The effects of fire and stocking density on the unpalatable species Elytropappus rhinocerotis in Renosterveld vegetation in South Africa

Abstract

AbstractNamaqualand Granite Renosterveld is a fire‐prone shrubland in South Africa and is dominated by Elytropappus rhinocerotis, an indigenous unpalatable shrub with encroaching properties. Using vegetation surveys, the study aimed to understand the effects of fire and grazing on the cover, density and plant species associations with E. rhinocerotis. Plant cover was unaffected by fire and grazing. Fire widened the range of densities of E. rhinocerotis, but grazing alone had no impact and thus cannot significantly promote E. rhinocerotis dominance. Stand density did not influence the species composition, which indicates that E. rhinocerotis neither competitively exclude nor actively facilitate other species.