class: center, middle, inverse, title-slide .title[ # Practical ] .subtitle[ ## Mapping Wetlands ] .author[ ### Jasper Slingsby, BIO3018F ] .date[ ### 2026-03-08 ] --- class: center, middle ## Scenario The manager of De Hoop Nature Reserve has asked for help mapping wetlands in the reserve. The existing map does not indicate any mountain seep wetlands on Potberg, but these small wetlands are typically important for biodiversity conservation, providing hydrological refugia that support species that may otherwise not be able to survive in the prevailing climate. --- ## What is a seep? <div class="figure" style="text-align: center"> <img src="images/wetlands_ollis2012SANBI.png" alt="(from Ollis et al 2012, SANBI)" width="60%" /> <p class="caption">(from Ollis et al 2012, SANBI)</p> </div> "Seeps are characterised by their association with geological formations (lithologies) and topographic positions that either cause groundwater to discharge to the land surface or rain-derived water to ‘seep’ down-slope as subsurface interflow." --- ## Why are seeps important? <br> Seeps provide hydrological refugia that support species that may otherwise not be able to survive in the prevailing climate [(McLaughlin et al. 2017)](https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13629). <br> Hydric habitats contribute greatly to the richness of the Cape Fynbos Flora [(van Blerk et al. 2025)](https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13962). <br> Groundwater dependent ecosystems (including seeps) are particularly vulnerable to invasive alien species and groundwater abstraction for human use [(Slingsby 2018)](https://groundup.org.za/article/rush-drill-water-could-threaten-our-future-water-supply/) --- ## Task You are tasked with developing and testing a rapid protocol* to efficiently identify and characterise seep wetland vegetation communities on Potberg. .footnote[*This does not mean that your study methods should be rapid, but rather that they help identify a rapid method.] --- # Deliverable A brief research report in the format of a Research Article in the journal [**_Biology Letters_**](https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/for-authors). - 2,500 words maximum, including references. - Standard journal paper format: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results (with figures and tables), Discussion, References - Consider relevant references from the lectures... - Clearly state your research question(s) and hypothesis(es). - Present your results in a way that is clear and easy to interpret. - Discuss your results in the context of your hypothesis and the literature. - Feel free to highlight the shortcomings of your study and what could be done to improve it. - Conclude with a summary of your findings and their implications. - More on how to write a paper [**here**](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xidafYQKbNyvfvBRtj7-NblW6sg_9_h5HJWgtUsgasY/edit?usp=sharing). --- ## What can you use as indicators? --- ## What is a wetland? Wetlands are defined by the presence of water at or near the soil surface (which may be seasonal), hydric soils, and specially adapted vegetation (hydrophytes). -- ### What are the indicators of a wetland? -- - Wetlands tend to have higher soil moisture (or a shallower water table) than the surrounding landscape. - Wetlands tend to support distinct plant communities relative to the surrounding landscape, often more productive and typically dominated by hydrophytes. - Wetlands tend to have hydric soils, which are soils that are saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. A good indicator of this is higher organic matter content (i.e. darker soils). --- ## How would you measure these indicators? -- #### Soil moisture? -- #### Vegetation? -- - Species? - Properties? -- #### Soil organic matter? --- ## Field equipment? #### Soil moisture? #### Vegetation? - Species? - Properties? #### Soil organic matter? --- ## Field equipment? #### Soil moisture? - The Aston (metal bar) + 5 pound hammer + 5m measuring tape + glove - Trowel, sealable plastic bags, permanent marker #### Vegetation? - Species: 20m measuring tape, large plastic bags, permanent markers, masking tape, smartphone with camera - Properties: 5m measuring tape, densiometer, clipboard, paper and pen/pencil #### Soil organic matter? - See _Soil moisture_ above (can inspect same sample in lab) #### Site? - GPS, clipboard, paper and pen/pencil, 50m measuring tape? --- ## Data sheet? -- - Site name or number - GPS coords - Date, Time - Observer(s) - Water table depth (cm) - Soil sample collected (Y/N) - Site photos collected (Y/N, camera/owner, numbers/timestamp) - Vegetation plot established (Y/N) - Vegetation height (m) - Vegetation cover (%) - Densiometer reading - Species recorded (list) - Notes --- ## Results: The Dataset <div style="border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 0px; overflow-y: scroll; height:500px; overflow-x: scroll; width:100%; "><table class="table table-striped" style="width: auto !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <thead> <tr> <th style="text-align:left;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Site Number </th> <th style="text-align:left;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Team </th> <th style="text-align:left;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Site </th> <th style="text-align:right;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Latitude </th> <th style="text-align:right;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Longitude </th> <th style="text-align:left;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Date </th> <th style="text-align:right;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Bare Ground (%) </th> <th style="text-align:left;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Species </th> <th style="text-align:right;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Wet mass (g) </th> <th style="text-align:right;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Dry mass (g) </th> <th style="text-align:left;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Notes </th> <th style="text-align:right;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Veg Height (m) </th> <th style="text-align:right;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> MoistureFraction </th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40583 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57963 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia strobilifera </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.010 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.59 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4975000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40583 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57963 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Platycaulos </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.540 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.59 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6150000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40583 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57963 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.670 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.59 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5825000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40583 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57963 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.850 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.59 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5375000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40583 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57963 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 299.350 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 216.750 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.59 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.2759312 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40551 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57920 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Leucadendron salignum </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.896 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.56 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5260000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40551 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57920 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Pentameris </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.050 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.56 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4875000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40551 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57920 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia stricta </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.590 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.56 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.3525000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40551 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57920 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.020 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.56 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4950000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> A </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> All </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40551 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57920 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 374.850 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 359.500 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.56 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0409497 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40324 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56550 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.573 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site B </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.94 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6067500 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40324 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56550 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia strobilifera </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.003 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.876 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site B </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.94 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5313515 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40324 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56550 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Restio tetragonis </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.070 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site B </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.94 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4825000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40324 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56550 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Elegia juncea </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.003 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.209 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site B </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.94 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6979765 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40324 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56550 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 37.609 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 26.100 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site B </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.94 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.3060172 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40385 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56511 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 10 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 1 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.001 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.247 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site A </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.67 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4383904 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40385 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56511 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 10 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia stricta </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.003 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.180 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site A </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.67 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4554084 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40385 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56511 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 10 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.003 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.391 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site A </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.67 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4026980 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40385 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56511 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 10 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Mastersiella digitata </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.358 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site A </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.67 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4105000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> B </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40385 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56511 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 10 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 58.375 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 56.550 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site A </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.67 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0312634 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41252 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.58039 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Platycaulos </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.000 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.605 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site D </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.04 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5987500 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41252 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.58039 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.001 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.568 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site D </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.04 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6080980 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41252 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.58039 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.003 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.871 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site D </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.04 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5326005 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41252 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.58039 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.002 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.943 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site D </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.04 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5289710 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41252 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.58039 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 27.684 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 22.700 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site D </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.04 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.1800318 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41376 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57859 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 25 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.008 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.124 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site C </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.30 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4402390 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41376 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57859 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 25 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.003 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.863 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site C </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.30 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5345991 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41376 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57859 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 25 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Leucadendron salignum </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.003 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.872 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site C </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.30 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5323507 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41376 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57859 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 25 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia strobilifera </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.004 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.143 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site C </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.30 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4647852 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> C </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> JB, EGW, SJLR, AC, TP </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41376 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57859 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 25 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 56.559 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 54.400 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site C </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.30 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0381725 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40315 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56500 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.004 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.888 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5284715 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40315 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56500 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Platycaulos </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.058 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.074 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4889108 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40315 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56500 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.045 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.950 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5179234 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40315 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56500 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.016 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.940 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5169323 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40315 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56500 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 47.550 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 41.900 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.1188223 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40352 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56452 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 43 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Hypodiscus aristata </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.016 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.854 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5383466 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40352 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56452 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 43 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Leucadendron salignum </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.033 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.632 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5953385 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40352 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56452 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 43 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Phylica </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.003 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.524 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.3694729 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40352 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56452 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 43 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia stricta </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.005 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.515 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.3720350 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> D </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.40352 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.56452 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 43 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 71.400 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 70.600 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 1 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.03 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0112045 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41245 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57911 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.005 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.764 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.35 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5595506 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41245 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57911 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia stricta </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.010 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.137 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.35 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4670823 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41245 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57911 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.036 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.741 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.35 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5686323 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41245 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57911 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Platycaulos </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.001 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.048 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.35 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4881280 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41245 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57911 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 50.200 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 45.250 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (wet) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.35 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0986056 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41318 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57854 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.172 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.97 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4605067 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41318 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57854 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 1 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.002 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.483 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.97 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6294353 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41318 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57854 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.001 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 2.111 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.97 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4723819 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41318 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57854 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Restio tetragonis </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 4.078 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 1.924 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.97 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5282001 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> E </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> KK, JF, SB, BM, JCM </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> -34.41318 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 20.57854 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sunday, 25 Jan, 2026 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 65.850 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 61.600 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Site 2 (dry) </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.97 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0645406 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> --- ## Results: Site level <img src="PracPresentation2026_files/figure-html/unnamed-chunk-3-1.png" alt="" width="100%" style="display: block; margin: auto;" /> While we estimated bare ground at the wet sites, it was always zero, so these bars are not visible. .footnote[Why no bare ground at the dry sample at site E?] --- ## Results: Vegetation Community <img src="PracPresentation2026_files/figure-html/unnamed-chunk-4-1.png" alt="" width="100%" style="display: block; margin: auto;" /> Leaf moisture fraction (1 - dry mass/wet mass) for all plant species collected across sites. Each boxplot summarises the distribution of leaf moisture fraction for all species collected at each site, and the points show the values for each individual plant sampled. --- ## Results: Species Level <img src="PracPresentation2026_files/figure-html/unnamed-chunk-5-1.png" alt="" width="100%" style="display: block; margin: auto;" /> Leaf moisture fraction (1 - dry mass/wet mass) for all plant species that occur in both wet and dry sites. Each boxplot summarises the distribution of leaf moisture fraction for each species across sites, and the points show the values for each individual plant sampled. --- ## What have we learned so far? -- It seems that... - Wet sites have higher soil moisture content than dry sites - Wet sites tend to have plants with higher leaf moisture content than dry sites - Some species occur only in wet sites, some only in dry sites, and some in both - Within species, individuals in wet sites tend to have higher leaf moisture content than in dry sites <br> ...but we haven't done any statistics, so we can't be sure that these patterns are real and not just due to random variation in our small sample size. I'll leave it up to you to work this bit out... --- ## Where does this leave us with regard to our task? _You are tasked with developing and testing a rapid protocol to efficiently identify and characterise seep wetland vegetation communities on Potberg._ --- ## Do we have good indicators? --- ## How do we scale this up? --- ## Plant distributions as indicators? <div class="figure" style="text-align: center"> <img src="images/inat_potberg_Jan2026.png" alt="Screenshot of iNaturalist records for plants in De Hoop NR." width="85%" /> <p class="caption">Screenshot of iNaturalist records for plants in De Hoop NR.</p> </div> --- ## Plant distributions as indicators?
.footnote[iNaturalist records of the occurrence of the vlei kolkol (_Berzelia lanuginosa_) in De Hoop Nature Reserve. It is a good indicator of wet environments, but occurs only in a few locations on Potberg.] --- ## What does the literature say about our sampled species? <div style="border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 0px; overflow-y: scroll; height:500px; overflow-x: scroll; width:100%; "><table class="table table-striped" style="width: auto !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <thead> <tr> <th style="text-align:left;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Site </th> <th style="text-align:left;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Species </th> <th style="text-align:right;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> MoistureFraction </th> <th style="text-align:left;position: sticky; top:0; background-color: #FFFFFF;"> Habitat </th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia strobilifera </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4975000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Widespread in marshy areas </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Platycaulos </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6150000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Damp places and seepages in mountains and along streams </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5825000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes in permanently moist sites </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5375000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.2759312 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Leucadendron salignum </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5260000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Many soils and widely distributed </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Pentameris </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4875000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Most drier fynbos areas </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia stricta </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.3525000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Flats and lower slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4950000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0409497 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6067500 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes in permanently moist sites </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia strobilifera </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5313515 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Widespread in marshy areas </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Restio tetragonis </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4825000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Elegia juncea </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6979765 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.3060172 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 1 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4383904 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia stricta </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4554084 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Flats and lower slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4026980 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Mastersiella digitata </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4105000 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0312634 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Platycaulos </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5987500 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Damp places and seepages in mountains and along streams </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6080980 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes in permanently moist sites </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5326005 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5289710 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.1800318 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4402390 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5345991 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Leucadendron salignum </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5323507 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Many soils and widely distributed </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia strobilifera </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4647852 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Widespread in marshy areas </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0381725 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5284715 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes in permanently moist sites </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Platycaulos </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4889108 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Damp places and seepages in mountains and along streams </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5179234 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5169323 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.1188223 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Hypodiscus aristata </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5383466 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Leucadendron salignum </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5953385 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Many soils and widely distributed </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Phylica </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.3694729 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia stricta </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.3720350 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Flats and lower slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0112045 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Berzelia lanuginosa </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5595506 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes in permanently moist sites </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Cliffortia stricta </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4670823 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5686323 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Platycaulos </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4881280 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Damp places and seepages in mountains and along streams </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Wet </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0986056 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 2 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4605067 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Erica 1 </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.6294353 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Morella quercifolia </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.4723819 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Sandy flats and slopes </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Restio tetragonis </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.5282001 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"> Dry </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> Soil </td> <td style="text-align:right;"> 0.0645406 </td> <td style="text-align:left;"> NA </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> --- ## Remote sensing - A solution? <div class="figure" style="text-align: center"> <img src="images/sentinel_moisture.jpg" alt="Moisture Index (MI) for a section of De Hoop from Sentinel 2 data (from Copernicus Browser)." width="70%" /> <p class="caption">Moisture Index (MI) for a section of De Hoop from Sentinel 2 data (from Copernicus Browser).</p> </div> --- ## Remote sensing - A solution? <div class="figure" style="text-align: center"> <img src="images/sentinel_RGB.jpg" alt="True colour image for a section of De Hoop from Sentinel 2 data (from Copernicus Browser)." width="70%" /> <p class="caption">True colour image for a section of De Hoop from Sentinel 2 data (from Copernicus Browser).</p> </div> --- ## Problem One needs to "ground-truth" remote sensing data with on-the-ground surveys to be sure that you are mapping wetlands and not other features. --- ### Do our sites match up with our remotely sensed moisture index? #### [Moisture Index (MI)](https://custom-scripts.sentinel-hub.com/custom-scripts/sentinel-2/msi/)
.footnote[MI is calculated by dividing the SWIR by the NIR bands of Sentinel 2 data, and is negatively correlated with moisture.] --- ### Do our sites match up with normalised difference moisture index? #### [Normalised Difference Moisture Index (NDMI)](https://custom-scripts.sentinel-hub.com/custom-scripts/sentinel-2/ndmi/)
.footnote[NDMI is the normalised difference of the NIR and SWIR bands of Sentinel 2 data, and is positively correlated with moisture.] --- ### Do our sites match up with our remotely sensed moisture indices? <img src="PracPresentation2026_files/figure-html/unnamed-chunk-13-1.png" alt="" width="100%" /> --- ### Do the locations of our wetland species match up with our remotely sensed moisture index? --- ## Traits from remote sensing? <div class="figure" style="text-align: center"> <img src="PracPresentation2026_files/figure-html/unnamed-chunk-14-1.png" alt="RGB image of AVIRIS-NG imagery from the BioSCape project for Potberg (see www.bioscape.io)." width="100%" /> <p class="caption">RGB image of AVIRIS-NG imagery from the BioSCape project for Potberg (see www.bioscape.io).</p> </div> --- ## Traits from remote sensing? <img src="PracPresentation2026_files/figure-html/unnamed-chunk-15-1.png" alt="" width="100%" /> .footnote[Preliminary model of average community leaf water content derived from BioSCape imagery for Potberg (see www.bioscape.io).] --- ## Traits from remote sensing? <img src="PracPresentation2026_files/figure-html/unnamed-chunk-16-1.png" alt="" width="100%" /> .footnote[Like I said... preliminary...] --- ## Traits from remote sensing? ### What about the leaf water content estimates for our Berzelia localities? <img src="PracPresentation2026_files/figure-html/unnamed-chunk-17-1.png" alt="" width="100%" /> --- class: center, middle R code for this presentation with R code for the analyses can be accessed [**at this link**](https://github.com/jslingsby/BIO3018F/blob/main/PracPresentation2026.Rmd) <br> The data are available [**here**](https://github.com/jslingsby/BIO3018F/blob/main/prac/2026/) --- class: center, middle # Thanks! Slides created via the R packages: [**xaringan**](https://github.com/yihui/xaringan)<br> [gadenbuie/xaringanthemer](https://github.com/gadenbuie/xaringanthemer) The chakra comes from [remark.js](https://remarkjs.com), [**knitr**](http://yihui.name/knitr), and [R Markdown](https://rmarkdown.rstudio.com).