The ongoing loss of large trees and densification shrubs are two prevalent processes that take place in African savannas, with profound consequences for their structure function. We evaluated herbivore impacts on savanna woody communities using a long-term exclosure experiment the Kruger National Park, South Africa, three treatments: exclusion mammals only (i.e. elephant giraffe), all herbivore...

....................................................................................................................................... XII 1 VEGETATION MONITORING IN SEMI ARID AREAS ..................................................... 13 1.1 Scientific Goals ...................................................................................................................................... 1...

We explored multiple linkages among grey wolves (Canis lupus), elk (Cervus elaphus), berry-producing shrubs and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in Yellowstone National Park. We hypothesized competition between elk and grizzly bears whereby, in the absence of wolves, increases in elk numbers would increase browsing on berry-producing shrubs and decrease fruit availability to grizzly bears. After wo...

The widespread replacement of wild ungulate herbivores by domestic livestock in African savannas is composed of two interrelated phenomena: (1) loss or reduction in numbers of individual wildlife species or guilds and (2) addition of livestock to the system. Each can have important implications for plant community dynamics. Yet very few studies have experimentally addressed the individual, comb...

Heavy herbivory by ungulates can substantially alter habitat, but the indirect consequences of habitat modification for animal assemblages that rely on that habitat are not well studied. This is a particularly important topic given that climate change can alter plant-herbivore interactions. We explored short-term responses of small mammal communities to recent exclusion of Rocky Mountain elk (C...