Large herbivore impact on plant biomass along multiple resource gradients in the Serengeti

Abstract Herbivores form an important link in the transfer of energy within a food web and are strongly influenced by bottom‐up trophic cascades. Current hypotheses suggest that herbivore consumption impact on plants should scale positively with plant resource availability. However, depending effect resources quantity quality, may vary different types resources. We test four alternative for relationship between biomass, biomass gradients, each based how might affect abundance quality to herbivores. measured non‐consecutive years long‐term grazing exclosure experiment Serengeti National Park includes seven sites substantially rainfall soil nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P). Our data supported hypothesis is controlled this case driven P, as effects decreased higher but increased greater not N content. To our knowledge, first experimental study indicate wild mammalian herbivory associated P availability rather than N. Synthesis . results addition water N, play more role driving interactions terrestrial systems previously realized. Given uncertainties due climate change increasing anthropogenic manipulations global cycles, findings emphasize need consider multiple understanding be environmental variables.