Vegetation gradients around artificial water points in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve of Botswana

Vegetation was assessed in plots sited at varying distances along two line transects radiating from each of nine artificial water points. Environmental variables such as distance from water point, soil type and ground cover were related to grass species composition. Grass species composition in calcrete soils differed significantly from that found in sandy soils. On calcrete soils, distance from water point did not have a significant effect on species composition. On sandy soils, distance from water point had a significant effect on species composition at two of the nine water points sampled. At these two water points, grass species that are usually associated with disturbed areas dominated close to the water points while those that dominated far from the water points were those that are usually associated with undisturbed sites. The results therefore indicate that there was no severe degradation of habitat around water points.