Book contents
- Only in Africa
- Only in Africa
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Part I The Physical Cradle: Land Forms, Geology, Climate, Hydrology and Soils
- Part II The Savanna Garden: Grassy Vegetation and Plant Dynamics
- Part III The Big Mammal Menagerie: Herbivores, Carnivores and Their Ecosystem Impacts
- Chapter 10 Niche Distinctions: Resources Versus Risks
- Chapter 11 Big Fierce Carnivores: Hunting Versus Scavenging
- Chapter 12 Herbivore Abundance: Bottom-up and Top-down Influences
- Chapter 13 How Large Herbivores Transform Savanna Ecosystems
- Chapter 14 Paleo-faunas: Rise and Fall of the Biggest Grazers
- Part III Synthesis: Movers of Savanna Dynamics: Grazers, Elephants and Fires
- Part IV Evolutionary Transitions: From Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans
- Appendix Scientific Names of Extant Animal and Plant Species Mentioned in the Book Chapters (Ecologically Conservative with Regard to Species Recognition)
- Index
- References
Chapter 13 - How Large Herbivores Transform Savanna Ecosystems
from Part III - The Big Mammal Menagerie: Herbivores, Carnivores and Their Ecosystem Impacts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 September 2021
Book contents
- Only in Africa
- Only in Africa
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Part I The Physical Cradle: Land Forms, Geology, Climate, Hydrology and Soils
- Part II The Savanna Garden: Grassy Vegetation and Plant Dynamics
- Part III The Big Mammal Menagerie: Herbivores, Carnivores and Their Ecosystem Impacts
- Chapter 10 Niche Distinctions: Resources Versus Risks
- Chapter 11 Big Fierce Carnivores: Hunting Versus Scavenging
- Chapter 12 Herbivore Abundance: Bottom-up and Top-down Influences
- Chapter 13 How Large Herbivores Transform Savanna Ecosystems
- Chapter 14 Paleo-faunas: Rise and Fall of the Biggest Grazers
- Part III Synthesis: Movers of Savanna Dynamics: Grazers, Elephants and Fires
- Part IV Evolutionary Transitions: From Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans
- Appendix Scientific Names of Extant Animal and Plant Species Mentioned in the Book Chapters (Ecologically Conservative with Regard to Species Recognition)
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter looks more broadly at interactions. Total herbivore biomass and consequent consumption of vegetation depends on the basic soil fertility. Mean levels underestimate local offtake, particularly in drought years. Heavy grazing suppresses the spread of fires so that more vegetation gets digested than incinerated. Browsing on tree seedlings can counteract woody plant expansion following heavy grazing. Elephants cause large tree mortality by toppling and debarking and can transform savanna woodlands into open grasslands or shrub coppice, especially on fertile soils. Termites promote the decomposition of vegetation not consumed by herbivores or incinerated by fires and contribute to nutrient cycling. Sodium is available through different routes. Large herbivores amplify the spatial heterogeneity inherent in savannas in various ways.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Only in AfricaThe Ecology of Human Evolution, pp. 199 - 219Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2021
References
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