Kemper, JCowling, RMRichardson, DMForsyth, GGMcKelly, DH2007-04-022007-06-072007-04-022007-06-072000-04Kemper, J, et al. 2000. Landscape fragmentation in South Coast Renosterveld, South Africa, in relation to rainfall and topography. Austral Ecology, vol. 25(2), pp 179-1861442-9985http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2177http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2177The South Coast Renosterveld has been fragmented extensively by agriculture. The extent of this fragmentation in terms of overall habitat loss, fragment sizes and fragment numbers has not been described previously, thereby limiting the development of conservation strategies for this vegetation type. Patterns of Renosterveld loss in three sectors along a west-east gradient were described using LANDSAT imagery and a Geographical Information System-based program (FRAGSTATS) for spatial pattern analysis. These patterns were then correlated with rainfall and topography measures, which are indicators of agricultural potential. Over 80% of the South Coast Renosterveld has been cultivated. Fragmentation levels increased significantly from east to west, with 33% of natural vegetation remaining in the east and only 4% in the west. Topographical variables were the strongest predictors of patterns of Renosterveld loss, with fragments being largely confined to slopes too steep for ploughing; they therefore face little risk of future cultivation. These results have implications for conservation planning options for the South Coast Renosterveld. There is the potential for large reserves in the east, as well as corridor reserves along major river valleys, but for only small, isolated reserves in the west.372123 bytesapplication/pdfenCopyright: 2000 Blackwell Science AsiaAgricultureConservation planningEnvironmental predictorsHabitat lossLandscape fragmentationRenosterveldArticleKemper, J., Cowling, R., Richardson, D., Forsyth, G., & McKelly, D. (2000). Landscape fragmentation in South Coast Renosterveld, South Africa, in relation to rainfall and topography. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2177Kemper, J, RM Cowling, DM Richardson, GG Forsyth, and DH McKelly "Landscape fragmentation in South Coast Renosterveld, South Africa, in relation to rainfall and topography." (2000) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2177Kemper J, Cowling R, Richardson D, Forsyth G, McKelly D. Landscape fragmentation in South Coast Renosterveld, South Africa, in relation to rainfall and topography. 2000; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2177.TY - Article AU - Kemper, J AU - Cowling, RM AU - Richardson, DM AU - Forsyth, GG AU - McKelly, DH AB - The South Coast Renosterveld has been fragmented extensively by agriculture. The extent of this fragmentation in terms of overall habitat loss, fragment sizes and fragment numbers has not been described previously, thereby limiting the development of conservation strategies for this vegetation type. Patterns of Renosterveld loss in three sectors along a west-east gradient were described using LANDSAT imagery and a Geographical Information System-based program (FRAGSTATS) for spatial pattern analysis. These patterns were then correlated with rainfall and topography measures, which are indicators of agricultural potential. Over 80% of the South Coast Renosterveld has been cultivated. Fragmentation levels increased significantly from east to west, with 33% of natural vegetation remaining in the east and only 4% in the west. Topographical variables were the strongest predictors of patterns of Renosterveld loss, with fragments being largely confined to slopes too steep for ploughing; they therefore face little risk of future cultivation. These results have implications for conservation planning options for the South Coast Renosterveld. There is the potential for large reserves in the east, as well as corridor reserves along major river valleys, but for only small, isolated reserves in the west. DA - 2000-04 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Agriculture KW - Conservation planning KW - Environmental predictors KW - Habitat loss KW - Landscape fragmentation KW - Renosterveld LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2000 SM - 1442-9985 T1 - Landscape fragmentation in South Coast Renosterveld, South Africa, in relation to rainfall and topography TI - Landscape fragmentation in South Coast Renosterveld, South Africa, in relation to rainfall and topography UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2177 ER -