Table of Contents - SRK Consulting

Limpopo West Mine: Biodiversity and Impact AssessmentKwaZulu Natal. None of the species listed by DWAF (2005) were encountered in thewetlands of the study area, and this list limited use in identifying wetland indicators.The proposed LWM study area is located within the savanna biome (Mucina & Rutherford,2006) and the vegetation is thus dominated by woody species. Woody species haveprovided important indicators of plant communities in the study area. Typical indicatorspecies of wetland conditions have primarily been woody species of the riparian vegetationand a few hydrophilic grasses.Acacia grandicornuta (Figure 7-17) was restricted to wetland conditions within the study areaand provided a reliable indicator for this study. Ziziphus mucronata was similarly restricted towetland sites, but not widespread among the many sites visited. Echinochloa holubi was ahydrophilic grass species restricted to seasonal pans. Acacia erubescens (Figure 7-17)demonstrated a high affinity for wetland conditions, however this species was alsoencountered in areas that do not show sufficient characteristics to classify as wetlands in thestudy area. Acacia mellifera and Acacia tortilis are typical woody species of the dry terrestrialvegetation, however these species were dominant in the riparian vegetation of many pans inthe study area. These species have responded to increased soil moisture in the vicinity ofpans, growing as taller specimens in dense thickets. This response has enabled the easydelineation of riparian vegetation based on vegetation structure rather than speciescomposition for many of the pans within the LWM study area.Acacia grandicornuta leaf structure, bark and growth formAcacia erubescens (Blue thorn Acacia) growth form and leaf structureFigure 7-17 Examples of wetland vegetation indicators - Limpopo West Study area103