Autecological studies on grass species in southern Africa — A literature survey

Abstract

A literature survey of autecological studies on southern African grass species was undertaken. Results revealed that there is a comparative lack of autecological versus community studies. Where autecological studies have been conducted, most of the attention was focused on ‘pasture’ or ‘desirable’ species with ‘undesirable’ or ‘unpalatable’ species receiving very little consideration. A lack of information on the demography, population dynamics and competitive abilities of southern African grasses was also identified. A table summarizing these studies is presented.

‘n Opname van outekologiese ondersoeke ten opsigte van Suid‐Afrikaanse grasspesies is onderneem. Resultate het bewys dat daar ‘n gebrek aan outekologiese studies vergelykend met plantge‐meenskaplike ondersoeke bestaan. Waar outekologiese ondersoeke onderneem is, het die klem oorwegend op ‘weidings’ of ‘belowen‐de’ species geval, terwyl ‘onbelowende” of ‘onsmaaklike’ spesies baie min aandag geniet het.