Brachystegia-Julbernardia (miombo) woodlands inside and outside the Sengwa Wildlife Research Area, Zimbabwe, show major differences in structure, biomass and species composition. The woodlands inside the research area have a lower stem area, tree density and biomass than those outside it. The shrubs inside the research area occur at a higher density than they do outside it, but the biomasses of shrubs in the two woodlands are similar. The woodlands inside the research area are affected by elephants and fire, whereas those outside it are affected mainly by fire. It is postulated that the policy of maintaining the elephant population at 250 in the research area is having a beneficial effect and, provided elephants and fire are kept in check, the woodlands inside the research area will eventually recover.

Field experiments comparing leaf-fall in the presence and absence of the red land crab, Gecarcoidea natalis, in rain forest on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean showed that, by eating and returning leaves to their burrows, they significantly reduced accumulation of leaf-fall on the forest floor. Red crabs removed 30–50% of the leaf-fall at the experimental sites during the study. Differences in leaf-fall mass between crab-access and exclusion quadrats were positively correlated with the density of foraging red crabs. Red crabs also generated spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of litter on the forest floor by returning litter to their burrows. Leaves lined chambers of 64% of excavated burrows and litter biomass around the entrances was significantly greater than that on off-burrow locations. This was reflected in the significantly higher concentrations of organic matter and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Na, and Mg) associated with soils near burrow entrances. These results suggest that a single species, G. natalis, is the major processor of leaf-fall in rain forest on Christmas Island and may affect (1) the temporal and spatial patterns of nutrient availability and (2) the diversity and biomass of the litter fauna.

Litterfall was recorded for one year in Acacia albida woodland in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. Leaves fell throughout the year, but leaf-fall rate peaked in the wet season. Litterfall was 1.5 t ha−1 year−1, comprising 50% leaves, 20% fruits, 17% ‘fine’ material (mainly frass), 4% flowers and 9% wood and bark. Net above ground production by A. albida trees was 1.7 t ha−1 year−1, including leaf production of 1.0 t ha−1 year−1, twig production of 0.3 t ha-1 year−1 and fruit production of 0.3 t ha−1 year−1. Insects consumed about 26% of leaf production. Net above ground herbaceous production was estimated from rainfall data using regression equations: it was 6.8 t ha−1 year−1 for annual grasses and 2.8 t ha−1 year−1 for forbs. Net above ground primary production in A. albida woodland was 11.3 t ha−1 year−1. The seasonal variations in the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium concentrations of different A. albida litter components were recorded. The estimated falls of N, P, K, Ca and Mg were 31.1, 2.1, 9.8, 15.0 and 3.4 kg ha−1 year−1 respectively.