Vegetation distribution along a granite catena, southern Kruger National Park, South Africa

Vegetation forms an integral part of any ecosystem and can only be fully studied when the role it plays in the ecosystem is explored (Kent 2012). Identification of vegetation types and plant communities that provide a habitat for animals, insects and birds is, in turn, associated with certain environmental controls and human or animal interactions. Understanding the interaction that vegetation has with environmental factors can lead to improved monitoring of management practices and possibly predict future changes (Kent 2012).