Journal article 1254 views 169 downloads
Woody cover in wet and dry African savannas after six decades of experimental fires
Aisling Devine 
Journal of Ecology, Volume: 103, Issue: 2, Pages: 473 - 478
Swansea University Author:
Aisling Devine
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DOI (Published version): 10.1111/1365-2745.12367
Abstract
Fire is an integral process in savannas ecosystems as it alters the extent of woody cover in these systems. This study examined the effects of varying fire frequencies and fire exclusion over a 60-year time period in South Africa. The presence of fire, irrespective of frequency, was influential in l...
| Published in: | Journal of Ecology |
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| ISSN: | 0022-0477 1365-2745 |
| Published: |
2015
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa30886 |
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| Abstract: |
Fire is an integral process in savannas ecosystems as it alters the extent of woody cover in these systems. This study examined the effects of varying fire frequencies and fire exclusion over a 60-year time period in South Africa. The presence of fire, irrespective of frequency, was influential in lowering tree abundance in the wet savanna, whilst the effect of fire in the dry savanna was limited. This study suggests that vegetation responses to fire are most likely influenced by rainfall, thus it is recommended that management strategies should take account of whether a savanna is a wet or dry system when implementing fire management regimes. |
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| Keywords: |
Fire, Savanna, Savannah, disturbance, woody cover, semi-arid savannas, mesic savannas, plant populations and community dynamics |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Issue: |
2 |
| Start Page: |
473 |
| End Page: |
478 |