Medium-term interactive effects of herbivores and plant life form on the biochemistry of shallow sandy soils in a protected semi-arid savanna
Abstract Savannas are characterized by the co-occurrence of two different plant life forms: grasses and trees. Herbivory plays a major role in the balance between grasses and trees in savanna ecosystems. The present study aimed to investigate the impact and interactions between long-term (i.e. 20 ye...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Environmental Systems Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-023-00320-9 |
| _version_ | 1797556101277810688 |
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| author | Siviwe Odwa Malongweni Johan van Tol |
| author_facet | Siviwe Odwa Malongweni Johan van Tol |
| author_sort | Siviwe Odwa Malongweni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Savannas are characterized by the co-occurrence of two different plant life forms: grasses and trees. Herbivory plays a major role in the balance between grasses and trees in savanna ecosystems. The present study aimed to investigate the impact and interactions between long-term (i.e. 20 years) herbivory and/or its exclusion and plant life form on the soil biochemistry of a protected semi-arid savanna ecosystem in the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. To study the effects of herbivory on soil properties, herbivore exclosures (fully fenced areas, partially fenced areas, and an unfenced area) were used in conjunction with plant life form (trees and grasses) were considered. Interaction effects of herbivory and plant life form on soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total carbon (TC), available phosphorus (available P), exchangeable cations (K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter (OM) and total microbial activity were determined on savanna soils in the Nkuhlu exclosures, KNP. Exclosures where herbivores were present had significantly higher soil pH, The presence of herbivores caused an increase in soil pH, EC, exchangeable Na, CEC, and OM. The influence of the tree canopy was significantly more pronounced in elevating total C and N, exchangeable K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, CEC and OM than observed in the open grassland zones across all exclosures. The two-way interaction between herbivory and plant life form resulted in significant decreases in TN, TC, exchangeable K, Na and Mg in open grassland areas outside of herbivore exclosures where large animals had direct access, as compared to areas within the exclosures which was protected from animal entry herbivory. This data can be used by national parks as an indicator to increase their knowledge of environmental issues relating to maintaining and preserving landscape features of savannas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:58:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f39ba10e310423faf73e6fd62e73e75 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2193-2697 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:58:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Systems Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f39ba10e310423faf73e6fd62e73e752023-11-20T11:05:18ZengSpringerOpenEnvironmental Systems Research2193-26972023-11-0112111310.1186/s40068-023-00320-9Medium-term interactive effects of herbivores and plant life form on the biochemistry of shallow sandy soils in a protected semi-arid savannaSiviwe Odwa Malongweni0Johan van Tol1Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free StateFaculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free StateAbstract Savannas are characterized by the co-occurrence of two different plant life forms: grasses and trees. Herbivory plays a major role in the balance between grasses and trees in savanna ecosystems. The present study aimed to investigate the impact and interactions between long-term (i.e. 20 years) herbivory and/or its exclusion and plant life form on the soil biochemistry of a protected semi-arid savanna ecosystem in the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. To study the effects of herbivory on soil properties, herbivore exclosures (fully fenced areas, partially fenced areas, and an unfenced area) were used in conjunction with plant life form (trees and grasses) were considered. Interaction effects of herbivory and plant life form on soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total carbon (TC), available phosphorus (available P), exchangeable cations (K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter (OM) and total microbial activity were determined on savanna soils in the Nkuhlu exclosures, KNP. Exclosures where herbivores were present had significantly higher soil pH, The presence of herbivores caused an increase in soil pH, EC, exchangeable Na, CEC, and OM. The influence of the tree canopy was significantly more pronounced in elevating total C and N, exchangeable K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, CEC and OM than observed in the open grassland zones across all exclosures. The two-way interaction between herbivory and plant life form resulted in significant decreases in TN, TC, exchangeable K, Na and Mg in open grassland areas outside of herbivore exclosures where large animals had direct access, as compared to areas within the exclosures which was protected from animal entry herbivory. This data can be used by national parks as an indicator to increase their knowledge of environmental issues relating to maintaining and preserving landscape features of savannas.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-023-00320-9BrowsersCanopy coverGrassland zoneGrazingHerbivoryKruger National Park |
| spellingShingle | Siviwe Odwa Malongweni Johan van Tol Medium-term interactive effects of herbivores and plant life form on the biochemistry of shallow sandy soils in a protected semi-arid savanna Environmental Systems Research Browsers Canopy cover Grassland zone Grazing Herbivory Kruger National Park |
| title | Medium-term interactive effects of herbivores and plant life form on the biochemistry of shallow sandy soils in a protected semi-arid savanna |
| title_full | Medium-term interactive effects of herbivores and plant life form on the biochemistry of shallow sandy soils in a protected semi-arid savanna |
| title_fullStr | Medium-term interactive effects of herbivores and plant life form on the biochemistry of shallow sandy soils in a protected semi-arid savanna |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medium-term interactive effects of herbivores and plant life form on the biochemistry of shallow sandy soils in a protected semi-arid savanna |
| title_short | Medium-term interactive effects of herbivores and plant life form on the biochemistry of shallow sandy soils in a protected semi-arid savanna |
| title_sort | medium term interactive effects of herbivores and plant life form on the biochemistry of shallow sandy soils in a protected semi arid savanna |
| topic | Browsers Canopy cover Grassland zone Grazing Herbivory Kruger National Park |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-023-00320-9 |
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