Vegetational gradients around artificial watering points in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park

Distance from artificial watering points was not significantly related to plant species composition in six habitats studied in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Soil moisture had a significant effect on plant species composition of the riverbed habitat. Grazing intensity contributed significantly to trends in the vegetation composition of the river terrace and shrub savanna habitats, but grazing intensity was not associated with distance from artificial watering points. However, the analyses failed to show any significant influence of grazing intensity and distance from watering points on the plant species composition of the pan, savanna dune street and dune crest habitats. Therefore, although changes in plant species composition occurred in the six different habitats in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, they were not related to the presence of artificial watering points.