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dc.contributor.authorMhondoro, Melania
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-17T07:09:11Z
dc.date.available2014-07-17T07:09:11Z
dc.date.issued2014-07-17
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10646/1270
dc.description.abstractPiospheres are examples of the spatial impacts animals have on their environment. They tend to develop around artificial watering points, particularly in the dry season. The present study sought to assess impactof disturbance on plant species and soils across a disturbance gradient at watering points in the Main Camp of Hwange National Park. The study was conducted around four artificial watering points (two seasonal watering points and two perennial watering points). A stratified sampling design was adopted, with woody vegetation plots systematically placed at 150 m intervals along 2 550 m long transects. Assessments of non-woody plants and soils were conducted in plots laid at 50 m interval along 2 500 m long transects. Results indicated that woody species height and basal area increased with increasing distance from watering points. Shrub species richness was highest in moderately utilised zones and woody species diversity was lowest closest to the watering points. Non-woody species cover, richness and abundance increased towards the watering points. There was no consistent relationship between distance from water and non-woody species diversity. Concentrations of nutrients were highest in the vicinity of watering points. Soil moisture was lowest close to watering points and highest in the moderate occupancy zone. Soil pH was highest close to watering points. Onlyphosphorus was significantly different between seasonal watering points and perennial watering points. No significant differences were observed between seasonal watering points and perennial watering points in terms of vegetation attributes. Results indicate the existence of spatial variation in woody vegetation structure, non-woody vegetation cover and soil nutrient status and pH around artificial watering points which is associated with an animal disturbance gradient in Hwange National Park.en_US
dc.language.isoen_ZWen_US
dc.subjectsurface wateren_US
dc.subjectartificial water sources.en_US
dc.subjectnatural water sourcesen_US
dc.subjectnatural watering pointsen_US
dc.subjectHwange National Parken_US
dc.titleSpatial variation in vegetation and soils around artificial watering points in Hwange National Parken_US
thesis.degree.advisorKativu, S
thesis.degree.countryZimbabween_US
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Zimbabween_US
thesis.degree.grantoremailspecialcol@uzlib.uz.ac.zw
thesis.degree.levelMScen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science in Tropical Resources Ecologyen_US
thesis.degree.thesistypeThesisen_US
dc.date.defense2013-05


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