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The importance of herbivore interactions for the dynamics of African savanna woodlands: an hypothesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1998

Johan Van De Koppel  and
Herbert H. T. Prins
Johan Van De Koppel
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Plant Ecology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren (Gr), The Netherlands.
Herbert H. T. Prins
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, Tropical Nature Conservation and Vertebrate Ecology Group, Wageningen Agricultural University, Bornsesteeg 69, 6708 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Abstract

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Current hypotheses to explain dynamic transitions between savanna grasslands and woodlands in Africa focus on grazing by elephant or the influence of fire. Using a simple mathematical model, this paper argues that interactions between small herbivores such as impala or buffalo and large herbivores such as elephant or giraffe may provide a plausible alternative hypothesis. The interplay of competition and facilitation between these types of herbivores could explain transitions between grassland and woodland and vice versa. A review of the literature is presented in support of this hypothesis.

Keywords

competitionfacilitationfunctional
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 14 , Issue 5 , September 1998 , pp. 565 - 576
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press