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dc.contributor.authorRingrose, S.
dc.contributor.authorVanderpost, C.
dc.contributor.authorMatheson, W.
dc.contributor.authorWolski, P.
dc.contributor.authorHuntsman-Mapila, P.
dc.contributor.authorMurray-Hudson, M.
dc.contributor.authorJellema, A.
dc.date.accessioned2008-07-24T10:58:45Z
dc.date.available2008-07-24T10:58:45Z
dc.date.issued2007-01
dc.identifier.citationRingrose, S. et al (2007) Indicators of desiccation-driven change in the distal Okavango Delta, Botswana, Journal of Arid Environments Vol 68, Issue 1, January, pp. 88-112en
dc.identifier.issn0140-1963
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/161
dc.description.abstractThis work seeks to determine whether riparian woody plant variables respond to drying and salinity regimes in the semi-arid distal Okavango Delta, northern Botswana. Structural and compositional variables were obtained from 47 field sites. Mapping using satellite imagery illustrated differences in the character of riparian zones in terms of species composition and provided data on flood frequency. Salinity data plots show increases downstream. Results imply that woody plant variables respond to desiccation-driven change due to water-table lowering (reduced recharge) and increased salinization through distinct changes in tree and shrub height, plant density and species richness. In the wetter, intermediate distributaries, key biotic indicators of ecosystem change comprise structural variables such as decreases in canopy cover per cent and tree height and increases of shrub height, which are indicative of mainly ground-water declines. Biotic indicators in the less frequently flooded receiver channels comprise plant density and species richness increases involving mainly brackish ground-water-tolerant and dryland species which are indicative of both ground-water declines and/or salinization. These indicators could provide useful parameters for use in long- and short-term monitoring aimed at assessing desiccation-driven change in different parts of the Okavango Delta and possibly other semi-arid wetlands. The indicators are important as a less-expensive alternative to drilling as a means of verifying ground-water declines and/or salinization.en
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was funded partly through the European Union WERRD project (ICA-4-CT-2001-10040) partly by the Botswana Department of Water Affairs (with Water Resource Consultants) and the University of Botswana (Research Grant 084).en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherElsevier Ltd; www.elsevier.com/locate/jaridenven
dc.subjectSemi-arid riparian zonesen
dc.subjectCompositional and structural variablesen
dc.subjectWater-table loweringen
dc.subjectSalinizationen
dc.titleIndicators of desiccation-driven change in the distal Okavango Delta, Botswanaen
dc.typeArticleen


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