Plant community structure in relation to grazing and environmental changes along a north-south transect in the western Kalahari

摘要: Sixteen vegetation types were described from a north-south transect in the western Kalahari. Pronounced differences found between communities on nutrient poor red Kalahari sand, covering most of area and those fine soils white calcareous sand. Syntaxa resulting severe overgrazing by livestock cases clearly distinguished less disturbed vegetation. The sand consisted mainly shrub savanna dominated perennial tufted grasses, whereas material overgrazed land, forbs, dwarf shrubs played more important role.