Ordination by detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) of the vegetation of Swartboschkloof, Jonkershoek, Cape Province

Abstract

The data of a Braun-Blanquet vegetation classification was ordinated using detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). This was done at the Fynbos Biome intensive study site, Swartboschkloof, Jonkershoek, to investigate the factors determining the distribution of the plant communities. Superimposition of environmental data on the DCA ordination confirmed the indications of the Braun-Blanquet classification that the distribution of plant communities is most strongly correlated with soil geology and, to a lesser extent, with soil moisture status. The ordination also proved useful for examining the relationships between the transitional communites and the distinct communities of Swartboschkloof.