Long-term changes in the plant ecology of an African savanna landscape and the implications for ecosystem theory and conservation management

Abstract Background Studies of the African savannas have used national parks to test ecological theories natural ecosystems, including equilibrium, non-equilibrium, complex adaptive systems, and role top-down bottom-up physical biotic forces. Most such studies excluded impact pastoralists in shaping grassland ecosystems and, over last half century, growing human on world’s rangelands. The mounting calls for selecting indicators integrated monitoring methods able track ecosystem changes agencies. Our study draws five decades Amboseli landscape southern Kenya document declining agencies plant ecology with rising impact. Results We show that diversity productivity declined, biomass turnover has increased response a downsizing mean size, resilience declined probability extreme shortfalls pasture production. signature rainfall driving properties decreased sharply compare findings long-term Kruger Serengeti influence, whether by design or default, is increasingly savanna ecosystems. look at larger perspective grasslands world rangelands, general, discuss implications theory conservation policy management. Conclusions shows value using spatial temporal species composition, structure, function rangeland process change. echoes widespread underway across concluding some level management needed prevent land degradation erosion function, services, resilience. Despite weak application management, trait-based approach shown be useful explaining macroecological underway.