are those where the boundaries
were clearly
visible and were they could be obviously mapped. Where small portions
of well defined
communities are cut off from the rest by a road these areas were incorporated
into the
larger Management Units. A good example here is where the Setaria verticillata
Phragmites australis Wetland Community around the Rietvlei dam were
incorporated
into the Lava and Shale Management Unit. The area next to the dam is
too small to
manage as a separate entity as far as burning and game rotation is
concerned.
The four different management units described in Figure 6.2 were defined
by the existing
roads and the identified Communities. The existing roads were used
to delineate the
management units and in areas where for example grassland and wetlands
were found,
the community that distinguished the area, was used to categorise it.
The Wetland
Management Unit mainly consists of the Setaria verticillata Phragmites
australis
Community (4.5) and the Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana
Community
(4.6). The Dolomitic Grassland Management Unit mainly consists of the
Andropogon
schirensis Aristida congesta Community (4.1). The Lava and Shale
Management Unit
mainly consists of the Eragrostis chloromelas - Setaria sphacelata
var sphacelata
Community (4.3).•55
The Gladiolus crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Community (4.2)
and the Eragrostis
chloromelas - Cynodon dactylon Community (4.4) were located within
the Dolomitic
Grassland Management Unit and the Lava and Shale Management Unit and
no clear
boundaries could be found.
The different management units described (Figure 6.2), can be used
as a basis for the
effective ecological management of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, especially
with the
burning program and when putting out game licks or mineral supplements.•56
Dry Moisture Wet
Undisturbed Grassland Å Disturbed veld Æ Undisturbed Wetland
Rocky No rocks
Figure 4.1: DECORANA Ordination Diagram indicating the various grassland
and wetland
communities in relation to the moisture content of the soil (Axis 1).
The Eigen
values on Axis 1 were 0.83 and on Axis 3 it was 0.35. The length of
Gradient for
Axis 1 was 5.524 and for Axis 3 it was 4.361. No defining variation
could be
identified on Axis 3.•57
CHAPTER FIVE
5. DISCUSSION
Factors such as fire, grazing, soils, water and pH have local influences
on the plant
species composition and may explain why some species were found outside
their normal
distribution areas of the communities identified.
The classification of the different plant communities showed good results.
The different
grassland communities showed good differentiation, but the actual delineation
of the
communities on the ground proved very difficult at the scale of this
study.
5.1 Andropogon schirensis Aristida congesta Community
This community is located primarily on the Dolomite formations on the
eastern portions
of the reserve. Dolomite plays a significant role in this general area,
as is evident with all
the sinkholes or dolines. It also contributes to soils with a relatively
high alkalinity. The
general soil formations are Mispah and Hutton (MacVicar et al., 1977).
The Buddleja
salviifolia variant, found in the Xerophyta retinervis Pellaea
calomelanos Sub-community,
grows on the top of the ridge. It is possible that because of the topography
some rainwater collects on site, which benefits this species. Protea
welwitschii and
Xerophyta retinervis are good indicator species of the rocky sub-community
and are
quite obtrusive.
Panicum natalense, Urelytrum agropyroides, Bulbostylis burchellii,
Tristachya
leucothrix and Protea welwitschii under normal conditions are all indicators
of rocky
areas and were thus mainly found in rocky habitats. The Ctenium concinnum
Vernonia
galpinii Sub-community was predominantly found in dry, sandy soils
or poor, rocky soils
on an incline.•58
The Dianthus mooiensis - Silene burchellii sub-community was found
on rocky ridges,
in very shallow soils that were generally more moist than those of
the Gladiolus
crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Communities. This area of the
reserve is only well
grazed during the summer after being burnt. The rest of the time the
larger mammal
species are not found in the area in any substantial numbers. Some
of the sample plots,
with the highest plant species, were found in this sub-community.
The entire set of sample plots of the Nemesia fruticans Senecio
affinis Sub-community
were located on fairly level surfaces. The presence of Eragrostis lehmanniana
and
Seriphium plumosum in the Indigofera comosa Variant gives the impression
that this
portion of the reserve was overgrazed or disturbed in some way in the
past. The exact
cause of the disturbance is unknown, but a number of exotic Wattle
bushes (Acacia
mearnsii, A. dealbata and A. decurrens) are still found in the area
and some mammal
species do make use of the shade offered by these trees.
5.2 Gladiolus crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Community
This community was found to be much drier than the other undisturbed
grassveld
communities and was generally associated with more rocky areas with
a more
pronounced slope. Seriphium plumosum is a species that is known to
proliferate in
overgrazed areas. The geology and soils did not seem to influence the
plant species
composition of this community and its two sub-communities. The rocky
surroundings
and drier habitat are the key visual determining factors.•59
5.3 Eragrostis chloromelas - Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata Community
This community occurred on soils that were generally very shallow (<
300 mm deep
Hutton and Mispah soil forms) on Andesitic Lavas. Some of the sample
sites showed
signs of trampling and grazing, especially the Gladiolus crassifolius
Eragrostis
chloromelas Sub-community. It is a drier community, associated with
some rocks that
stretch from north to south through the centre of the reserve. Ziziphus
zeyheriana was
very evident in this community. Two sites were located on Dolomite,
high on a south-facing
slope. It may be that some remnants of the Andesitic Lava are still
present. The
slope itself does not appear to have an influence on these communities.
5.4 Eragrostis chloromelas - Cynodon dactylon Community
The following sub-communities can be described as being naturally low-lying
grassland
communities with a high species diversity: Setaria sphacelata var torta
Eragrostis
chloromelas Sub-community, Eragrostis lehmanniana - Heteropogon contortus
Sub-community,
Hemizigia pretoriae Setaria spahcelata var sphacelata Sub-community
and
Cymbopogon excavatus Cassia comosa Sub- community.
During the hot summer days some game species will frequent the shade
under the trees.
In these areas the grasses and other herbaceous species are generally
well utilized. The
indigenous and exotic pioneer species then become more abundant, especially
in these
shady areas. An example is the Acacia karroo Asparagus transvaalensis
Sub-community
(Species group L) (Table 4.1 attached in Appendix H). Because of grazing
and trampling, the areas under and around the trees are also cleared
of most of the dead
organic material that can sustain a hot fire. This removal of plant
material then helps to
protect the tree species against the limiting factor of fire.
Because of the exclusion of fire from the areas around the wetland,
some species
proliferated and are now even indicators of the community. A good example
of this was
found in sample plots 70 and 90 where the Asparagus laricinus
Cynodon dactylon Sub-community
with the Rhus pyroides Variant and Diospyros lycioides subsp. guerkei•60
Variant were identified. Old stone kraals also protected the tree and
shrub species
against fire and browsing. These could be the reasons why they were
found in such high
concentrations in some of the sample plots.
The Solanum elaeagnifolium Cynodon dactylon Sub-community can
be described as
disturbed grassland. In most cases it is grassland that was transformed
by exotic tree
species such as wattles (Acacia mearnsii, A. decurrens and A. dealbata),
Populus spp.
and Eucalyptus spp. This sub-community is thus an indication of veld
where these
exotics have been removed or were subjected to annual mechanical cutting
and they are
now in a pioneer phase. Solanum elaeagnifolium is a category 1 declared
weed and must
be controled.
The Hyparrhenia tamba Asparagus laricinus Sub-community can also
be described as
disturbed or transformed grassland, mainly because of the exclusion
of fire from these
areas next to the wetland or in the wetland blocks defined by the roads.
The Digitaria eriantha - Hyparrhenia hirta Sub-community is a vegetation
unit, which is
also severely disturbed. Almost no herbaceous species were encountered
and those found
were known weeds. Some mechanical re-seeding has taken place on a few
of the old
lands. Large mammal species were excluded from this portion of the
reserve for
approximately 8 years and after opening it to grazing, many of the
annual herbaceous
weeds have reduced in numbers. Unfortunately no quantifiable data exists
to explain this
phenomenon.
5.5 Setaria verticillata Phragmites australis Community
Wetlands support a high diversity of life forms and many of these species
cannot survive
in any other habitat (Cowan, 1995). Cowan & Van Riet (1998) listed
Rietvlei as both a
Palustrine and a man made wetland of South Africa. They recognized
four different types
of freshwater marshes and Rietvlei falls in the category of a Reedbed
marsh dominated
by Phragmites species. The man made impoundments have had a profound
negative
effect on our natural wetland systems, by drowning them and changing
the hydrological
character of our rivers (Cowan & Van Riet, 1998).•61
Vegetation can have a significant effect on the hydrology of a wetland
and the hydrology
of a wetland can have a significant effect on species and species richness.
The
transpiration of exotic Eucalyptus tree species next to one of the
fountains on the reserve,
stopped it from flowing. When the trees were removed, the fountain
started flowing
within a very short period of time. The hydrology will effect the plant
species
composition and for example a low energy system, anaerobic conditions
and other
specific conditions can result in the formation of a peatland.
The common reed Phragmites australis is a differential species that
is always associated
with wet or moist soils and very seldom found far from watercourses.
As far as grazing is
concerned, it is not a very important species but it has some extremely
important
ecological roles. It protects the soil and drainage lines against erosion,
filters water and
provides habitat for many species of fauna. Setaria verticillata is
known to occur in wet,
disturbed areas, especially in the shade of other plants such as trees.
The alien invader,
Cirsium vulgare (Species group B) is a category 1 declared weed and
must be controlled.
This wetland community can be described as being a Reedbed wetland
community.
Except for one sample plot that is on a rehabilitated peat mining area,
the sample plots
are very similar. Even this one site, where the silt from the Marais
Dam was worked into
the mined area, has a very similar plant species composition to the
rest of the community.
5.6 Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana Community
The Hyparrhenia tamba Phragmites australis Sub-community can
be described as a
Reedbed with an associated wet grassland community. Where the grassland
comes in
contact with the wet soils and water, this community can be found.
The Hemarthria
altissima Eleocharis dregeana Sub-community can be described
as a wet grassland
community. No extensive reedbeds are present, but the vegetation gives
a good
indication that the soils are water saturated.•62
The lowest plant species composition was found in the two wetland communities.
These
wetland communities act as a winter feed bank, as the vegetation stays
green and
palatable for longer than on the open grasslands. The game species
move into the
wetlands in winter for grazing. The alien invader, Cirsium vulgare
(Species group B) is a
category 1 declared weed and must be controlled.
5.7 The Vegetation units from the Synoptic Table
Five Vegetation units for the Rietvlei Nature Reserve were described
using the Synoptic
Table 4.5 attached in Appendix L. These are Xerophyta retinervis
Panicum natalense
Rocky Ridges Unit, Diheteropogon amplectens Panicum natalense
Rocky Grassland
Unit, Tephrosia capensis Cymbopogon excavatus Grassland Unit,
Eragrostis
chloromelas Themeda triandra Grassland Unit and the Cirsium vulgare
Phragmites
australis Wetland Unit.
Once again the classification of the different vegetation units showed
good results as in
the classification of the communities. The different vegetation units
showed good
differentiation, but the delineation of the units on the ground proved
very difficult. The
differentiation is more apparent because of the absence of species
rather than the actual
presence of any number of species. The rocky areas are very apparent
and easily
identified. Both grassland units had some indigenous and exotic bush
clump elements.
The wetland unit had an element of disturbed veld in it, as indicated
by the number of the
species found in this unit that are indicators of disturbance.
The compilation of a map indicating the different management units
(Figure 6.2) was
done, using the vegetation map (Figure 6.1). Because the reserve is
fairly old and has
existing roads and fire breaks, these were used as the boundaries for
the management
units. It would be counter productive and very destructive to go and
make new roads and
fire breaks because of new knowledge concerning the vegetation units
and communities
found. This means that some areas that should be managed as a separate
entity are
included in the larger management units.•63
5.8 Aspects of veld and wildlife management
The main aim of veld management is to support or improve the quality
and production of
the veld so that animal production can be increased and so that the
area can sustain as
high a fauna and flora species diversity as possible.
The removal of all exotic fauna and flora must continue to sustain
and safeguard the
indigenous communities. From this study and by viewing aerial photos,
the work done on
removing the exotic trees from the reserve, is very evident. The biggest
threat facing the
reserve and its associated fauna and flora, is the exotic weeds. The
perennial herb
Campuloclinium macrocephalum is fast becoming the one species that
is spreading into
the natural grassland at an alarming rate. Observations over the last
few years have
shown this declared weed to be invading natural grassland. Unfortunately
there are many
of these exotic weeds on Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Appendix C). Management
plans are
being implemented to eradicate these listed exotics (Rietvlei Nature
Reserve, Undated).
The existing burning program should be continued to remove moribund
plant material
and encourage high plant species diversity. The use of fire, mineral
game lick and salt to
rotate the larger mammal species on the reserve, is very important
and allows some areas
a rest while others are being grazed. Because of fences, the animals
cannot move away
from an area to better grazing and rotational grazing helps to protect
and sustain the plant
species composition and high species diversity.
The damage to some of the trees and shrubs, mainly by eland, was visually
quite evident
during this study. The eland numbers should be lowered to approximately
80 mature
animals to limit the excessive defoliation of shrubs and trees. During
the winter months
there are almost no brows available and the eland then damage the indigenous
trees and
shrubs looking for green food. This number of eland is calculated from
the carrying
capacity of the reserve and does not include brows availability. With
the lowering of
eland numbers the bulk grazer numbers can be increased depending on
the management
objectives of the reserve.•64
The practise of planting only endemic trees where human activities
are concentrated,
such as at the overnight huts, lapa, etc. should also be encouraged.
It must be stated that
this is a grassland reserve, with some small pockets of indigenous
trees and shrubs that
survive in very specific areas and only under precise conditions. It
should thus be
managed as a grassland reserve and must not be changed.
The identified management units can now be incorporated into the Management
Plan for
Rietvlei Nature reserve and will give an indication of how specifically
the burning blocks
must be rotated and divided so that one entire management unit is not
burnt every time.
Portions of the different units must be burnt together, but fire must
still be prevented in
the peatland areas.•65
CHAPTER SIX
6. CONCLUSIONS
Different vegetation units on the Rietvlei Nature Reserve were identified,
classified,
described and interpreted. From this baseline information, different
management units
were described for use by the reserve management. This study revealed
that the
vegetation of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve could be divided into six
main communities,
each with a number of sub-communities and variants.
The communities identified were: Andropogon schirensis Aristida
congesta
Community, Gladiolus crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Community,
Eragrostis
chloromelas - Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata Community, Eragrostis
chloromelas -
Cynodon dactylon Community, Setaria verticillata Phragmites australis
Community
and Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana Community.
A vegetation map (Figure 6.1) of the reserve and new data on species
lists are now
available for the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. The different management
units described
(Figure 6.2) can be used as a basis for the effective ecological management
of the
Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
The importance of this Nature Reserve in a rapidly developing province
cannot be over
emphasised. This study must be used as a baseline from which regular
monitoring can
take place and more detailed studies of the different communities and
their interactions
can be done. This means that the management of the reserve can now
measure whether
the veld condition has remained the same, improved or deteriorated
over time. The
Bankenveld veld type is fast disappearing and its conservation needs
some urgent
attention as stated by Bredenkamp & Van Rooyen (1996). The reserve
is threatened by
urbanization and is fast becoming an island. Hopefully this study will
also contribute as
tool to give the decision-makers on local, provincial and national
level enough
information to continue to protect and develop this Grassland Nature
Reserve in a sound
and ecologically sustainable manner for all South Africans to enjoy.•66
Fig 6.1: Vegetation Types of Rietvlei Nature Reserve•67
Figure 6.2: Proposed Management areas for the Rietvlei Nature Reserve.•68
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
All honour, praise and thanks to God for the insight, power and health
so that this study
could be undertaken.
Thanks to the following people who all gave their special contributions
and help and
without whom this study would not have been possible: Vanessa Marais,
Petro Lemmer,
Theresa van Niekerk, Dr. Naas Rautenbach, Rihann Geyser and Wulf Haacke.
Also a
special thanks to Lourens du Plessis from MetroGIS.
Thank you to all my colleagues within the City of Tshwane’s Nature
Conservation
Section for their help and support.
A special thank you to my supervisors: Prof. G.N. Smit and Dr. P.J.
du Preez for all their
time and effort.•69
ABSTRACT:
A PLANT ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE,
GAUTENG PROVINCE
By
RIAAN MARAIS
In the Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences
Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences
University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Promoter: Prof. G. N. Smit
Co-promoter: Dr. P. J. du Preez
Magister Agriculturae
(Wildlife Management)
Keywords: Biodiversity Braun-Blanquet, Classification, Ecology, Grassland,
Wetland,
Plant Community, Vegetation.
This study was undertaken with the objective to identify and quantify
different
homogeneous management units on the Rietvlei Nature Reserve to facilitate
more
effective management as far as grazing utilization, burning and monitoring
are concerned.
Vegetation units had to be identified and mapped. From the communities
different
management units could be identified. The study area of 3 870 hectares
is a proclaimed
nature reserve and is situated southeast of Pretoria in the Gauteng
Province.
A phytosociological study of the vegetation was done using the Braun-Blanquet
method.
A total of 184 plots were sampled and classified using the Braun-Blanquet
method and
TWINSPAN.
This study revealed that the vegetation of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve
could be divided
into six main communities, each with a number of sub-communities and
some with
variants.•70
The communities identified were: Andropogon schirensis Aristida
congesta
Community, Gladiolus crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Community,
Eragrostis
chloromelas - Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata Community, Eragrostis
chloromelas -
Cynodon dactylon Community, Setaria verticillata Phragmites australis
Community
and Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana Community.
The different communities described were used as a basis for the representation
of a
vegetation map of the reserve and the demarcation of management areas
for the Rietvlei
Nature Reserve.•71
UITTREKSEL:
‘n PLANT EKOLOGIESE STUDIE VIR DIE RIETVLEI NATUURRESERVAAT,
GAUTENG PROVINSIE
Deur
RIAAN MARAIS
In the Fakulteit Natuur- en Landbou wetenskappe
Departement van Vee-, Wild- en Weidingkunde
Universiteit van die Vrystaat, Bloemfontein, Suid Afrika
Promotor: Prof. G. N. Smit
Mede-promotor: Dr. P. J. du Preez
Magister Agriculturae
(Natuurlewebestuur)
Sleutelwoorde: Biodiversiteit Braun-Blanquet, Klasifikasie, Ekologie,
Grasveld, Plant-
gemeenskappe, Plantegroei, Vleigebied.
Die doel van die studie was om homogene bestuurseenhede vir die Rietvlei
Natuurreservaat te identifiseer en te kwantifiseer vir meer effektiewe
bestuur van weiding,
brand en monitering. Die plantegroeieenhede moes geïdentifiseer
en gekarteer word. Uit
die gemeenskappe moes verskillende bestuurseenhede geïdentifiseer
word. Die
studiegebied van 3 870 hektaar is ‘n geproklameerde natuurreservaat
en is geleë suidoos
van Pretoria in die Gauteng Provinsie.
‘n Phytososiologiese studie van die plantegroei is gedoen deur gebruik
te maak van die
Braun-Blanquet metode. ‘n Totaal van 184 plotte is uitgeplaas en geklassifiseer
deur
gebruik te maak van die Braun-Blanquet metode en TWINSPAN.
Die studie het aangetoon dat die plantegroei van Rietvlei Natuurreservaat
in ses hoof
gemeenskappe ingedeel kan word, elk met ‘n aantal sub-gemeenskappe
en sommiges met
variante.
Die gemeenskappe is geidentifiseer as: Andropogon schirensis
Aristida congesta
Gemeenskap, Gladiolus crassifolius Brachiaria serrata Gemeenskap,
Eragrostis•72
chloromelas - Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata Gemeenskap, Eragrostis
chloromelas -
Cynodon dactylon Gemeenskap, Setaria verticillata Phragmites
australis Gemeenskap
en Arundinella nepalensis Eleocharis dregeana Gemeenskap.
Die verskillende gemeenskappe wat beskryf is, is gebruik as ‘n basis
vir die optrek van ‘n
plantegroei gemeenskap kaart vir die reservaat en die aanteken van
bestuursgebiede vir
die Rietvlei Natuurreservaat.•73
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APPENDIX A: BIRD LIST
Bird List of Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria
Habitats: Possibility of occurrence at Rietvlei N/R in specific
habitat
OG: Open Grassland and Rocky outcrops H: High
R&M: Reeds, Marsh and Vlei M: Medium
R: River L: Low
RB&P: Riverine Bush and Plantations X: Highly unlikely
AT: Acacia Woodland B: Occurrence when breeding
OW: Open Water and Pans (including shoreline)
HABITAT Rr. SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH AFRIKAANS
OG R&M R
RB&
P AT OW
1 Struthio camelus Common Ostrich Volstruis H X X X H X
6 Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe Kuifkopdobbertjie X X X X
X H
7 Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe Swartnekdobbertjie X X L
X X H
8 Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe (Dabchick) Kleindobbertjie X
X H X X H
55 Phalacrocorax lucidus White-breasted Cormorant Witborsduiker X X
M X X H
58 Phalacrocorax africanus Reed Cormorant Rietduiker X X H X X H
60 Anhinga rufa African Darter Slanghalsvoël X X H X X H
62 Ardea cinerea Grey Heron Bloureier L M M B X H
63 Ardea melanocephala Black-headed Heron Swartkopreier H B L B L M
64 Ardea goliath Goliath Heron Reusereier X X L B X H
65 Ardea purpurea Purple Heron Rooireier L H H B X H
66 Egretta alba Great Egret Grootwitreier X B L B B H
67 Egretta garzetta Little Egret Kleinwitreier X B H B X H
68 Egretta intermedia Yellow-billed Egret Geelbekwitreier L B X B X
H
69 Egretta ardesiaca Black Heron Swartreier X B L B X H
71 Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret Veereier (Bosluisvoël) H B M B M
M
72 Ardeola ralloides Squacco Heron Ralreier X B L B X H
74 Butorides striatus Green-backed Heron Groenrugreier X B H B X H
76 Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-Heron Gewone Nagreier
X H H H X M
78 Ixobrychus minutus Little Bittern Kleinrietreier (Woudapie) X H
M M X L
81 Scopus umbretta Hamerkop Hamerkop L L H B X H
83 Ciconia ciconia White Stork Witooievaar H M M L L X
84 Ciconia nigra Black Stork Grootswartooievaar L X X X X L
85 Ciconia abdimii Abdim's Stork Kleinswartooievaar H X X X X L
90 Mycteria ibis Yellow-billed Stork Nimmersat X X X X X L
91 Threskiornis aethiopicus African Sacred Ibis Skoorsteenveër
L H H B X H
93 Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis Glansibis X H L B X H
94 Bostrychia hagedash Hadeda Ibis Hadeda M H H H M H
95 Platalea alba African Spoonbill Lepelaar X M L X X H
96 Phoenicopterus ruber Greater Flamingo Grootflamink X X X X X L
97 Phoenicopterus minor Lesser Flamingo Kleinflamink X X X X X L
99 Dendrocygna viduata White-faced Duck Nonnetjie-eend X B M X X H
100 Dendrocygna bicolor Fulvous Duck Fluiteend X B L X X L
101 Thalassornis leuconotus White-backed Duck Witrugeend X B L X X
L
102 Alopochen aegyptiacus Egyptian Goose Kolgans X L M B X H
103 Tadorna cana South African Shelduck Kopereend X X X X X L
104 Anas undulate Yellow-billed Duck Geelbekeend X H H B X H•85
HABITAT Rr. SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH AFRIKAANS
OG R&M R
RB&
P AT OW
105 Anas sparsa African Black Duck Swarteend X X H B X L
106 Anas capensis Cape Teal Teeleend X X X X X H
107 Anas hottentota Hottentot Teal Gevlekte Eend X X X X X H
108 Anas erythrorhyncha Red-billed Teal Rooibekeend X X X X X H
112 Anas smithii Cape Shoveler Kaapse Slopeend X L L X X H
113 Netta erythrophthalma Southern Pochard Bruineend X B L X X H
115 Sarkidiornis melanotos Comb (Knobbilled) Duck Knobbeleend X X X
X X L
116 Plectropterus gambensis Spur-winged Goose Wildemakou L M X X X
M
117 Oxyura maccoa Maccoa Duck Bloubekeend X X X X X L
923 Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Groenkopeend X L L X X L
118 Sagittarius serpentarius Secretarybird Sekretarisvoël H X
X X M X
122 Gyps coprotheres Cape Vulture Kransaasvoël L X X X X X
123 Gyps africanus White-backed Vulture Witrugaasvoël L X X X
X X
126 Milvus migrans Black Kite Swartwou L L L X L L
940 Milvus aegyptius Yellow-billed Kite Geelbekwou H H H L H L
127 Elanus caeruleus Black-shouldered Kite Blouvalk H L X X H L
128 Aviceda cuculoides African Cuckoo Hawk Koekoekvalk L X X L L X
129 Macheiramphus alcinus Bat Hawk Vlermuisvalk L X L L L L
131 Aquila verreauxii Verreaux's (Black) Eagle Witkruisarend L X X
X X X
135 Aquila wahlbergi Wahlberg's Eagle Bruinarend L X X M M X
139 Lophaetus occipitalis Long-crested Eagle Langkuifarend M X X H
L X
142 Circaetus cinereus Brown Snake-Eagle Bruinslangarend L X X M L
X
143 Circaetus pectoralis Black-chested Snake-Eagle Swartborsslangarend
M X X M M X
148 Haliaeetus vocifer African Fish-Eagle Visarend X X L B X H
149 Buteo vulpinus Steppe Buzzard Bruinjakkalsvoël M X X H H X
156 Accipiter ovampensis Ovambo Sparrowhawk Ovambosperwer X X H H M
X
157 Accipiter minullus Little Sparrowhawk Kleinsperwer L X H H M X
158 Accipiter melanoleucus Black Sparrowhawk Swartsperwer X X L H L
X
164 Circus aeruginosus Western (Eurasian) Marsh-Harrier Europese Vleivalk
L L X X X X
165 Circus ranivorus African Marsh-Harrier Afrikaanse Vleivalk L L
X X X X
166 Circus pygargus Montagu's Harrier Blouvleivalk L L X X X X
167 Circus macrourus Pallid Harrier Witborsvleivalk L L X X X X
169 Polyboroides typus African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene) Kaalwangvalk
M X L H M X
170 Pandion haliaetus Osprey Visvalk X X X X X L
171 Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon Swerfvalk L X X L L X
172 Falco biarmicus Lanner Falcon Edelvalk L X X L L X
173 Faclo subbuteo Eurasian Hobby (Falcon) Europese Boomvalk L L L
L L L
174 Falco cuvierii African Hobby (Falcon) Afrikaanse Boomvalk L L L
L L L
178 Falco vespertinus (Western) Red-footed Falcon Westelike Rooipootvalk
L X X X X X
180 Falco amurensis Amur Falcon (E. Redf. Kestrel) Oostelike Rooipootvalk
H X X X X X
181 Falco rupicolis Rock Kestrel Kransvalk M X X X X X
182 Falco rupicoloides Greater Kestrel Grootrooivalk H X X X X X
183 Falco naumanni Lesser Kestrel Kleinrooivalk H X X X X X
188 Peliperdix coqui Coqui Francolin Swempie H X X X H X
193 Scleroptila levaillantoides Orange River Francolin Kalaharipatrys
H X X X M X
199 Pternistes swainsonii Swainson's Spurfowl Bosveldfisant H X X M
H L
200 Coturnix coturnix Common Quail Afrikaanse Kwartel M L X X L X
201 Coturnix delegorguei Harlequin Quail Bontkwartel L L X X X X
203 Numida meleagris Helmeted Guineafowl Gewone Tarentaal H L X H H
M
208 Anthropoides paradisea Blue Crane Bloukraanvoël L X X X X
X
209 Balearica regulorum Grey Crowned Crane Mahem L X X X X X•86
HABITAT Rr. SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH AFRIKAANS
OG R&M R
RB&
P AT OW
210 Rallus caerulescens African Rail Grootriethaan X H X X X M
212 Crecopsis egregia African Crake Afrikaanse Riethaan L L X X X L
213 Amaurornis flavirostris Black Crake Swartriethaan X H M L X M
217 Sarothrura rufa Red-chested Flufftail Rooiborsvleikuiken X M X
X X X
223 Porphyrio madagascariensis African Purple Swamphen (P. Gallinule)
Grootkoningriethaan X H X X X M
226 Gallinula chloropus Common Moorhen Grootwaterhoender X M H X X
H
228 Fulica cristata Red-knobbed Coot Bleshoender X L L X X H
229 Podica senegalensis African Finfoot Watertrapper X X M B X X
231 Neotis denhami Denham's (Stanley's) Bustard Veldpou L X X X X X
233 Eupodotis barrowii Barrow's (S. Whitebellied) Korhaan Witpenskorhaan
M X X X X X
234 Eupodotis caerulescens Blue Korhaan Bloukorhaan L X X X X X
941 Eupodotis afraoides Northern Black Korhaan Witvlerkkorhaan H X
X X M X
240 Actophilornis africanus African Jacana Grootlangtoon X L X X X
L
242 Rostratula benghalensis Greater Painted-snipe Goudsnip X L X X
X L
245 Charadrius hiaticula Common Ringed Plover Ringnekstrandkiewiet
X L X X X L
248 Charadrius pecuarius Kittlitz's Plover Geelborsstrandkiewiet M
X X X X M
249 Charadrius tricollaris Three-banded Plover Driebandstrandkiewiet
X H M X X H
255 Vanellus coronatus Crowned Lapwing Kroonkiewiet H L X X H H
258 Vanellus armatus Blacksmith Lapwing Bontkiewiet H H M X L H
260 Vanellus senegallus African Wattled Lapwing Lelkiewiet H H L X
M H
262 Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone Steenloper X X X X X L
264 Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper Gewone Ruiter X L M X X H
265 Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper Witgatruiter X L X X X L
266 Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper Bosruiter L H M X X H
269 Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper Moerasruiter X L X X X M
270 Tringa nebularia Common Greenshank Groenpootruiter X M X X X H
272 Calidris ferruginea Curlew Sandpiper Krombekstrandloper X H X X
X H
274 Calidris minuta Little Stint Kleinstrandloper X M X X X H
284 Philomachus pugnax Ruff Kemphaan X H X X X H
286 Gallinago nigripennis African (Ethiopian) Snipe Afrikaanse Snip
X H X X X M
294 Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet Bontelsie X L X X X L
295 Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt Rooipootelsie X L X X
X M
297 Burhinus capensis Spotted Thick-knee (Dikkop) Gewone Dikkop H L
X L H M
300 Cursorius temminckii Temminck's Courser Trekdrawwertjie M X X X
X L
303 Rhinoptilus chalcopterus Bronze-winged Courser Bronsvlerkdrawwertjie
L X X X L X
305 Glareola nordmanni Black-winged Pratincole Swartvlerksprinkaanvoël
M X X X X L
315 Larus cirrocephalus Grey-headed Gull Gryskopmeeu X X M X X H
322 Sterna caspia Caspian Tern Reusesterretjie X X X X X L
338 Chlidonias hybridus Whiskered Tern Witbaardsterretjie X X X X X
M
339 Chlidonias leucopterus White-winged Tern Witvlerksterretjie X X
X X X M
348 Columba livia Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) Tuinduif L L L L L L
349 Columba guinea Speckled (Rock) Pigeon Kransduif M X L X L L
350 Columba arquatrix African Olive-Pigeon (Rameron Pigeon) Geelbekbosduif
X X X L X X
352 Streptopelia semitorquata Red-eyed Dove Grootringduif H L M H H
M
354 Streptopelia capicola Cape Turtle-Dove Gewone Tortelduif H L H
H H H
355 Streptopelia senegalensis Laughing Dove Rooiborsduifie H L H H
H H
356 Oena capensis Namaqua Dove Namakwaduifie M X X X X X
366 Psittacula krameri Rose-ringed Parakeet Ringnekparkiet X X X L
X X
373 Corythaixoides concolor Grey Go-away-bird Kwêvoël M
X X H H X
374 Cuculus canorus Common (Eurasian) Cuckoo Europese Koekoek X X L
L L X
375 Cuculus gularis African Cuckoo Afrikaanse Koekoek X X L L L X•87
HABITAT Rr. SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH AFRIKAANS
OG R&M R
RB&
P AT OW
377 Cuculus solitarius Red-chested Cuckoo Piet-my-vrou X X X M H X
378 Cuculus clamosus Black Cuckoo Swartkoekoek L X X M M X
381 Clamator levaillantii Levaillant's (Striped) Cuckoo Gestreepte
Nuwejaarsvoël X X X M M X
382 Clamator jacobinus Jacobin Cuckoo Bontnuwejaarsvoël X X X
L L X
385 Chrysococcyx klaas Klaas's Cuckoo Meitjie L X X L L X
386 Chrysococcyx caprius Diderick Cuckoo Diederikkie H H H H H H
391 Centropus burchellii Burchell's Coucal Gewone Vleiloerie M H H
H M L
392 Tyto alba Barn Owl Nonnetjie-uil H L L H H L
393 Tyto capensis African Grass-Owl Grasuil M H X X X L
395 Asio capensis Marsh Owl Vlei-uil H H X X M M
397 Ptilopsus granti Southern White-faced Scops-Owl Witwanguil X X
X X L X
398 Glaucidium perlatum Pearl-spotted Owlet Witkoluil X X X X L X
401 Bubo africanus Spotted Eagle-Owl Gevlekte Ooruil H X L H H M
404 Caprimulgus europaeus European Nightjar Europese Naguil H X X M
M X
405 Caprimulgus pectoralis Fiery-necked Nightjar Afrikaanse Naguil
L X X L L X
406 Caprimulgus rufigena Rufous-cheeked Nightjar Rooiwangnaguil H X
X H H X
412 Apus barbatus African Black Swift Swartwindswael L X X X X L
415 Apus caffer White-rumped Swift Witkruiswindswael H X H H H H
416 Apus horus Horus Swift Horuswindswael X X X X X L
417 Apus affinis Little Swift Kleinwindswael H X H H H H
418 Tachymarptis melba Alpine Swift Witpenswindswael L X X X X X
421 Cypsiurus parvus African Palm-Swift Palmwindswael H H H H H H
424 Colius striatus Speckled Mousebird Gevlekte Muisvoël L X L
H H X
425 Colius colius White-backed Mousebird Witkruismuisvoël L X
X L L X
426 Urocolius indicus Red-faced Mousebird Rooiwangmuisvoël M X
X H H X
428 Ceryle rudis Pied Kingfisher Bontvisvanger X X H X X H
429 Megaceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher Reusevisvanger X X H X X M
430 Alcedo semitorquata Half-collared Kingfisher Blouvisvanger X X
H X X X
431 Alcedo cristata Malachite Kingfisher Kuifkopvisvanger X M H M X
H
433 Halcyon senegalensis Woodland Kingfisher Bosveldvisvanger X X X
L L X
435 Halcyon albiventris Brown-hooded Kingfisher Bruinkopvisvanger X
X X H H X
438 Merops apiaster European Bee-eater Europese Byvreter H L L H H
M
443 Merops bullockoides White-fronted Bee-eater Rooikeelbyvreter M
L M H M X
444 Merops pusillus Little Bee-eater Kleinbyvreter L L L M L X
446 Coracias garrulus European Roller Europese Troupant L X X X L X
447 Coracias caudata Lilac-breasted Roller Gewone Troupant L X X X
L X
449 Coracias naevia Purple Roller Groottroupant L X X X L X
451 Upupa africana African Hoopoe Hoephoep H X X M H X
452 Phoeniculus purpureus Green (Redbilled) Wood-Hoopoe Rooibekkakelaar
L X X H H X
454 Rhinopomastus cyanomelas Common Scimitarbill Swartbekkakelaar X
X X L L X
457 Tockus nasutus African Grey Hornbill Grysneushoringvoël L
X X M M X
464 Lybius torquatus Black-collared Barbet Rooikophoutkapper L X X
H H X
465 Tricholaema leucomelas Acacia Pied Barbet Bonthoutkapper L X X
M M X
470 Pogoniulus chryscocus Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Geelblestinker
L X L L M X
473 Trachyphonus vaillantii Crested Barbet Kuifkophoutkapper L X X
H H X
474 Indicator indicator Greater Honeyguide Grootheuningwyser L X X
L L X
476 Indicator minor Lesser Honeyguide Kleinheuningwyser M X X H H X
478 Prodotiscus regulus Brown-backed (Sharpbilled) Honeybird Skerpbekheuningvoël
M X X M M X
483 Campethera abingoni Golden-tailed Woodpecker Goudstertspeg X X
X L L X
486 Dendropicos fuscescens Cardinal Woodpecker Kardinaalspeg L X X
H H X
489 Jynx ruficollis Red-throated Wryneck Draaihals M X X H H X•88
HABITAT Rr. SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH AFRIKAANS
OG R&M R
RB&
P AT OW
492 Mirafra cheniana Melodious Lark Spotlewerik L X X X X X
494 Mirafra africana Rufous-naped Lark Rooineklewerik H X X X H X
495b Mirafra apiata Eastern Clapper Lark Kaapse Klappertjie H X X X
X X
506 Chersomanes albofasciata Spike-heeled Lark Vlaktelewerik H X X
X X X
507 Calandrella cinerea Red-capped Lark Rooikoplewerik M X X X X X
515 Eremopterix leucotis Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark Rooiruglewerik
L X X X L X
518 Hirundo rustica Barn (European) Swallow Europese Swael H H H H
H H
520 Hirundo albigularis White-throated Swallow Witkeelswael L L H L
X H
523 Hirundo dimidiata Pearl-breasted Swallow Pêrelborsswael H
H H M M H
526 Hirundo cucullata Greater Striped Swallow Grootstreepswael H M
H H H H
527 Hirundo abyssinica Lesser Striped Swallow Kleinstreepswael M L
H M L M
528 Hirundo spilodera South African Cliff-Swallow Familieswael M L
M L L L
529 Hirundo fuligula Rock Martin Kransswael L L M L L L
530 Delichon urbica Common House-Martin Huisswael L L L L L L
532 Riparia riparia Sand Martin Europese Oewerswael L L L L L L
533 Riparia paludicola Brown-throated Martin Afrikaanse Oewerswael
L H H X X H
534 Riparia cincta Banded Martin Gebande Oewerswael H H X X L L
538 Campephaga flava Black Cuckooshrike Swartkatakoeroe X X X H M X
541 Dicrurus adsimilis Fork-tailed Drongo Mikstertbyvanger M X X M
M X
545 Oriolus larvatus Black-headed Oriole Swartkopwielewaal X X X L
L X
547 Corvus capensis Cape Crow Swartkraai L L L L L X
548 Corvus albus Pied Crow Witborskraai H X X H H M
552 Parus cinerascens Ashy Tit Akasiagrysmees H H H L L X
554 Parus niger Southern Black Tit Gewone Swartmees X X X L L X
557 Anthoscopus minutus Cape Penduline-Tit Kaapse Kapokvoël X
X X L L X
560 Turdoides jardineii Arrow-marked Babbler Pylvlekkatlagter L X X
H M X
567 Pycnonotus nigricans African Red-eyed Bulbul Rooioogtiptol L X
X L L X
568 Pycnonotus tricolor Dark-capped (Blackeyed) Bulbul Swartoogtiptol
M M H H H M
576 Turdus libonyanus Kurrichane Thrush Rooibeklyster X X L M L X
577.2 Turdus smithi Karoo Thrush Bruinlyster L X H H L X
580 Psophocichla litsipsirupa Groundscraper Thrush Gevlekte Lyster
L X X L L X
586 Oenanthe monticola Mountain Wheatear (Chat) Bergwagter L X X X
L X
587 Oenanthe pileata Capped Wheatear Hoëveldskaapwagter H X X
X X X
589 Cercomela familiaris Familiar Chat Gewone Spekvreter L X X M M
X
595 Myrmecocichla formicivora Anteating Chat Swartpiek H X X X L X
596 Saxicola torquata African Stonechat Gewone Bontrokkie H H X L H
H
601 Cossypha caffra Cape Robin-Chat Gewone Janfrederik H H H H H L
602 Cossypha humeralis White-throated Robin-Chat Witkeeljanfrederik
L X X L L X
613 Cercotrichas leucophrys White-browed Scrub-Robin Gestreepte Wipstert
L X X L L X
619 Sylvia borin Garden Warbler Tuinsanger L X X H H X
620 Sylvia communis Common Whitethroat Witkeelsanger X X X L L X
621 Parisoma subcaeruleum Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler Bosveldtjeriktik
L X X H H X
628 Acrocephalus arundinaceus Great Reed-Warbler Grootrietsanger X
H X H X X
631 Acrocephalus baeticatus (African Marsh) African Reed-Warbler Kleinrietsanger
X H M L X X
633 Acrocephalus palustris (Eurasian) Marsh Warbler Europese Rietsanger
X L X H X X
634 Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (Eurasian) Sedge Warbler Europese Vleisanger
X M X X X X
635 Acrocephalus gracilirostris (Cape Reed) Lesser Swamp-Warbler Kaapse
Rietsanger X H X X X X
637 Chloropeta natalensis Dark-capped Yellow Warbler Geelsanger X H
L M X X
638 Bradypterus baboecala (African Sedge) Little Rush-Warbler Kaapse
Vleisanger X H X X X X
643 Phylloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler Hofsanger H M H H H X
645 Apalis thoracica Bar-throated Apalis Bandkeelkleinjantjie L X X
L X X•89
HABITAT Rr. SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH AFRIKAANS
OG R&M R
RB&
P AT OW
651 Sylvietta rufescens Long-billed Crombec Bosveldstompstert L X X
L L X
948 Camaroptera brevicaudata Grey-backed Camaroptera Grysrugkwêkwêvoël
X X X L X X
661 Sphenoeacus afer Cape Grassbird Grasvoël H H L L X L
664 Cisticola juncidis Zitting (Fantailed) Cisticola Landeryklopkloppie
H H X X L H
665 Cisticola aridulus Desert Cisticola Woestynklopkloppie H L X X
X X
666 Cisticola textrix Cloud Cisticola Gevlekte Klopkloppie H X X X
X X
667 Cisticola ayresii Wing-snapping (Ayres's) Cisticola Kleinste Klopkloppie
H X X X X X
670 Cisticola lais Wailing Cisticola Huiltinktinkie H X X X L X
672 Cisticola chinianus Rattling Cisticola Bosveldtinktinkie L X X
L M X
677 Cisticola tinniens Levaillant's Cisticola Vleitinktinkie L H X
X X X
679 Cisticola aberrans Lazy Cisticola Luitinktinkie H X X X L X
681 Cisticola fulvicapillus Neddicky Neddikkie L L X H H X
683 Prinia subflava Tawny-flanked Prinia Bruinsylangstertjie L H H
H L H
685 Prinia flavicans Black-chested Prinia Swartbandlangstertjie H L
L H H X
689 Muscicapa striata Spotted Flycatcher Europese Vlieëvanger
X L X H M X
694 Melaenornis pammelaina Southern Black Flycatcher Swartvlieëvanger
X X X L L X
698 Sigelus silens Fiscal Flycatcher Fiskaalvlieëvanger L X X
H H X
701 Batis molitor Chinspot Batis Witliesbosbontrokkie X X X L L X
706 Stenostira scita Fairy Flycatcher Feevlieëvanger H X X H H
X
710 Terpsiphone viridis African Paradise-Flycatcher Paradysvlieëvanger
L X X H M X
713 Motacilla capensis Cape Wagtail Gewone Kwikkie L H H L X H
714 Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail Geelkwikkie L L X X X X
716 Anthus cinnamomeus African (Grassveld) Pipit Gewone Koester H X
X X X M
717 Anthus similes Long-billed Pipit Nicholsonse Koester L X X X X
X
718 Anthus leucophrys Plain-backed Pipit Donkerkoester L X X X X X
719 Anthus vaalensis Buffy Pipit Vaalkoester L X X X X L
727 Macronyx capensis Cape (Orangethroated) Longclaw Oranjekeelkalkoentjie
H H X X X H
731 Lanius minor Lesser Grey Shrike Gryslaksman H L L H H X
732 Lanius collaris Common Fiscal Fiskaallaksman H M L H H H
733 Lanius collurio Red-backed Shrike Rooiruglaksman L X X L L X
736 Laniarius ferrugineus Southern Boubou Suidelike Waterfiskaal X
L M H L X
739 Laniarius atrococcineus Crimson-breasted Shrike Rooiborslaksman
L X X H H X
740 Dryoscopus cubla Black-backed Puffback Sneeubal L X X H H X
741 Nilaus afer Brubru Bontroklaksman X X X L L X
743 Tchagra australis Brown-crowned (Threestr.) Tchagra Rooivlerktjagra
L X X M M X
744 Tchagra senegala Black-crowned Tchagra Swartkroontjagra M X X H
H X
746 Telophorus zeylonus Bokmakierie Bokmakierie H X X H H X
751 Malaconotus blanchoti Grey-headed Bush-Shrike Spookvoël X
X X L L X
753 Prionops plumatus White-crested (White) Helmet-Shrike Withelmlaksman
X X X L L X
758 Acridotheres tristis Common Myna Indiese Spreeu H H H H H H
759 Spreo bicolour Pied Starling Witgatspreeu H M X X M L
760 Creatophora cinerea Wattled Starling Lelspreeu L X X L L X
761 Cinnyricinclus leucogaster Violet-backed (Plumcol.) Starling Witborsspreeu
X X X L L X
764 Lamprotornis nitens Cape Glossy Starling Kleinglansspreeu H X X
H H X
769 Onychognathus morio Red-winged Starling Rooivlerkspreeu L X X L
L X
772 Buphagus erythrorhynchus Red-billed Oxpecker Rooibekrenostervoël
L L L L L L
787 Cinnyris talatala White-bellied Sunbird Witpenssuikerbekkie L L
L H H L
792 Chalcomitra amethystina Amethyst (Black) Sunbird Swartsuikerbekkie
L L L H H L
796 Zosterops pallidus Cape White-eye Kaapse Glasogie M M H H H L
801 Passer domesticus House Sparrow Huismossie X X X X X X
803 Passer melanurus Cape Sparrow Gewone Mossie H M X H H M•90
HABITAT Rr. SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH AFRIKAANS
OG R&M R
RB&
P AT OW
804 Passer diffusus Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Gryskopmossie M X
X H H X
807 Amblyospiza albifrons Thick-billed Weaver Dikbekwewer X M X M X
X
811 Ploceus cucullatus Village (Spottedbacked) Weaver Bontrugwewer
X L X L X X
813 Ploceus capensis Cape Weaver Kaapse Wewer X M X M X X
814 Ploceus velatus Southern Masked-Weaver Swartkeelgeelvink M H H
H H H
820 Anomalospiza imberbis Cuckoo Finch Koekoekvink L L X X X X
821 Quelea quelea Red-billed Quelea Rooibekkwelea H H M H H H
824 Euplectes orix Southern Red Bishop Rooivink M H L M L H
826 Euplectes afer Yellow-crowned (Golden) Bishop Goudgeelvink M H
L X X X
829 Euplectes albonotatus White-winged Widowbird Witvlerkflap M H L
H M M
831 Euplectes ardens Red-collared Widowbird Rooikeelflap M H L H M
M
832 Euplectes progne Long-tailed Widowbird Langstertflap H H X X X
M
834 Pytilia melba Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch) Gewone Melba X
X X L L X
841 Lagonosticta rhodopareia Jameson's Firefinch Jamesonse Vuurvinkie
L M M H L L
844 Uraeginthus angolensis Blue Waxbill Gewone Blousysie L X X L M
X
846 Estrilda astrild Common Waxbill Rooibeksysie M H M H L H
852 Ortygospiza atricollis African Quailfinch Gewone Kwartelvinkie
H H X X X H
854 Amandava subflava Orange-breasted Waxbill Rooiassie M H X X X H
856 Amadina erythrocephala Red-headed Finch Rooikopvink L X X L L X
857 Lonchura cucullata Bronze Mannikin Gewone Fret L H X H L X
860 Vidua macroura Pin-tailed Whydah Koningrooibekkie M H X H H M
867 Vidua chalybeata Village Indigobird (Steelblue W/finch) Staalblouvinkie
L L X L L X
869 Serinus mozambicus Yellow-fronted (-eyed) Canary Geeloogkanarie
L H X H H X
870 Serinus atrogularis Black-throated Canary Bergkanarie H M X H H
M
881 Serinus gularis Streaky-headed Seedeater Streepkopkanarie L L X
H H X
885 Emberiza capensis Cape Bunting Rooivlerkstreepkoppie L X X X X
X
886 Emberiza tahapisi Cinnamon-breasted (Rock) Bunting Klipstreepkoppie
L X X X X X
Number of listed possible species: 319
Number of confirmed species: 272•91
APPENDIX B: MAMMAL LIST
THE MAMMALS OF RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE
Mammal species, which definitely occur, based on specimens collected
and deposited in
the Transvaal Museum, sight records or ecological and distributional
parameters in spite
of restrictions imposed by urban development. The conservation status
of red data
species are given in the first column, i.e. R = Rare, V = Vulnerable,
I = Indeterminate.
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Myosorex varius Forest shrew
I Suncus infinitesimus Least dwarf shrew
Suncus varilla Lesser dwarf shrew
Crocidura mariquensis Swamp musk shrew
Crocidura cyanea Reddish-grey musk shrew
Crocidura silacea Peters’ musk shrew
Crocidura hirta Lesser red musk shrew
R Atelerix frontalis Hedgehog
V Chrysospalax villosus Rough-haired golden mole
Taphozous mauritianus Tomb bat
Tadarida aegyptiaca Egyptian free-tailed bat
Eptesicus capensis Cape serotine bat
Scotophilus dinganii Yellow house bat
Scotophilus borbonicus Lesser yellow house bat
Nycteris thebaica Common slit-faced bat
Rhinolophus clivosus Geoffroy’s horseshoe bat
Rhinolophus darlingi Darling’s horseshoe bat
I Rhinolophus blasii Peak-saddle horseshoe bat
Rhinolophus simulator Bushveld horseshoe bat
Galago moholi Bushbaby
Cercopithecus aethiops Vervet monkey
Manis temminckii Pangolin
Lepus capensis Cape hare
Lepus saxatilis Scrub hare
Cryptomys hottentotus Common mole rat
Hystrix africaeaustralis Cape porcupine
Pedetes capensis Springhare
Graphiurus murinus Woodland dormouse
Thryonomys swinderianus Greater cane rat
Otomys angoniensis Angoni vlei rat
Otomys irroratus Vlei rat
Rhabdomys pumilio Striped mouse
Mus musculus House mouse
Mus indutus Desert pygmy mouse
Mus minutoides Pygmy mouse
Mastomys coucha Natal multimammate mouse
Aethomys chrysophilus Red veld rat•92
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Rattus rattus House rat
Tatera brantsii Highveld gerbil
V Mystromys albicaudatus White-tailed rat
Dendromus melanotis Grey pygmy climbing mouse
Dendromus mystacalis Chestnut climbing mouse
R Proteles cristatus Aardwolf
R Hyaena brunnea Brown hyaena
Acinonyx jubatus Cheetah
R Panthera pardus Leopard
V Felis lybica African wild cat
Leptailurus serval Serval
Caracal caracal Caracal
Felis catus Domestic cat
Canis mesomelas Black-backed jackal
Canis familiaris Domestic dog
Aonyx capensis Cape clawless otter
R Poecilogale albinucha African weasel
Ictonyx striatus Striped polecat
R Civettictis civetta African civet
Genetta genetta Small-spotted genet
Genetta tigrina Large-spotted genet
Suricata suricatta Suricate
Cynictis penicillata Yellow mongoose
Galerella sanguinea Slender mongoose
Ichneumia albicauda White-tailed mongoose
Atilax paludinosus Water mongoose
V Orycteropus afer Aardvark
Potamochoerus larvatus Bush pig
Connochaetes gnou Black wildebeest
Alcelaphus buselaphus Red hartebeest
Sylvicapra grimmia Common duiker
Damaliscus dorcas phillipsis Bluebook
V Ourebia ourebi Oribi
Antidorcas marsupialis Springbok
Raphicerus campestris Steenbok
Tragelaphus oryx Common Eland
Redunca fulvorufula Mountain reedbuck
Equus burchellii Plains zebra
R Ceratotherium simum Square-lipped (white) rhinoceros
Hippopotamus amphibius Common hippopotamus
Syncerus caffer caffer Cape buffalo
Kobus ellipsiprymnus Waterbuck
Redunca arundinum Common reedbuck
Otocyon megalotis Bat-eared fox
Procavia capensis Hyrax
APPENDIX C: INDIGENOUS AND EXOTIC PLANT LIST
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names•93
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Abildgaardia ovata
Abrus laevigatus
Acacia caffra Common hook thorn Gewone haakdoring
Acacia decurrens Green wattle Groenwattel
Acacia karroo Sweet thorn Soetdoring
Acacia mearnsii Black wattle Swartwattel
Acalypha angustata Copper leaf Katpisbossie
Acalypha caperonioides
Achyranthus aspera Chaff flower Langklits
Acrotome hispida White cat’s paws
Agrimonia procera Agrimony Geelklits
Agrostis eriantha var planifolia A Red Data
Agrostis lachnantha var lachnantha Bent grass Vink-agrostis
Albuca setosa Slymuintjie
Alloteropsis semialata subsp semialata Blackseed grass Donkersaadgras
Aloe greatheadii var davyana Kleinaalwyn
Aloe zebrine
Alysicarpus rugosus subsp perennirufus Pioneer fodder plant
Amaranthus hybridus subsp. hybridus Common pigweed Kaapse misbredie
Androcymbium melanthioides var melanthioides Pajama flower Patrysblom
Andropogon schirensis Stab grass Tweevingergras
Anthephora pubescens Wool grass Borseltjiegras
Anthospermum rigidum subsp pumulum
Anthospermum rigidum subsp rigidum
Araujia sericifera Moth catcher Motvanger
Aristida adscensionis subsp adscenscionis Annual threeawn Eenjarige
steekgras
Aristida bipartita Rolling grass Grootrolgras
Aristida canescens subsp canescens Pale three-awn Vaalsteekgras
Aristida congesta subsp barbicollis Spreading threeawn grass Witsteekgras
Aristida congesta subsp congesta Tassle threeawn grass Katstertsteekgras
Aristida diffusa subsp burkei Iron grass Ystergras
Aristida junciformis subsp junciformis Ngongoni three-awn Ngongoni
steekgras
Aristida scabrivalvis subsp scabrivalvis Purple three-awn Perssteekgras
Aristida stipitata Long awned three-awn Langnaaldsteekgras
Artemisia afra Wild wormwood Wilde-als
Arundinella nepalensis River grass Riviergras
Asclepias adscendens Pom-pom cartwheels
Asclepias eminens Large turret flower
Asclepias gibba var gibba Humped turret flower
Asclepias stellifera Meadow stars
Asparagus cooperi
Asparagus flavicaulis subsp flavicaulis
Asparagus laricinus Wild asparagus Katbos
Asparagus suaveolens Wild asparagus Katdoring
Aspidoglossum lamellatum
Aspidoglossum ovalifolium
Asplenium cordatum Rusty-back fern
Aster harveyanus Bloublommetjie
Aster peglerae
Aster squamatus
Athrixia elata Wild tea Bostee
Avena fatua Common wild oats Gewone wildehawer
Azolla filiculoides
Babiana hypogea var hypogea Bobbejaanuintjie
Barleria macrostegia
Becium obovatum var obovatum Cat’s wiskers Katsnor•94
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Bergia decumbens
Berkheya insignis
Berkheya radula Boesmanrietjie
Berkheya setifera
Bewsia biflora False love grass Vals eragrostis
Bidens bipinnata Spanish blackjack Spaanse knapsekêrel
Bidens formosa Cosmos Kosmos
Bidens pilosa Blackjack Knapsekêrel
Blepharis innocua
Blepharis squarrosa
Blepharis stainbankiae
Blumea dregeanoides
Bonatea porrecta Terrestrial orchid Grondorgidie
Bonatea speciosa var antennifera
Boophone disticha Cape poison bulb Seeroogblom gifbol
Brachiaria serrata Velvet grass Fluweelgras
Brachystelma barberae
Platvoetaasblom
Buddleja salviifolia Sagewood Saliehout
Bulbine capitata
Bulbostylis burchellii Biesie
Callilepis leptophylla Wild daisy Bergbitterbossie
Campuloclinium macrocephalum Pom pom weed Pompombossie
Canthium gilfillanii Velvet rock alder Fluweelklipels
Celtis africana White stinkwood Witstinkhout
Cephalaria zeyheriana Mock scabious
Chaetacanthus costatus
Chamaecrista comosa var capricornia
Chascanum hederaceum var hederaceum
Cheilanthes hirta var hirta Hairy lip fern Harige lipvaring
Cheilanthes viridis var glauca Blue cliff brake Blou kransruigtevaring
Cheilanthes viridis var viridis Cliff brake Kransruigtevaring
Chenopodium album White goosefoot Wit hondebossie
Chenopodium carinatum Green goosefoot Groen hondebossie
Chironia palustris subsp transvaalensis
Chironia purpurascens subsp purpurascens
Chloris virgata Feathertop chloris Witpluim chloris
Chlorophytum bowkeri
Chlorophytum cooperi
Chlorophytum fasciculatum
Chlorophytum tranvaalense
Chortolirion angolense
Ciclospermum leptophyllum Wild celery Wildeseldery
Cirsium vulgare Scotch thistle Skotse dissel
Clematis brachiata Traveler’s joy Klimop
Clematis villosa subsp villosa Pluimbossie veerbossie
Cleome monophylla
Combretum erythrophyllum River bushwillow Rivier-vaderlandswilg
Commelina africana var africana
Commelina africana var krebsiana
Commelina africana var lancispatha
Commelina benghalensis Blouselblommetjie
Commelina erecta
Commelina livingstonii
Convolvulus sagittatus
Conyza albida Tall fleabane Vaalskraalhans•95
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Conyza canadensis Horseweed fleabane Kanadese skraalhans
Conyza pinnata
Conyza podocephala
Corchorus asplenifolius
Corchorus confusus
Crabbaea acaulis
Crabbaea angustifolia
Crabbaea hirsuta Prickle head
Crabbaea ovalifolia
Crassula capitella subsp nodulosa
Crassula lanceolata subsp transvaalensis
Crassula setulosa var setulosa
Crassula swaziensis subsp swaziensis var
swaziensis
Crepis hypochaeridea
Crinum graminicola Graslelie
Crotalaria brachycarpa Jaagsiektebossie
Crotalaria sphaerocarpa subsp sphaerocarpa Mealie crotolaria Mielie
crotolaria
Crotolaria lotoides
Ctenium concinnum Sickle grass Sekelgras
Cucumis hirsutus Wild cucumber Suurkomkommer
Cucumis zeyheri Wild cucumber Wilde agurkie
Cuscuta campestris Dodder Dodder
Cussonia paniculata subsp sinuata Highveld cabbage tree Hoëveld
kiepersol
Cyanotis speciosa Doll’s powder puff Bloupoeierkwassie
Cyathula uncinulata
Cycnium tubulosum Pink ink plant
Cymbopogon excavatus Broadleaved turpentine grass Breëblaar terpentyngras
Cynodon dactylon Couch grass Kweek
Cynoglossum hispidum Hound’s tongue Ossetongblaar
Cyperus esculentus var esculentus Yellow nutsedge
Cyperus fulgens var fulgens
Cyperus laevigatus
Cyperus obtusiflorus var obtusiflorus Witbiesie
Cyperus sphaerospermus Matjiesgoed
Dactyloctenium australe LM Grass LM Gras
Datura stramonium Common thorn apple Olieboom
Dianthus mooiensis subsp mooiensis var
mooiensis
Wild pink Wilde angelier
Diclis reptans Dwarf snapdragon
Dicoma anomala subsp anomala Maagbitterwortel
Dicoma anomala subsp gerrardii
Digitaria diagonalis var diagonalis Brown-seed finger grass Bruinsaadvingergras
Digitaria eriantha Finger grass Vingergras
Digitaria eylesii Eyles’ finger grass Swartsaadtweevingergras
Digitaria monodactyla
Diheteropogon amplectens Broadleaved bluestem Breëblaar blougras
Diheteropogon filifolius Threadleaved bluestem Smalblaar blougras
Dimorphotheca spectabilis Blou bietou
Diospyros lycioides subsp guerkei Bushveld bluebush Bosveldbloubos
Dipcadi viride Gifbolletjie slymuintjie
Drimia elata . Jeukbol
Drimia multisetosa
Dryopteris athamantica
Echinochloa colona Jungle rice Watergras
Ehretia rigida Puzzle bush Deurmekaarbos•96
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Eleocharis dregeana Finger sedge
Elephantorrhiza elephantina Elephant’s root Olifantswortel
Eleusine coracana subsp africana Goose grass Osgras
Elionurus muticus Wire grass Draadgras
Equisetum ramosissimum Horse-tail fern Perdestertvaring
Eragrostis capensis Heartseed love grass Hartjiesgras
Eragrostis chloromelas Curly leaf Krulblaar
Eragrostis curvula Weeping love grass Oulandsgras
Eragrostis gummiflua
Eragrostis heteromera Bronze love grass Rooikopergras
Eragrostis inamoena Tite grass
Eragrostis lehmanniana var lehmanniana Lehmann’s love grass Knietjiesgras
Eragrostis nindensis Wether love grass Hamelgras
Eragrostis patentipilosa Footpath love grass Voetpad eragrostis
Eragrostis plana Tough love grass Taaipoleragrostis
Eragrostis racemosa Narrow heart love grass Smalhartjiesgras
Eragrostis rigidior Broad-leaved curly leaf Breëkrulgras
Eragrostis superba Sawtooth love grass Weeluisgras
Eriosema burkei var burkei
Eriosema psoraleoides
Eriosema salignum Narrow-leaved Eriosema Smalblaar eriosema
Eriospermum cooperi var cooperi
Eriospermum flagelliforme
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Red river gum Rooibloekom
Eucalyptus sp Bloekom
Euclea crispa subsp crispa Blue guarri Bloughwarrie
Eucomis autumnalis subsp clavata Pineapple flower Wilde pynappel
Eulophia hians var hians Ground orchid Grondorgidee
Eulophia hians var nutans Ground orchid Grondorgidee
Eulophia ovalis var bainesii
Eulophia ovalis var ovalis
Eulophia tuberculata
Eulophia welwitschii
Euphorbia clavaroides var truncata Vingerpol
Euphorbia striata var striata Melkgras
Eustachys paspaloides Fan grass Bruin hoenderspoor
Felicia muricata subsp muricata White felicia Blouheuning karooblom
Fimbristylis complanata
Freesia grandiflora
Galium capense subsp garipense
Gazania krebsiana subsp serrulata Common gazania Botterblom
Geigeria burkei subsp burkei var burkei Vermeersiektebossie
Geigeria burkei subsp burkei var intermedia Vermeersiektebossie
Gerbera ambigua Pink and white Gerbera Griekwateebossie
Gerbera piloselloides Yellow gerbera Swartteebossie
Gerbera viridifolia subsp viridifolia Griekwateebossie
Gladiolus crassifolius
Gladiolus dalenii subsp dalenii Wild gladiolus Wildeswaardlelie
Gladiolus elliotii
Gladiolus papilio
Gladiolus permeabilis subsp edulis Kleinaandblom
Gladiolus pretoriensis
Gladiolus woodii
Gnidia caffra
Gnidia capitata Kerrieblom
Gnidia microcephala Besembossie•97
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Gnidia sericocephala
Gomphocarpus fruticosus subsp fruticosus Milkweed Melkbos
Gomphocarpus glaucophyllus Bloumelkbos
Graderia scabra
Graderia subintegra Wild penstemon
Grewia flava Velvet raisin bush Fluweelrosyntjiebos
Gunnera perpensa River pumpkin Rivierpampoen
Gymnosporia buxifolia Spikethorn Pendoring
Habenaria bicolor Near Threatened
Habenaria epipactidea
Habenaria kraenzliniana
Haplocarpha lyrata
Haplocarpha scaposa False gerbera Tonteldoosbossie
Harpochloa falx Caterpillar grass Ruspergras
Hebenstretia comosa
Helichrysum aureonitens Golden everlasting Goue sewejaartjie
Helichrysum callicomum
Helichrysum cephaloideum
Helichrysum coriaceum Vaalteebossie
Helichrysum dasymallum
Helichrysum mundtii
Helichrysum nudifolium var nudifolium 1 Hottentot’s tea Hottentotstee
Helichrysum pilosellum
Helichrysum rugulosum
Helichrysum setosum Yellow everlasting Geelsewejaartjie
Helictotrichon turgidulum Small oats grass Klein hawergras
Hemarthria altissima Swamp couch Rooikweek
Hemizygia pretoriae subsp pretoriae Dwarf sage bush
Hermannia cordata
Hermannia depressa Creeping red Hermannia Rooiopslag
Hermannia grandistipula
Hermannia lancifolia
Hermannia transvaalensis
Heteropogon contortus Spear grass Assegaaigras
Hibiscus aethiopicus var ovatus Common dwarf Hibiscus
Hibiscus microcarpus
Hibiscus pusillus Dwarf hibiscus
Hibiscus trionum
Huernia hystrix var hystrix Porcupine huernia Ystervark-huernia
Hydrocotyle sp
Hyparrhenia hirta Common thatching grass Dekgras
Hyparrhenia tamba Blue thatching grass Blou tamboekiegras
Hypericum aethiopicum subsp zeyheri Small hypericum Vlieëpisbossie
Hypericum lalandii Spindly hypericum Laland se sintjanskruid
Hyperthelia dissoluta Yellow thatching grass Geeltamboekiegras
Hypochoeris radicata Hairy wild lettuce Harige skaapslaai
Hypoxis acuminata
Hypoxis argentea var argentea Small yellow star flower
Hypoxis colchicifolia Broad-leaved Hypoxis
Hypoxis hemerocallidea Star flower Gifbol
Hypoxis interjecta
Hypoxis iridifolia
Hypoxis multiceps
Hypoxis rigidula var pilosissima Silver-leaved star flower Wilde tulp
Hypoxis rigidula var rigidula Silver-leaved star flower Wilde tulp
Imperata cylindrica Cottonwool grass Donsgras•98
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Indigastrum burkeanum
Indigofera adenoids
Indigofera comosa
Indigofera egens
Indigofera filipes
Indigofera hedyantha Aambeibossie
Indigofera heterotricha
Indigofera hilaris var hilaris Red indigo bush
Indigofera melanadenia
Indigofera oxalidea
Indigofera oxytropis
Indigofera setiflora
Indigofera zeyheri
Ipomoea bathycolpos Veldsambreeltjies
Ipomoea crassipes Leafy-flowered Ipomoea Wildewinde
Ipomoea oblongata
Ipomoea ommaneyi Beespatat
Ipomoea purpurea Morning glory Purperwide
Ipomoea simplex
Ipomoea transvaalensis
Jamesbrittenia aurantiaca Cape saffron Saffraanbossie
Justicia anagalloides
Kalanchoe thyrsiflora White lady Geel plakkie
Kniphofia ensifolia subsp ensifolia Vuurpyl
Kniphofia porphyrantha Red-hot poker Vuurpyl
Kohautia amatymbica Tremble tops
Kohautia lasiocarpa
Kyllinga alba White button sedge Witbiesie
Kyllinga erecta var erecta
Kyllinga melanosperma
Lactuca inermis Wild lettuce
Lantana rugosa Bird’s brandy Voëlbrandewyn
Ledebouria cooperi Cooper’s squill
Ledebouria leptophylla sp nov.
Ledebouria marginata
Ledebouria ovatifolia
Ledebouria revoluta Common ledebouria
Leersia hexandra Wild rice grass Wilderysgras
Lemna gibba Duck weed Damslyk
Leonotis ocymifolia Wild dagga Wildedagga
Leonotis randii
Lepidium transvaalense
Leucas martinicensis
Limeum viscosum subsp viscosum var viscosum
Limosella longiflora
Lippia javanica Fever tea Koorsbossie
Lithops lesliei subsp lesliei
Lotononis calycina Hairy lotononis
Lotononis eriantha
Lotononis foliosa
Lotononis laxa
Lotononis listii
Loudetia simplex Russet grass Stingelgras
Macledium zeyheri subsp zeyheri Doll’s protea
Manulea parviflora var parviflora
Mariscus congestus•99
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Melilotus alba White sweet clover Witstinkklawer
Melinis nerviglumis Bristle leaf red top Steekblaarblinkgras
Melinis repens subsp repens Red top grass
Menodora africana Balbossie
Mentha aquatica
Merremia palmata
Microchloa caffra Pincushion grass Elsgras
Mimulus gracilis Wild monkey flower
Momordica balsamina Laloentjie
Monocymbium ceresiiforme Boat grass Bootjiegras
Monopsis decipiens Butterfly lobelia Skoenlapperplant
Monsonia angustifolia Crane’s bill Angelbossie
Monsonia burkeana Naaldebossie
Moraea stricta Bloutulp
Nemesia fruticans Wilde leeubekkie
Neorautanenia ficifolius
Nesaea sagittifolia var sagittifolia
Nesaea schinzii
Nidorella anomala
Nidorella hottentotica
Oenothera rosea Pink evening primrose Pienk aandblom
Oenothera tetraptera White evening primrose Witaandblom
Oldenlandia herbacea var herbacea
Ornithogalum tenuifolium subsp tenuifolium Bosui
Oxalis corniculata Jimson weed Steenboksuring
Oxalis depressa Sorrel Suring
Oxalis obliquifolia Sorrel Suring
Oxygonum dregeanum subsp canescens var
canescens
Pachycarpus schinzianus Bitterwortel
Panicum deustum Broad-leaved Panicum Breëblaarbuffelsgras
Panicum natalense Natal panicum Suurbuffelsgras
Parinari capensis subsp capensis Dwarf mobola Grysappeltjie
Paspalum dilatatum Common paspalum Gewone paspalum
Paspalum scrobiculatum Veld paspalum Veldpaspalum
Paspalum urvillei Giant paspalum Langbeen-paspalum
Pavonia burchellii
Pearsonia cajanifolia subsp cajanifolia
Pearsonia sessilifolia subsp sessilifolia Silwerertjietee
Pelargonium luridum Stalkflowered pelonium Wildemalva
Pellaea calomelanos var calomelanos Black cliff brake Swart kransruigtevaring
Pennisetum clandestinum Kikuyu Kikoejoe
Pentanisia angustifolia Wild verbena Sooibrandbossie
Pentarrhinum insipidum Donkieperske
Persicaria decipiens
Persicaria hydropiper
Persicaria lapathifolia Spotted knotweed Hanekam
Peucedanum magalismontanum Wild parsley Wildepietersielie
Phragmitis australis Fluitjiesriet
Phyllanthus glaucophyllus
Phyllanthus incurvus
Phyllanthus parvulus var parvulus Dye bush Kleurbossie
Physalis angulata Wild gooseberry Wilde appeliefie
Phytolacca octandra Ink berry Inkbessie
Plantago lanceolata Buckhorn plantain Small weëblaar
Plectranthus neochilus•100
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Pogonarthria squarrosa Herring bone grass Sekelgras
Pollichia campestris Waxberry Teesuikerbossie
Polygala amatymbica Dwarf polygala
Polygala hottentotta Small purple broom
Polygala rehmannii
Polygala uncinata
Populus alba White poplar Witpopulier
Portulaca quadrifida Purslane Porslein
Protea welwitschii subsp welwitschii Honeyscented protea Vaalsuikerbos
Psammotropha myriantha
Pseudognaphalium luteo-album
Pycreus macranthus
Pygmaeothamnus chamaedendrum var
chamaedendrum
Sand apple Goorappel
Pygmaeothamnus zeyheri var zeyheri Sand apple Goorappel
Pyracantha angustifolia Yellow fire thorn Geelbranddoring
Ranunculus meyeri
Ranunculus multifidus Common buttercup Geelbotterblom
Raphionacme hirsuta Khadi root Khadiwortel
Rhus dentata Nana-berry Nanabessie
Rhus discolor Gwarrie
Rhus lancea Karee Karee
Rhus magalismontana subsp magalismonta Rock currant Klip-taaibos
Rhus pyroides var gracilis Common wild currant Taaibos
Rhus pyroides var pyroides Common wild currant Taaibos
Rhus rigida var rigida Kliptaaibos
Rhus zeyheri Blue currant Blou taaibos
Rhynchosia crassifolia
Rhynchosia minima var prostrata
Rhynchosia monophylla
Rhynchosia totta var totta Yellow carpet bean Tottabossie
Rhynchospora brownii
Richardia brasiliensis Tropical richardia Tropiese richardia
Riocreuxia burchellii
Robinia pseudoacacia Black locust Witakasia
Rotheca hirsuta Small violet bush
Rumex crispus Curley dock Krultongblaar
Rumex sagittatus Climbing sorrel Rooisuring
Salix babylonica Weeping willow Treurwilg
Salvia runcinata Wildesalie
Scabiosa columbaria Wild scabiosa Bitterbos
Scadoxus puniceus Red paintbrush Rooikwas mieliegifbol
Schistostephium crataegifolium Golden flat flower Bergkruie
Schizachyrium sanguineum Red autumn grass Rooi herfsgras
Schizobasis intricata Volstruiskos
Schkuhria pinnata Dwarf marigold Klein kakiebos
Schoenoplectus corymbosis
Scilla nervosa Wild squill Sandlelie
Scleria bulbifera
Scolopia zeyheri Thorn pear Doringpeer
Sebaea leiostyla
Sehima galpinii
Selaginella dregei Spike moss Stekelmos
Selago densiflora Koningstapyt
Selago tenuifolia
Senecio affinis•101
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Senecio consanguineus Starvation senecio Hongerbos senecio
Senecio coronatus Sybossie
Senecio erubescens var crepidifolius
Senecio glanduloso-pilosus
Senecio gregatus
Senecio inaequidens Canary weed Geelopslag
Senecio inornatus
Senecio isatideus Dan’s cabbage Blouvleibossie
Senecio lydenburgensis
Senecio othonniflorus
Senecio scitus
Senecio venosus Besembossie
Setaria incrassata Vlei bristle grass Vleimannagras
Setaria nigrirostris Black seed bristle grass Swartsaadmannagras
Setaria pallida-fusca Garden bristle grass Tuin mannagras
Setaria sphacelata var sericea Golden Bristle grass Goue mannagras
Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata Small creeping foxtail Kleinkruipmannagras
Setaria sphacelata var torta Creeping bristle grass Kruipmannagras
Setaria verticillata
Sida alba Spiny sida Stekeltaaiman
Sida dregei Spider-leg
Sida rhombifolia subsp rhombifolia Arrow leaf Sida Taaiman
Silene bellidioides
Silene burchellii var burchellii Gunpowder plant Kruitbossie
Sium repandum Water parsnip
Solanum elaeagnifolium Silver-leaf bitter apple Satansbos
Solanum mauritianum Bugweed Luisboom
Solanum panduriforme Poison apple Gifappel
Solanum sisymbriifolium Wild tomato Doringbitterappel
Sonchus dregeanus
Sonchus nanus
Sonchus oleraceus Sow thisle Sydissel
Sonchus wilmsii Milk thistle Melkdissel
Sphenostylis angustifolius Wild swetpea bush Wilde ertjie
Sporobolus africanus Rat’s tail dropseed Taaipol
Sporobolus fimbriatus Bushveld dropseed Bosveldfynsaadgras
Sporobolus pectinatus Fringed dropseed Kammetjiesgras
Sporobolus stapfianus Fibrous dropseed Veselfynsaadgras
Stiburus alopecuroides Pongwa grass Koperdraadgras
Seriphium plumosum Bankrupt bush Bankrotbos
Striga asiatica
Striga bilabiata Small witch weed
Striga elegans Rooiblom
Tagetes minuta Tall khaki weed Lang kakiebos
Talinum caffrum Porcupine root Ystervarkwortel
Tarchonanthus camporatus Wild campher bush Wildekanferbos
Tephrosia burchellii
Tephrosia capensis var capensis
Tephrosia elongata var elongata
Tephrosia longipes subsp longipes var longipes
Tephrosia rhodesica var rhodesica
Tephrosia semiglabra
Teucrium trifidum Koorsbossie
Themeda triandra Red grass Rooigras
Thesium magalismontanum
Thesium utile Besembossie•102
Scientific Names Common English Names Afrikaans Names
Thunbergia atriplicifolia
Tolpis capensis
Trachyandra asperata var nataglencoensis
Trachyandra saltii var saltii
Trachypogon spicatus Giant spear grass Bokbaardgras
Tragus berteronianus Common carrot-seed grass Gewone wortelsaadgras
Triaspis hypericoides subsp nelsonii Klapperbossie
Trichodesma physaloides Chocolate bells
Trichoneura grandiglumis var grandiglumis Small rolling grass Klein
rolgras
Trifolium africanum var lydenburgense
Triraphis andropogonoides Broom needle grass Perdegras
Tristachya biseriata Trident grass Drieblomgras
Tristachya leucothrix Hairy trident grass Harige drieblomgras
Tristachya rehmannii Broom trident grass Besem drieblomgras
Tritonia nelsonii
Triumfetta sonderi Maagbossie
Trochomeria macrocarpa subsp macrocarpa Bobbejaankomkommer
Typha capensis Bulrush Papkuil
Urelytrum agropyroides Centipede quinine grass Kinagras varkstertgras
Urochloa mosambicensis Bushveld signal grass Bosveldsinjaalgras
Urochloa panicoides Garden signal grass Tuin beesgras
Ursinia nana subsp leptophylla Magriet
Vangueria infausta subsp infausta Wild medlar Wildemispel
Verbena bonariensis Purple top
Verbena brasiliensis
Vernonia galpinii Kwasbossie
Vernonia natalensis Silver vernonia
Vernonia oligocephala Cape vernonia Blounaaldetee bossie
Vernonia poskeana
Veronica anagallis-aquatica
Vigna unguiculata subsp stenophylla
Vigna vexillata var vexillata Narrow-leaved wild pea Wilde-ertjie
Wahlenbergia denticulata var transvaalensis
Wahlenbergia epacridea
Wahlenbergia undulata
Xerophyta retinervis Monkey’s tail Bobbejaanstert
Xysmalobium undulatum Uzara Bitterwortel
Zaluzianskya elongata
Zinnia peruviana Redstar zinnia
Ziziphus mucronata subsp mucronata Buffalothorn Blinkblaarwag‘nbietjie
Ziziphus zeyheriana Dwarf buffalothorn Dwergblinkblaarwag‘nbietjie
Zornia milneana
Plants in Bold are Category 1 Invader plants (Henderson, 2001) and
must be controlled.•103
APPENDIX D: HERPETOFAUNA LIST
List of Reptiles and Amphibians confirmed and expected (?) to occur
on the Rietvlei
Nature Reserve.
Scientific Names Common Names
CLASS : REPTILIA REPTILES
Order :CHELONIA TORTOISES
Suborder: PLEURODIRA Side-necked Terrapins
Family: Pelomedusidae Side-necked Terrapins
Pelomedusa subrufa Helmeted Terrapin
Suborder: Cryptodira Modern Tortoises
Family: Testudinidae Land Tortoises
Geochelone pardalis Leopard Tortoise
Order: SQUAMATA SCALE-BEARING REPTILES
Suborder: LACERTILIA LIZARDS
Family: Gekkonidae Geckos
Pachydactylus capensis Cape Thick-toed Gecko ?
Pachydactylus affinis Transvaal Thick-toed Gecko
Lygodactylus capensis Cape Dwarf Gecko
Family :Agamidae Agamas
Agama aculeata distanti Distant's Ground Agama
Family: Scincidae Skinks
Mabuya capensis Cape Skink
Mabuya punctatissima Speckled Skink
Lygososma sundevallii Writhing Skink
Panaspis wahlbergi Wahlberg's Snake-eyed Skink
Acontias occidentalis Western Leg-less Skink ?
Acontias gracilicauda Slender-tailed Legless Skink ?
Family: Lacertidae Old World Lizards or Lacertids
Nucras holubi Holub's Sandveld Lizard
Nucras ornata Ornate Sandveld Lizard
Pedioplanis lineoocellata Spotted Sand Lizard
Ichnotropis capensis Cape Rough-scaled Lizard
Family: Gerrhosauridae Plated Lizards
Gerrhosaurus flavigularis Yellow-throated Plated Lizard
Family: Cordylidae Girdled Lizards
Chamaesaura aenea Transvaal Grass Lizard
Chamaesura anguina Cape Grass Lizard ?
Cordylus vittifer Transvaal Girdled Lizard ?
Family: Varanidae Monitor Lizards
Varanus albigularis Rock or White-throated Monitor
Varanus niloticus Water or Nile Monitor•104
Scientific Names Common Names
Suborder: SERPENTES SNAKES
Family: Typhlopidae Blind Snakes
Typhlops bibronii Bibron's Blind Snake
Rhinotyphlops lalandei Delalande's Blind Snake ?
Family: Leptotyphlopidae Thread Snakes
Leptotyphlops conjunctus Cape Thread Snake
Leptotyphlops scutifrons Peters' Thread Snake
Leptotyphlops distanti Distant's Thread Snake ?
Family: Atractaspididae African Burrowing Snakes
Atractaspis bibronii Bibron's Stiletto Snake
Aparallactus capensis Cape Centipede-eater
Amblyodipsas polylepis Common Purple-glossed Snake ?
Family: Colubridae Typical Snakes
Lycodonomorphus rufulus Brown Water Snake
Lamprophis aurora Aurora Snake
Lamprophis inornatus Olive House Snake ?
Lamprophis fuliginosus Brown House Snake
Lycophidion capense Cape Wolf Snake ?
Duberria lutrix Slug-eater ?
Pseudaspis cana Mole Snake
Psammophylax rhombeatus Rhombic Skaapsteker
Psammophylax tritaeniatus Striped Skaapsteker
Psammophis trinasalis Fork-marked Sand Snake
Psammophis brevirostris Short-snouted Sand Snake
Psamophis crucifer Cross-marked Sand Snake
Prosymna sundevallii Sundevall's Shovel-snout
Philothamnus hoplogaster Green Water Snake
Philothamnus occidentalis Western Green Water Snake
Philothamnus semivariegatus Spotted Bush Snake ?
Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia Red-lipped or Herald Snake
Telescopus semiannulatus Tiger Snake ?
Dispholidus typus Boomslang
Dasypeltis scabra Rhombic Egg-eater
Family: Elapidae Cobras, Mambas and others
Elapsoidea sundevallii media Highveld Garter Snake
Hemachatus haemachatus Rinkals
Naja annulifera Snouted Cobra
Naja mossambica Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Family: Viperidae Adders
Causus rhombeatus Rhombic Night Adder
Bitis arietans Puff Adder
CLASS: AMPHIBIA AMPHIBIANS
Order: ANURA FROGS
Family: Pipidae Clawed Frogs
Xenopus laevis Common Platanna•105
Scientific Names Common Names
Family: Bufonidae Toads
Bufo gutturalis Guttural Toad
Bufo rangeri Raucous Toad
Bufo poweri Western Olive Toad
Schismaderma carens Red Toad
Family: Microhylidae Rain Frogs
Breviceps adspersus Bushveld Rain Frog
Family: Ranidae Common Frogs
Afrana angolensis Common River Frog
Tomopterna cryptotis Tremolo Sad Frog
Tomopterna natalensis Natal Sand Fog
Strongylopus fasciatus Striped Stream Frog
Phrynobatrachus natalensis Snoring Puddle Frog
Cacosternum boettgeri Common Caco
Pyxicephalus adspersus Giant African Bullfrog
Family: Hyperoliidae Reedfrogs
Kasssina senegalensis Bubbling Kassina•106
APPENDIX E: GRAVES ON RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE
A.Michiel Christiaan Elardus Erasmus B. Petrus Jacobus van Staden
12/09/1849 08/06/1895 27/05/1888 30/07/1918
C. Cecilia Moodie D. Jacob Willem van Reenen
20/06/1842 10/11/1905 22/02/1846 04/06/1916•107
APPENDIX F: OLD FARMHOUSE AND OUTBUILDINGS•108
APPENDIX G: BRAUN-BLANQUET DATA FORM