A first formal classification of the H ardeveld vegetation in N amaqualand, S outh A frica

Questions TheSucculentKaroo is a winter‐rainfall desert in southernAfrica with a highly diverse flora. Which environmental factors differentiate vegetation composition at the plot level: How can compositional pattern be best represented by a formal phytosociological classification. Location Soebatsfontein communal area and surroundings in theNamaqualandHardeveldBioregion of theSucculentKarooBiome,NorthernCapeProvince,SouthAfrica. Methods We recorded vascular plant species composition, together with a range of structural and soil parameters as well as grazing intensity, in 355 plots of 100 m² size. This sample covered all vegetation types of the study area except those of river beds and anthropogenic sites. Vegetation classification was carried out using modifiedTWINSPANfollowed by manual re‐arrangement of a subset of plots with the aim of increasing floristic distinctiveness of the vegetation units. For the final vegetation units, we determined diagnostic species and environmental parameters, according to phi‐values andANOVA, respectively, and translated these into a phytosociological classification. Results The major factor influencing species composition and richness was soil salinity. At a broad scale, the less saline sites could be differentiated into sandy plains and rocky hills, and the saline sites into quartz fields, the centres ofheuweltjies(termitaria) and the matrix between. We translated these patterns into two phytosociological classes with four orders, six alliances and 16 associations. Most of the syntaxa are very well defined in floristic terms, and all except theOthonnion cylindricaeare new to science. TheHermannio trifurcae‐Zygophylletea morgsanaerepresents the zonal vegetation of marginally saline soils, theDidelto carnosae‐Cephalophylletea inaequalisthe vegetation of saline soils. The vegetation of the extremely saline quartz patches probably belongs to a third class not described here due to the scarcity of representative plots. Conclusions Our phytosociological approach allowed the various degrees of ecological and floristic similarity to be represented by syntaxa of different ranks. A comparison with previous classifications from theSucculentKaroo revealed a high spatial turnover, with only two of our alliances and none of our associations coinciding with those found in previously studied areas of theSucculentKaroo. Our formal classification has the potential to be a powerful tool for local land use, ecological comparison and conservation, and to contribute to a future national phytosociological classification ofSouthAfrica.