; ?>)
; ?>)
; ?>)
| Llewellyn C. Foxcroft |
| Department of Nature Conservation, Technikon Pretoria |
| February, 2003 |
Abstract |
| Opuntia stricta, an invasive alien plant, has invaded an area of more than 35 000 hectares in the Skukuza region of the Kruger National Park (KNP). In order to unravel the dynamics of the O. stricta invasion, the distribution of the plant together with features of the environment were mapped in an attempt to determine those factors which may affect the distribution and density of the plant. A Principal Component Analysis of O. stricta density revealed that none of the environmental factors that were monitored influenced the density or abundance of O. stricta in KNP. Furthermore, there seemed to be no natural barriers that might limit the extent of invasion within the KNP. Logistic regression also indicated no relationship between O. stricta density and C. cactorum presence, while a PCA suggests that other factors such as plant size may be important factors in determining the distribution of C. cactorum. The study therefore shows there is a high probability that, unless there is appropriate intervention, O. stricta will eventually invade the entire KNP. |
| Other AOSIS OpenJournals publications include: |