Canopy spread cover of plants in Bontebok National Park (1984-1985)

The aim of the study was to examine relationships between fire, grazing and grass cover in the Bontebok National Park, in October 1984 decending point surveys were conducted by Peter Novellie in eight plots, four of which were lacated in areas that had been burned in March 1984 (plot numbers 4,5,7 and 10) and four on areas burnt in March 1984 (plot number 4,5,7 and 10). the plots were marked with metal stakes, and their approximate location was indicated on a map of the park. The surveys in the plots in the plots were repeated in November 1985. this dataset gives the percentage canopy spread cover of grasses, and of the following categories of plants other than grasses: Cyperaceae, Restionaceae and all other plants.

Futher details on the methodology, and the result of the 1984 surveys, are published in:

Novellie, P. 1987. Interrelationships between fire, grazing and grass cover at the Bontebok National Park. Koedoe 30: 1-7.

In 2003 Tineke Kraaiji searched for the plot markers and took GPS readings for the four plots for which the markers could be found ( table below ). she repeated the surveys in these marked plots un November 2005 as well as at the approximate lacations ( as judged from the map) for the remaining four plots for which the markers could not be found.

COORDINATES: PLOTS
Plots Longitude Latitude
Plot2 S 34 03'03.3'' E 20 27'11.6''
Plot4 S 34 04'15.8'' E 20 26'20.2
Plot5 S 34 03'30.9'' E 20 27'25.8
plot6 S 34 03'16.4'' E 20 27'08.1