EFFECTS OF FIRE AND HERBIVORY ON THE STABILITY OF SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS

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dc.contributor.authorVan Langevelde, Frank
dc.contributor.authorVan De Vijver, Claudius A D M
dc.contributor.authorKumar, Lalit
dc.contributor.authorVan De Koppel, Johan
dc.contributor.authorDe Ridder, Nico
dc.contributor.authorVan Andel, Jelte
dc.contributor.authorSkidmore, Andrew K
dc.contributor.authorHearne, John W
dc.contributor.authorStroosnijder, Leo
dc.contributor.authorBond, William J
dc.contributor.authorPrins, Herbert H T
dc.contributor.authorRietkerk, Max
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:04:03Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:04:03Z
dc.date.issued2003
dc.description.abstractSavanna ecosystems are characterized by the co-occurrence of trees and grass-es. In this paper, we argue that the balance between trees and grasses is, to a large extent, determined by the indirect interactive effects of herbivory and fire. These effects are based on the positive feedback between fuel load (grass biomass) and fire intensity. An increase in the level of grazing leads to reduced fuel load, which makes fire less intense and, thus, less damaging to trees and, consequently, results in an increase in woody vegetation. The system then switches from a state with trees and grasses to a state with solely trees. Similarly, browsers may enhance the effect of fire on trees because they reduce woody biomass, thus indirectly stimulating grass growth. This consequent increase in fuel load results in more intense fire and increased decline of biomass. The system then switches from a state with solely trees to a state with trees and grasses. We maintain that the interaction between fire and herbivory provides a mechanistic explanation for observed discontinuous changes in woody and grass biomass. This is an alternative for the soil degradation mechanism, in which there is a positive feedback between the amount of grass biomass and the amount of water that infiltrates into the soil. The soil degradation mechanism predicts no discontinuous chang-es, such as bush encroachment, on sandy soils. Such changes, however, are frequently ob-served. Therefore, the interactive effects of fire and herbivory provide a more plausible explanation for the occurrence of discontinuous changes in savanna ecosystems.
dc.identifier.apacitationVan Langevelde, F., Van De Vijver, C. A. D. M., Kumar, L., Van De Koppel, J., De Ridder, N., Van Andel, J., ... Rietkerk, M. (2003). EFFECTS OF FIRE AND HERBIVORY ON THE STABILITY OF SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS. <i>Ecology (Brooklyn, NY)</i>, 84(2), 337 - 350. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34414en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationVan Langevelde, Frank, Claudius A D M Van De Vijver, Lalit Kumar, Johan Van De Koppel, Nico De Ridder, Jelte Van Andel, Andrew K Skidmore, et al "EFFECTS OF FIRE AND HERBIVORY ON THE STABILITY OF SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS." <i>Ecology (Brooklyn, NY)</i> 84, 2. (2003): 337 - 350. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34414en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationVan Langevelde, F., Van De Vijver, C.A.D.M., Kumar, L., Van De Koppel, J., De Ridder, N., Van Andel, J., Skidmore, A.K. & Hearne, J.W. et al. 2003. EFFECTS OF FIRE AND HERBIVORY ON THE STABILITY OF SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS. <i>Ecology (Brooklyn, NY).</i> 84(2):337 - 350. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34414en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0012-9658
dc.identifier.issn1939-9170
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Van Langevelde, Frank AU - Van De Vijver, Claudius A D M AU - Kumar, Lalit AU - Van De Koppel, Johan AU - De Ridder, Nico AU - Van Andel, Jelte AU - Skidmore, Andrew K AU - Hearne, John W AU - Stroosnijder, Leo AU - Bond, William J AU - Prins, Herbert H T AU - Rietkerk, Max AB - Savanna ecosystems are characterized by the co-occurrence of trees and grass-es. In this paper, we argue that the balance between trees and grasses is, to a large extent, determined by the indirect interactive effects of herbivory and fire. These effects are based on the positive feedback between fuel load (grass biomass) and fire intensity. An increase in the level of grazing leads to reduced fuel load, which makes fire less intense and, thus, less damaging to trees and, consequently, results in an increase in woody vegetation. The system then switches from a state with trees and grasses to a state with solely trees. Similarly, browsers may enhance the effect of fire on trees because they reduce woody biomass, thus indirectly stimulating grass growth. This consequent increase in fuel load results in more intense fire and increased decline of biomass. The system then switches from a state with solely trees to a state with trees and grasses. We maintain that the interaction between fire and herbivory provides a mechanistic explanation for observed discontinuous changes in woody and grass biomass. This is an alternative for the soil degradation mechanism, in which there is a positive feedback between the amount of grass biomass and the amount of water that infiltrates into the soil. The soil degradation mechanism predicts no discontinuous chang-es, such as bush encroachment, on sandy soils. Such changes, however, are frequently ob-served. Therefore, the interactive effects of fire and herbivory provide a more plausible explanation for the occurrence of discontinuous changes in savanna ecosystems. DA - 2003 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 2 J1 - Ecology (Brooklyn, NY) LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2003 SM - 0012-9658 SM - 1939-9170 T1 - EFFECTS OF FIRE AND HERBIVORY ON THE STABILITY OF SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS TI - EFFECTS OF FIRE AND HERBIVORY ON THE STABILITY OF SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34414 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34414
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationVan Langevelde F, Van De Vijver CADM, Kumar L, Van De Koppel J, De Ridder N, Van Andel J, et al. EFFECTS OF FIRE AND HERBIVORY ON THE STABILITY OF SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS. Ecology (Brooklyn, NY). 2003;84(2):337 - 350. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34414.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceEcology (Brooklyn, NY)
dc.source.journalissue2
dc.source.journalvolume84
dc.source.pagination337 - 350
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(2003)084[0337:EOFAHO]2.0.CO;2
dc.subject.otherGéographie
dc.subject.otherfeu
dc.subject.othercombustible
dc.subject.otherpâturage
dc.subject.otherdéclin
dc.subject.othereau
dc.subject.otherécurie
dc.subject.otherécologie
dc.subject.otheralternate stable states
dc.subject.otherbrowsing
dc.subject.otherbush encroachment
dc.subject.otherfire
dc.subject.othergrazing
dc.subject.otherherbivory
dc.subject.otherpositive feedback
dc.subject.othersavanna
dc.subject.otherstability
dc.subject.othertree-grass balance
dc.subject.otherSEMIARID GRAZING SYSTEMS
dc.subject.otherAFRICAN SAVANNA
dc.subject.otherSIMULATION-MODEL
dc.subject.otherCOEXISTENCE
dc.subject.otherVEGETATION
dc.subject.otherDYNAMICS
dc.subject.otherECOLOGY
dc.subject.otherCATASTROPHE
dc.subject.otherMANAGEMENT
dc.titleEFFECTS OF FIRE AND HERBIVORY ON THE STABILITY OF SAVANNA ECOSYSTEMS
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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