Understanding pattern-process relationships in a heterogeneous landscape effects of large termitaria on diversity and disturbance regimes in Miombo woodlands of Northern Zimbabwe
Doctoral Thesis
2012
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University of Cape Town
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Spatial heterogeneity has been shown to influence ecosystem processes and important ecosystem properties like resilience and biodiversity, allowing species with specific habitat needs or weaker competitive abilities to persist in disturbed systems that might otherwise have excluded them. Miombo covers 2.7 million km² and is Africa’s largest savanna woodland. Much of this is characterized by Macrotermes termitaria, which can be hotspots of both plant (primary) productivity and animal abundance (secondary and tertiary productivity). To investigate the modulating influence of spatial heterogeneity in the form of large Macrotermes termitaria on woody plant and avian diversity in the face of herbivore impacts and fire (the two disturbances most amenable to management), research progressed in stages.
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Joseph, G. 2012. Understanding pattern-process relationships in a heterogeneous landscape effects of large termitaria on diversity and disturbance regimes in Miombo woodlands of Northern Zimbabwe. University of Cape Town.