Quadrat-survey of Aloe africana population structure

A quadrat-survey of the population structure of Aloe africana was conducted in the Colchester-section of the Addo Elephant National Park to monitor the effects of large herbivores. The current baseline-survey was conducted during October 2010, prior to the introduction of elephant. Twenty quadrats (30x10m) were permanently marked and the following variables recorded at each quadrat: (1) structural characteristics of all adult plants, (2) juvenile plant abundances, (3) impacts [1-None, 2-Herbivory, 3-Pollarding, 4-Toppling, 5-Coppicing, 6-Dead], (4) structure of the shrub community, using canopy height as an indicator, and (5) estimated intensity of elephant use. These quadrats are surveyed at regular intervals.