Kruger National Park

Variability in fire-induced change to vegetation physiognomy and biomass in semi-arid savanna

Fire plays an intrinsic role in shaping the biophysical attributes of savanna ecosystems. Savanna fires limit vegetation biomass below their climatically determined potential, but the magnitude of this effect and how it varies across heterogeneous …

Seasonal variation in the relative dominance of herbivore guilds in an African savanna

African savannas are highly seasonal with a diverse array of both mammalian and invertebrate herbivores, yet herbivory studies have focused almost exclusively on mammals. We conducted a two-year exclosure experiment in South Africa's Kruger National …

Habitat differences do not explain population declines of sable antelope in an African savanna

Sable antelope, Hippotragus niger, populations have declined substantially in Kruger National Park, South Africa despite large-area protection from land use and poaching. Since Africa's large mammal populations are restricted to protected areas, …

Landscape-scale variation in plant community composition of an African savanna from airborne species mapping

Information on landscape-scale patterns in species distributions and community types is vital for ecological science and effective conservation assessment and planning. However, detailed maps of plant community structure at landscape scales seldom …

The rate and spatial pattern of treefall in a savanna landscape

Loss of large trees in savanna parks is of biodiversity conservation concern as trees contribute substantially to system biomass, heterogeneity and ecological functioning. Using airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), we monitored 119,775 …

Landscape-scale effects of herbivores on treefall in African savannas

Herbivores cause treefalls in African savannas, but rates are unknown at large scales required to forecast changes in biodiversity and ecosystem processes. We combined landscape-scale herbivore exclosures with repeat airborne Light Detection and …

Spatial patterns in the effects of fire on savanna vegetation three-dimensional structure

Understanding the causes and consequences of animal movements is of fundamental biological interest because any alteration in movement can have direct and indirect effects on ecosystem structure and function. It is also crucial for assisting spatial …

Context-dependent vegetation dynamics in an African savanna

Large-scale impacts of herbivores on the structural diversity of African savannas

African savannas are undergoing management intensification, and decision makers are increasingly challenged to balance the needs of large herbivore populations with the maintenance of vegetation and ecosystem diversity. Ensuring the sustainability of …

Moving window analysis and riparian boundary delineation on the Northern Plains of Kruger National Park, South Africa

Landscapes commonly comprise of mosaics, patches and boundaries. Riparian boundaries are complex to delineate and characterize, with a multitude of variables available for delineation. Multiple methods exist for boundary delineation such as …