Bush encroachment is one of the threats to the functioning of ecosystems. One of its negative impacts is on the understorey vegetation which includes grasses and forbs. It has been found to exclude some of the grass species which in the end impacts on the system's ability to provide forage to both wildlife and domestic animals. This project has been initiated in Maputaland in order to determine the impact of Dichrostachys cinerea on understorey vegetation. The specific objectives are:
1. To determine the influence of D. cinerea on understorey plant species composition & distribution.
2. To investigate the influence of D. cinerea on the composition of the soil seedbanks of understorey vegetation.
3. To determine the influence of D. cinerea on the biomass of understorey vegetation.
Bush encroachment is one of the threats to the functioning of ecosystems. One of its negative impacts is on the understorey vegetation which includes grasses and forbs. It has been found to exclude some of the grass species which in the end impacts on the system's ability to provide forage to both wildlife and domestic animals. This project has been initiated in Maputaland in order to determine the impact of Dichrostachys cinerea on understorey vegetation. The specific objectives are:
1. To determine the influence of D. cinerea on understorey plant species composition & distribution.
2. To investigate the influence of D. cinerea on the composition of the soil seedbanks of understorey vegetation.
3. To determine the influence of D. cinerea on the biomass of understorey vegetation.
