| Summary: | Bibliography: leaves 110-130. === The succulent karoo biome is acclaimed internationally for its high biodiversity and endemism. At the same time the area is perceived to be under threat from extensive livestock production. Extensive research has been under taken in the last twenty years to describe and understand the underlying mechanisms that influence vegetation composition and distribution in this biome. A detailed summary of the main phytosociological studies completed in the succulent karoo biome is included. This includes Adamson's classic 1938 description of the vegetation of the Kamiesberg. A further six studies are described which provide a platform for the phytosociological analysis carried out in this thesis. A context for this thesis is provided by a brief synthesis of the vegetation of the succulent karoo biome including aspects concerned with the climate, plant diversity and history of land use practices in the region. This study was undertaken primarily, however, to classify and describe the vegetation of Paulshoek, a small village comprising 20 000 ha in the communal area of Leliefontein, Central Namaqualand. The Braun-Blanquet vegetation classification approach was used and modelled satellite imagery was applied to classify the perennial vegetation of Paulshoek. The vegetation data was also subjected to canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to determine the associated environment variables. Furthermore, this study also aimed to determine the impact of different management strategies on the diversity (species richness, similarity, evenness and dominance/diversity), composition and structure of uplands and lowlands vegetation. Data was subjected to TWINSPAN analysis, CCA, diversity, similarity and evenness investigations. Furthermore, the data set was subjected to Kruskal Wallis one way ANOVA, multiple comparisons with t distribution test and Mann-Whitney statistical tests to determine significant differences between vegetation types and landuse treatments.
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