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Bhagwat T, Kuemmerle T, Soofi M, Donald PF, Hölzel N, Salemgareev A, Stirnemann I, Urazaliyev R, Baumann M, Kamp J. A novel, post-Soviet fire disturbance regime drives bird diversity and abundance on the Eurasian steppe. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17026. [PMID: 37962145 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Many grassland ecosystems and their associated biodiversity depend on the interactions between fire and land-use, both of which are shaped by socioeconomic conditions. The Eurasian steppe biome, much of it situated in Kazakhstan, contains 10% of the world's remaining grasslands. The break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, widespread land abandonment and massive declines in wild and domestic ungulates led to biomass accumulation over millions of hectares. This rapid fuel increase made the steppes a global fire hotspot, with major changes in vegetation structure. Yet, the response of steppe biodiversity to these changes remains unexplored. We utilized a unique bird abundance dataset covering the entire Kazakh steppe and semi-desert regions together with the MODIS burned area product. We modeled the response of bird species richness and abundance as a function of fire disturbance variables-fire extent, cumulative burned area, fire frequency-at varying grazing intensity. Bird species richness was impacted negatively by large fire extent, cumulative burned area, and high fire frequency in moderately grazed and ungrazed steppe. Similarly, overall bird abundance was impacted negatively by large fire extent, cumulative burned area and higher fire frequency in the moderately grazed steppe, ungrazed steppe, and ungrazed semi-deserts. At the species level, the effect of high fire disturbance was negative for more species than positive. There were considerable fire legacy effects, detectable for at least 8 years. We conclude that the increase in fire disturbance across the post-Soviet Eurasian steppe has led to strong declines in bird abundance and pronounced changes in community assembly. To gain back control over wildfires and prevent further biodiversity loss, restoration of wild herbivore populations and traditional domestic ungulate grazing systems seems much needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejas Bhagwat
- Department of Conservation Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Kuemmerle
- Conservation Biogeography Lab, Geography Department, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys), Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mahmood Soofi
- Department of Conservation Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Conservation Biogeography Lab, Geography Department, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- CSIRO, Land and Water, Darwin, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | | | - Norbert Hölzel
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Albert Salemgareev
- Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan (ACBK), Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Ingrid Stirnemann
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ruslan Urazaliyev
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan (ACBK), Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Matthias Baumann
- Conservation Biogeography Lab, Geography Department, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Kamp
- Department of Conservation Biology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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2
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Mbanze AA, Cumbe AJ, Serrote C, Shuangao W, Ribeiro NS. Standing fuel with back‐fires are effective in reducing fire hazardous in prescribed burning in the deciduous miombo woodland. Afr J Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Aires Afonso Mbanze
- Department of Environment and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences Universidade Lúrio, Campus Universitario de Unango Niassa Mozambique
- ECOSLIVE—Ecosystem Services and Livelihoods Enhancement (Serviços do Ecossistema e Melhoria dos Modos de Vida) Lichinga Mozambique
| | - Alberto José Cumbe
- Department of Environment and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences Universidade Lúrio, Campus Universitario de Unango Niassa Mozambique
| | - Caetano Serrote
- Department of Environment and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences Universidade Lúrio, Campus Universitario de Unango Niassa Mozambique
| | - Wang Shuangao
- Beijing Academy of Science and Technology Beijing China
| | - Natasha Sofia Ribeiro
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest Engineering Eduardo Mondlane University Maputo Mozambique
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3
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Strydom T, Smit IPJ, Govender N, Coetsee C, Singh J, Davies AB, van Wilgen BW. High‐intensity fires may have limited medium‐term effectiveness for reversing woody plant encroachment in an African savanna. J Appl Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tercia Strydom
- Scientific Services, South African National Parks Skukuza South Africa
| | - Izak P. J. Smit
- Scientific Services, South African National Parks Skukuza South Africa
- Sustainability Research Unit Nelson Mandela University George South Africa
| | - Navashni Govender
- Conservation Management, South African National Parks Skukuza South Africa
- School of Natural Resource Management Nelson Mandela University George South Africa
| | - Corli Coetsee
- Scientific Services, South African National Parks Skukuza South Africa
- School of Natural Resource Management Nelson Mandela University George South Africa
| | - Jenia Singh
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA
| | - Andrew B. Davies
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA
| | - Brian W. van Wilgen
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Centre for Invasion Biology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
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4
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Wilgen BW, Strydom T, Simms C, Smit IPJ. Research, monitoring, and reflection as a guide to the management of complex ecosystems: The case of fire in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brian W. Wilgen
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Tercia Strydom
- Scientific Services South African National Parks Skukuza South Africa
| | - Chenay Simms
- Scientific Services South African National Parks Skukuza South Africa
| | - Izak P. J. Smit
- Scientific Services South African National Parks Skukuza South Africa
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
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5
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Nieman WA, Van Wilgen BW, Leslie AJ. A review of fire management practices in African savanna-protected areas. KOEDOE: AFRICAN PROTECTED AREA CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.4102/koedoe.v63i1.1655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The level of understanding of the ecological effects of fires has improved over the past century, but comprehensive information on the practical application of fire remains restricted to a few well-studied areas, and management information is scattered. This article reviews the goals of fire management practices in African savanna-protected areas, and the approaches that have been adopted to achieve them. We identified 15 distinct fire management practices described in 107 papers from 19 African countries. Fire management has evolved in response to changing ecological understanding, as well as the shifting goals of protected areas. Currently, fire management practices can be divided into those that use fire to achieve specific ecological outcomes, those where fire is applied to promote diverse fire patterns across the landscape without necessarily having a specific ecological outcome in mind, and those that use fire to achieve specific, non-ecological or social goals. In larger, heterogeneous protected areas, fire management practices may vary at different sites in order to achieve a range of goals. We compared the effectiveness of each practice in terms of achieving 10 broad goals. These included ecological goals, for example, reversing woody and social goals (e.g. maintaining community relationships).Conservation implications: Fire management remains an important ecosystem process that can be manipulated to achieve particular goals in protected areas. The choice of a particular approach, or approaches, will depend on the circumstances pertaining to a particular protected area, and we provide examples of situations where each practice could be most appropriate.
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Kelly LT, Giljohann KM, Duane A, Aquilué N, Archibald S, Batllori E, Bennett AF, Buckland ST, Canelles Q, Clarke MF, Fortin MJ, Hermoso V, Herrando S, Keane RE, Lake FK, McCarthy MA, Morán-Ordóñez A, Parr CL, Pausas JG, Penman TD, Regos A, Rumpff L, Santos JL, Smith AL, Syphard AD, Tingley MW, Brotons L. Fire and biodiversity in the Anthropocene. Science 2021; 370:370/6519/eabb0355. [PMID: 33214246 DOI: 10.1126/science.abb0355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fire has been a source of global biodiversity for millions of years. However, interactions with anthropogenic drivers such as climate change, land use, and invasive species are changing the nature of fire activity and its impacts. We review how such changes are threatening species with extinction and transforming terrestrial ecosystems. Conservation of Earth's biological diversity will be achieved only by recognizing and responding to the critical role of fire. In the Anthropocene, this requires that conservation planning explicitly includes the combined effects of human activities and fire regimes. Improved forecasts for biodiversity must also integrate the connections among people, fire, and ecosystems. Such integration provides an opportunity for new actions that could revolutionize how society sustains biodiversity in a time of changing fire activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke T Kelly
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | | | - Andrea Duane
- InForest JRU (CTFC-CREAF), 25280 Solsona, Lleida, Spain
| | - Núria Aquilué
- InForest JRU (CTFC-CREAF), 25280 Solsona, Lleida, Spain.,Centre d'Étude de la Forêt, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Sally Archibald
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Enric Batllori
- CREAF, Edifici C. Autonomous, University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrew F Bennett
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Stephen T Buckland
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Quim Canelles
- InForest JRU (CTFC-CREAF), 25280 Solsona, Lleida, Spain
| | - Michael F Clarke
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Marie-Josée Fortin
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | | | - Sergi Herrando
- Catalan Ornithological Institute, Natural History Museum of Barcelona, 08019 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Robert E Keane
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT 59808, USA
| | - Frank K Lake
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Michael A McCarthy
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Catherine L Parr
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Earth, Ocean & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Juli G Pausas
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE-CSIC), 46113 Montcada, Valencia, Spain
| | - Trent D Penman
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Adrián Regos
- Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Fisica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,CIBIO/InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, ECOCHANGE Group, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Libby Rumpff
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Julianna L Santos
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Annabel L Smith
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia.,Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Alexandra D Syphard
- Vertus Wildfire, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA.,San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.,Conservation Biology Institute, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Morgan W Tingley
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lluís Brotons
- InForest JRU (CTFC-CREAF), 25280 Solsona, Lleida, Spain.,CREAF, Edifici C. Autonomous, University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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7
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Probabilistic Mapping and Spatial Pattern Analysis of Grazing Lawns in Southern African Savannahs Using WorldView-3 Imagery and Machine Learning Techniques. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12203357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Savannah grazing lawns are a key food resource for large herbivores such as blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), and impact herbivore densities, movement and recruitment rates. They also exert a strong influence on fire behaviour including frequency, intensity and spread. Thus, variation in grazing lawn cover can have a profound impact on broader savannah ecosystem dynamics. However, knowledge of their present cover and distribution is limited. Importantly, we lack a robust, broad-scale approach for detecting and monitoring grazing lawns, which is critical to enhancing understanding of the ecology of these vital grassland systems. We selected two sites in the Lower Sabie and Satara regions of Kruger National Park, South Africa with mesic and semiarid conditions, respectively. Using spectral and texture features derived from WorldView-3 imagery, we (i) parameterised and assessed the quality of Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Classification and Regression Trees (CART) and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) models for general discrimination of plant functional types (PFTs) within a sub-area of the Lower Sabie landscape, and (ii) compared model performance for probabilistic mapping of grazing lawns in the broader Lower Sabie and Satara landscapes. Further, we used spatial metrics to analyse spatial patterns in grazing lawn distribution in both landscapes along a gradient of distance from waterbodies. All machine learning models achieved high F-scores (F1) and overall accuracy (OA) scores in general savannah PFTs classification, with RF (F1 = 95.73±0.004%, OA = 94.16±0.004%), SVM (F1 = 95.64±0.002%, OA = 94.02±0.002%) and MLP (F1 = 95.71±0.003%, OA = 94.27±0.003%) forming a cluster of the better performing models and marginally outperforming CART (F1 = 92.74±0.006%, OA = 90.93±0.003%). Grazing lawn detection accuracy followed a similar trend within the Lower Sabie landscape, with RF, SVM, MLP and CART achieving F-scores of 0.89, 0.93, 0.94 and 0.81, respectively. Transferring models to the Satara landscape however resulted in relatively lower but high grazing lawn detection accuracies across models (RF = 0.87, SVM = 0.88, MLP = 0.85 and CART = 0.75). Results from spatial pattern analysis revealed a relatively higher proportion of grazing lawn cover under semiarid savannah conditions (Satara) compared to the mesic savannah landscape (Lower Sabie). Additionally, the results show strong negative correlation between grazing lawn spatial structure (fractional cover, patch size and connectivity) and distance from waterbodies, with larger and contiguous grazing lawn patches occurring in close proximity to waterbodies in both landscapes. The proposed machine learning approach provides a novel and robust workflow for accurate and consistent landscape-scale monitoring of grazing lawns, while our findings and research outputs provide timely information critical for understanding habitat heterogeneity in southern African savannahs.
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8
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Gillson L, Ekblom A. Using palaeoecology to explore the resilience of southern African savannas. KOEDOE: AFRICAN PROTECTED AREA CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.4102/koedoe.v62i1.1576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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9
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Slingsby JA, Moncrieff GR, Rogers AJ, February EC. Altered ignition catchments threaten a hyperdiverse fire-dependent ecosystem. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:616-628. [PMID: 31587449 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Human activities affect fire in many ways, often unintentionally or with considerable time-lags before they manifest themselves. Anticipating these changes is critical, so that insidious impacts on ecosystems, their biodiversity and associated goods and services can be avoided, mitigated or managed. Here we explore the impact of anthropogenic land cover change on fire and biodiversity in adjacent ecosystems on the hyperdiverse Cape Peninsula, South Africa. We develop a conceptual framework based on the notion of an ignition catchment, or the spatial extent and temporal range where an ignition is likely to result in a site burning. We apply this concept using fire models to estimate spatial changes in burn probability between historical and current land cover. This change layer was used to predict the observed record of fires and forest encroachment into fire-dependent Fynbos ecosystems in Table Mountain National Park. Urban expansion has created anthropogenic fire shadows that are modifying fire return intervals, facilitating a state shift to low-diversity, non-flammable forest at the expense of hyperdiverse, flammable Fynbos ecosystems. Despite occurring in a conservation area, these ecosystems are undergoing a hidden collapse and desperately require management intervention. Anthropogenic fire shadows can be caused by many human activities and are likely to be a universal phenomenon, not only contributing to the observed global decline in fire activity but also causing extreme fires in ecosystems where there is no shift to a less flammable state and flammable fuels accumulate. The ignition catchment framework is highly flexible and allows detection or prediction of changes in the fire regime, the threat this poses for ecosystems or fire risk and areas where management interventions and/or monitoring are required. Identifying anthropogenic impacts on ignition catchments is key for both understanding global impacts of humans on fire and guiding management of human-altered landscapes for desirable outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper A Slingsby
- Fynbos Node, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Cape Town, South Africa
- Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Glenn R Moncrieff
- Fynbos Node, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Cape Town, South Africa
- Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Annabelle J Rogers
- Fynbos Node, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Edmund C February
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
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10
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Ribeiro N, Ruecker G, Govender N, Macandza V, Pais A, Machava D, Chauque A, Lisboa SN, Bandeira R. The influence of fire frequency on the structure and botanical composition of savanna ecosystems. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8253-8264. [PMID: 31380087 PMCID: PMC6662386 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Savannas cover 60% of the land surface in Southern Africa, with fires and herbivory playing a key role in their ecology. The Limpopo National Park (LNP) is a 10,000 km2 conservation area in southern Mozambique and key to protecting savannas in the region. Fire is an important factor in LNP's landscapes, but little is known about its role in the park's ecology. In this study, we explored the interaction between fire frequency (FF), landscape type, and vegetation. To assess the FF, we analyzed ten years of the Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) burned area product (2003-2013). A stratified random sampling approach was used to assess biodiversity across three dominant landscapes (Nwambia Sandveld-NS, Lebombo North-LN, and Shrubveld Mopane on Calcrete-C) and two FF levels (low-twice or less; and high-3 times or more, during 10 years). Six ha were sampled in each stratum, except for the LN versus high FF in which low accessibility allowed only 3 ha sampling. FF was higher in NS and LN landscapes, where 25% and 34% of the area, respectively, burned more than three times in 10 years. The landscape type was the main determinant of grass composition and biomass. However, in the sandy NS biomass was higher under high FF. The three landscapes supported three different tree/shrub communities, but FF resulted in compositional variations in NS and LN. Fire frequency had no marked influence on woody structural parameters (height, density, and phytomass). We concluded that the savannas in LNP are mainly driven by landscape type (geology), but FF may impose specific modifications. We recommend a fire laissez-faire management system for most of the park and a long-term monitoring system of vegetation to address vegetation changes related to fire. Fire management should be coordinated with the neighboring Kruger National Park, given its long history of fire management. Synthesis: This study revealed that grass and tree/shrub density, biomass, and composition in LNP are determined by the landscape type, but FF determines some important modifications. We conclude that at the current levels FF is not dramatically affecting the savanna ecosystem in the LNP (Figure 1). However, an increase in FF may drive key ecosystem changes in grass biomass and tree/shrub species composition, height, phytomass, and density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Ribeiro
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest EngineeringEduardo Mondlane UniversityMaputoMozambique
| | | | - Navashni Govender
- Conservation ManagementKruger National ParkSkukuzaSouth Africa
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan UniversityGeorgeSouth Africa
| | - Valério Macandza
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest EngineeringEduardo Mondlane UniversityMaputoMozambique
| | - Aurélio Pais
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest EngineeringEduardo Mondlane UniversityMaputoMozambique
| | - Domingos Machava
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest EngineeringEduardo Mondlane UniversityMaputoMozambique
| | - Aniceto Chauque
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest EngineeringEduardo Mondlane UniversityMaputoMozambique
| | - Sa Nogueira Lisboa
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest EngineeringEduardo Mondlane UniversityMaputoMozambique
| | - Romana Bandeira
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest EngineeringEduardo Mondlane UniversityMaputoMozambique
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11
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MacFadyen S, Hui C, Verburg PH, Van Teeffelen AJA. Spatiotemporal distribution dynamics of elephants in response to density, rainfall, rivers and fire in Kruger National Park, South Africa. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra MacFadyen
- Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
- Institute for Environmental Studies VU University Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Cang Hui
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
- African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Muizenberg South Africa
| | - Peter H. Verburg
- Institute for Environmental Studies VU University Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Birmensdorf Switzerland
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12
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Smit IPJ, Archibald S. Herbivore culling influences spatio‐temporal patterns of fire in a semiarid savanna. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Izak P. J. Smit
- Scientific ServicesSouth African National Parks Skukuza South Africa
- Centre for African EcologySchool of Animal, Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of the Witwatersrand Wits South Africa
| | - Sally Archibald
- Centre for African EcologySchool of Animal, Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of the Witwatersrand Wits South Africa
- Natural Resources and the EnvironmentCouncil for Scientific and Industrial Research Pretoria South Africa
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13
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Singh J, Levick SR, Guderle M, Schmullius C, Trumbore SE. Variability in fire-induced change to vegetation physiognomy and biomass in semi-arid savanna. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jenia Singh
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry; Hans-Knoell-Street 10 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Shaun R. Levick
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry; Hans-Knoell-Street 10 07745 Jena Germany
- CSIRO Land and Water; PMB 44 Winnellie Northern Territory 0822 Australia
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Darwin Northern Territory 0909 Australia
| | - Marcus Guderle
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry; Hans-Knoell-Street 10 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Christiane Schmullius
- Department of Earth Observation; Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena; Grietgasse 6 07743 Jena Germany
| | - Susan E. Trumbore
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry; Hans-Knoell-Street 10 07745 Jena Germany
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14
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Aslan CE, Samberg L, Dickson BG, Gray ME. Management thresholds stemming from altered fire dynamics in present-day arid and semi-arid environments. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 227:87-94. [PMID: 30172162 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Changes in fire frequency, size, and severity are driving ecological transformations in many systems. In arid and semi-arid regions that are adapted to fire, long-term fire exclusion by managers leads to declines in fire frequency, altered fire size distribution, and increased proportion of high severity fires. In arid and semi-arid systems where fire was historically rare, factors such as invasion by highly combustible non-native plants elevate fire frequency and size, elevating mortality of native species. Altered temperature and precipitation regimes may exacerbate these changes by increasing biomass and flammability. Current transformation in fire dynamics carry social as well as ecological consequences. Human cultures, livelihoods, values, and management behaviors are attuned to fire dynamics. Changes can make it costly or impossible to maintain traditional landscape use and economic activities. We review the ecological and social science literature to examine drivers of altered fire dynamics in arid and semi-arid systems worldwide and the conditions representing fire dynamics thresholds-points at which altered conditions may make it difficult or impossible to achieve management objectives, even via traditional adaptive management focusing on alternative management activities to achieve objectives. Such thresholds could force a wholesale shift in management objectives and practices and a new approach to adaptive management that redefines objectives when no viable adaptive action can be undertaken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E Aslan
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, PO Box 5694, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86005 USA; Conservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA.
| | - Leah Samberg
- Conservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA; Institute on the Environment, 1954 Buford Ave, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108 USA.
| | - Brett G Dickson
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, PO Box 5694, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86005 USA; Conservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA.
| | - Miranda E Gray
- Conservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA.
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15
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Gillson L, Biggs H, Smit IPJ, Virah-Sawmy M, Rogers K. Finding Common Ground between Adaptive Management and Evidence-Based Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2018; 34:31-44. [PMID: 30447939 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Adaptive management (AM) and evidence-based conservation (EBC) have emerged as major decision-making frameworks for conservation management. AM deals with complexity and the importance of local context in making conservation decisions under conditions of high variability, uncertainty, and rapid environmental and social change. EBC seeks for generality from empirical data and aims to develop and enhance best practice. The goal of this review is to explore opportunities for finding common ground between AM and EBC. We propose a framework for distinguishing the subset of conservation problems that are amenable to an evidence-based approach, based on levels of uncertainty, complexity, and social agreement. We then suggest ways for combining multiple lines of evidence and developing greater opportunities for iteration and co-learning in EBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Gillson
- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
| | - Harry Biggs
- Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Private Bag X402, Skukuza 1350, South Africa; Current address: PO Box 230, Bathurst 6166, South Africa
| | - Izak P J Smit
- Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Private Bag X402, Skukuza 1350, South Africa; Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Wits 2050, South Africa
| | - Malika Virah-Sawmy
- Geography Department, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Alfred-Rühl-Haus, Rudower Chaussee 16, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kevin Rogers
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Wits 2050, South Africa
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- L T Kelly
- School of BioSciences, ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - L Brotons
- InForest JRU (CTFC-CREAF), Solsona 25280, Spain.,CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain.,CSIC, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Spain
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17
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Venter ZS, Hawkins HJ, Cramer MD. Implications of historical interactions between herbivory and fire for rangeland management in African savannas. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zander S. Venter
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Cape Town; Private Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
| | - Heidi-Jayne Hawkins
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Cape Town; Private Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
- Conservation South Africa; Heritage House; Suite 301, 20 Dreyer Street Claremont 7735 South Africa
| | - Michael D. Cramer
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Cape Town; Private Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
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18
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Archibald S. Managing the human component of fire regimes: lessons from Africa. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 371:rstb.2015.0346. [PMID: 27216516 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human impacts on fire regimes accumulated slowly with the evolution of modern humans able to ignite fires and manipulate landscapes. Today, myriad voices aim to influence fire in grassy ecosystems to different ends, and this is complicated by a colonial past focused on suppressing fire and preventing human ignitions. Here, I review available evidence on the impacts of people on various fire characteristics such as the number and size of fires, fire intensity, fire frequency and seasonality of fire in African grassy ecosystems, with the intention of focusing the debate and identifying areas of uncertainty. Humans alter seasonal patterns of fire in grassy systems but tend to decrease total fire emissions: livestock have replaced fire as the dominant consumer in many parts of Africa, and fragmented landscapes reduce area burned. Humans alter the season and time of day when fires occur, with important implications for fire intensity, tree-grass dynamics and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Late season fires are more common when fire is banned or illegal: these later fires are far more intense but emit fewer GHGs. The types of fires which preserve human livelihoods and biodiversity are not always aligned with the goal of reducing GHG concentrations. Current fire management challenges therefore involve balancing the needs of a large rural population against national and global perspectives on the desirability of different types of fire, but this cannot happen unless the interests of all parties are equally represented. In the future, Africa is expected to urbanize and land use to intensify, which will imply different trajectories for the continent's fire regimes.This article is part of the themed issue 'The interaction of fire and mankind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Archibald
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Private Bag X3, WITS, 2050, South Africa Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
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19
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Russell-Smith J, Evans J, Edwards AC, Simms A. Assessing ecological performance thresholds in fire-prone Kakadu National Park, northern Australia. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Russell-Smith
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research; Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Darwin Northern Territory 0909 Australia
- Long Term Ecological Research Network; Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network; Australia
| | - Jay Evans
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research; Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Darwin Northern Territory 0909 Australia
- Long Term Ecological Research Network; Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network; Australia
| | - Andrew C. Edwards
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research; Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Darwin Northern Territory 0909 Australia
- Long Term Ecological Research Network; Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network; Australia
| | - Anthony Simms
- Kakadu National Park, Parks Australia; Jabiru Northern Territory 0886 Australia
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20
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Devine AP, McDonald RA, Quaife T, Maclean IMD. Determinants of woody encroachment and cover in African savannas. Oecologia 2017; 183:939-951. [PMID: 28116524 PMCID: PMC5348564 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3807-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Savanna ecosystems are an integral part of the African landscape and sustain the livelihoods of millions of people. Woody encroachment in savannas is a widespread phenomenon but its causes are widely debated. We review the extensive literature on woody encroachment to help improve understanding of the possible causes and to highlight where and how future scientific efforts to fully understand these causes should be focused. Rainfall is the most important determinant of maximum woody cover across Africa, but fire and herbivory interact to reduce woody cover below the maximum at many locations. We postulate that woody encroachment is most likely driven by CO2 enrichment and propose a two-system conceptual framework, whereby mechanisms of woody encroachment differ depending on whether the savanna is a wet or dry system. In dry savannas, the increased water-use efficiency in plants relaxes precipitation-driven constraints and increases woody growth. In wet savannas, the increase of carbon allocation to tree roots results in faster recovery rates after disturbance and a greater likelihood of reaching sexual maturity. Our proposed framework can be tested using a mixture of experimental and earth observational techniques. At a local level, changes in precipitation, burning regimes or herbivory could be driving woody encroachment, but are unlikely to be the explanation of this continent-wide phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisling P. Devine
- Department of Biosciences, Wallace Building, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP UK
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, TR10 9EZ UK
| | - Robbie A. McDonald
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, TR10 9EZ UK
| | - Tristan Quaife
- Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 243, Reading, RG6 6BB UK
| | - Ilya M. D. Maclean
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, TR10 9EZ UK
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21
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Erb KH, Luyssaert S, Meyfroidt P, Pongratz J, Don A, Kloster S, Kuemmerle T, Fetzel T, Fuchs R, Herold M, Haberl H, Jones CD, Marín-Spiotta E, McCallum I, Robertson E, Seufert V, Fritz S, Valade A, Wiltshire A, Dolman AJ. Land management: data availability and process understanding for global change studies. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:512-533. [PMID: 27447350 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In the light of daunting global sustainability challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food security, improving our understanding of the complex dynamics of the Earth system is crucial. However, large knowledge gaps related to the effects of land management persist, in particular those human-induced changes in terrestrial ecosystems that do not result in land-cover conversions. Here, we review the current state of knowledge of ten common land management activities for their biogeochemical and biophysical impacts, the level of process understanding and data availability. Our review shows that ca. one-tenth of the ice-free land surface is under intense human management, half under medium and one-fifth under extensive management. Based on our review, we cluster these ten management activities into three groups: (i) management activities for which data sets are available, and for which a good knowledge base exists (cropland harvest and irrigation); (ii) management activities for which sufficient knowledge on biogeochemical and biophysical effects exists but robust global data sets are lacking (forest harvest, tree species selection, grazing and mowing harvest, N fertilization); and (iii) land management practices with severe data gaps concomitant with an unsatisfactory level of process understanding (crop species selection, artificial wetland drainage, tillage and fire management and crop residue management, an element of crop harvest). Although we identify multiple impediments to progress, we conclude that the current status of process understanding and data availability is sufficient to advance with incorporating management in, for example, Earth system or dynamic vegetation models in order to provide a systematic assessment of their role in the Earth system. This review contributes to a strategic prioritization of research efforts across multiple disciplines, including land system research, ecological research and Earth system modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl-Heinz Erb
- Institute of Social Ecology Vienna (SEC), Alpen-Adria Universitaet Klagenfurt, Wien, Graz, Schottenfeldgasse 29, Vienna, 1070, Austria
| | - Sebastiaan Luyssaert
- LSCE-IPSL CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Orme des Merisiers, Gif-sur-Yvette, F-91191, France
- Department of Ecological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick Meyfroidt
- Georges Lemaître Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Place Louis Pasteur 3, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1348, Belgium
- F.R.S.-FNRS, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
| | - Julia Pongratz
- Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Bundesstr. 53, Hamburg, D-20146, Germany
| | - Axel Don
- Thünen-Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Bundesallee 50, Braunschweig, 38116, Germany
| | - Silvia Kloster
- Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Bundesstr. 53, Hamburg, D-20146, Germany
| | - Tobias Kuemmerle
- Geography Department, Humboldt-University Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, Berlin, 10099, Germany
- Integrative Research Institute on Transformations in Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys), Humboldt-University Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, Berlin, 10099, Germany
| | - Tamara Fetzel
- Institute of Social Ecology Vienna (SEC), Alpen-Adria Universitaet Klagenfurt, Wien, Graz, Schottenfeldgasse 29, Vienna, 1070, Austria
| | - Richard Fuchs
- Department of Earth Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Herold
- Laboratory of Geoinformation Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Helmut Haberl
- Institute of Social Ecology Vienna (SEC), Alpen-Adria Universitaet Klagenfurt, Wien, Graz, Schottenfeldgasse 29, Vienna, 1070, Austria
| | - Chris D Jones
- Met Office Hadley Centre, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK
| | - Erika Marín-Spiotta
- Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 550 North Park Street, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Ian McCallum
- Ecosystems Services & Management Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, Laxenburg, A-2361, Austria
| | - Eddy Robertson
- Met Office Hadley Centre, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK
| | - Verena Seufert
- Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia (UBC), 6476 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Steffen Fritz
- Ecosystems Services & Management Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, Laxenburg, A-2361, Austria
| | - Aude Valade
- Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, IPSL-CNRS-UPMC, Paris, France
| | | | - Albertus J Dolman
- Department of Earth Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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22
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Scholtz R, Smit IPJ, Coetsee C, Kiker GA, Venter FJ. Legacy effects of top-down disturbances on woody plant species composition in semi-arid systems. AUSTRAL ECOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Scholtz
- South African National Parks; Scientific Services, Skukuza; Private Bag X402 Skukuza Mpumalanga 1350 South Africa
- School of Life Sciences; University of Kwazulu-Natal; Durban South Africa
| | - I. P. J. Smit
- South African National Parks; Scientific Services, Skukuza; Private Bag X402 Skukuza Mpumalanga 1350 South Africa
- Centre for African Ecology; School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Johannesburg South Africa
| | - C. Coetsee
- South African National Parks; Scientific Services, Skukuza; Private Bag X402 Skukuza Mpumalanga 1350 South Africa
- School of Natural Resource Management; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; Saasveld, NMMU; George South Africa
| | - G. A. Kiker
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering; University of Florida; Gainesville Florida USA
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science; University of KwaZulu-Natal; Durban South Africa
| | - F. J. Venter
- South African National Parks; Conservation Management, Skukuza; Skukuza Mpumalanga South Africa
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23
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Change in woody cover at representative sites in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, based on historical imagery. SPRINGERPLUS 2016; 5:1417. [PMID: 27610331 PMCID: PMC4996806 DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-3036-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background The coexistence of woody vegetation and grass is a key characteristic of savanna ecological balance. Gains in woody vegetation at the expense of grass can lead to changes in grazer and browser carrying capacities on the savannas. This study examined long-term change in woody cover at four study sites representative of the geology and rainfall in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Scanned 1940/1942, 1968, and 1977 high spatial resolution (0.44–1.35 m) panchromatic aerial photographs were used, supplemented by 5 and 10 m resolution 1998 and 2012 panchromatic and red band grey scale digital SPOT images. The imagery datasets of the respective study sites were georeferenced to the UTM projection. Woody cover on the imagery was enhanced using texture analysis, and mapped by unsupervised classification of the texture images using the K-means clustering algorithm. Change in woody cover was mapped using Boolean addition Geographic Information System overlay analysis. Results The results indicated 29 and 40 % reductions in woody cover for the southern granites and southern basalts sites, respectively. The northern granites and northern basalts sites, on the other hand, had gains in woody cover over the analysis period. The location context-specific factors of fire frequency and elephant density, and not rainfall fluctuations, explained most of the change in woody cover. Conclusions The results point to the need for location context-specific management of fire and elephant concentrations. The changes in woody cover are likely to have effects on the grazer and browser carrying capacities of the savannas in the Kruger National Park.
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24
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Driscoll DA, Bode M, Bradstock RA, Keith DA, Penman TD, Price OF. Resolving future fire management conflicts using multicriteria decision making. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2016; 30:196-205. [PMID: 26148692 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Management strategies to reduce the risks to human life and property from wildfire commonly involve burning native vegetation. However, planned burning can conflict with other societal objectives such as human health and biodiversity conservation. These conflicts are likely to intensify as fire regimes change under future climates and as growing human populations encroach farther into fire-prone ecosystems. Decisions about managing fire risks are therefore complex and warrant more sophisticated approaches than are typically used. We applied a multicriteria decision making approach (MCDA) with the potential to improve fire management outcomes to the case of a highly populated, biodiverse, and flammable wildland-urban interface. We considered the effects of 22 planned burning options on 8 objectives: house protection, maximizing water quality, minimizing carbon emissions and impacts on human health, and minimizing declines of 5 distinct species types. The MCDA identified a small number of management options (burning forest adjacent to houses) that performed well for most objectives, but not for one species type (arboreal mammal) or for water quality. Although MCDA made the conflict between objectives explicit, resolution of the problem depended on the weighting assigned to each objective. Additive weighting of criteria traded off the arboreal mammal and water quality objectives for other objectives. Multiplicative weighting identified scenarios that avoided poor outcomes for any objective, which is important for avoiding potentially irreversible biodiversity losses. To distinguish reliably among management options, future work should focus on reducing uncertainty in outcomes across a range of objectives. Considering management actions that have more predictable outcomes than landscape fuel management will be important. We found that, where data were adequate, an MCDA can support decision making in the complex and often conflicted area of fire management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don A Driscoll
- National Environmental Research Program Environmental Decisions Group and ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, St Lucia Qld, Australia
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Australian National University, ACT, 0200, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University Geelong, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Michael Bode
- National Environmental Research Program Environmental Decisions Group and ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, St Lucia Qld, Australia
- School of BioScience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Ross A Bradstock
- Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, Institute of Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - David A Keith
- NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, 43 Bridge Street, Hurstville, NSW 2220, Australia
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological Earth & Environmental Science, Biological Sciences building (D26), University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Trent D Penman
- Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, Institute of Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- School of Forest and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Water Street, Creswick, VIC 3363, Australia
| | - Owen F Price
- Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, Institute of Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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25
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Attorre F, Govender N, Hausmann A, Farcomeni A, Guillet A, Scepi E, Smit IP, Vitale M. Assessing the effect of management changes and environmental features on the spatio- temporal pattern of fire in an African Savanna. J Nat Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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26
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Hempson GP, Archibald S, Bond WJ, Ellis RP, Grant CC, Kruger FJ, Kruger LM, Moxley C, Owen-Smith N, Peel MJS, Smit IPJ, Vickers KJ. Ecology of grazing lawns in Africa. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2014; 90:979-94. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gareth P. Hempson
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Cape Town; Private Bag X1 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
- Organization for Tropical Studies; PO Box 33 Skukuza 1350 South Africa
| | - Sally Archibald
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Private Bag 3 Wits 2050 South Africa
- Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; PO Box 395 Pretoria 0001 South Africa
| | - William J. Bond
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Cape Town; Private Bag X1 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
- South African Environmental Observation Network, National Research Foundation; Private Bag X7 Claremont 7735 South Africa
| | - Roger P. Ellis
- Organization for Tropical Studies; PO Box 33 Skukuza 1350 South Africa
| | - Cornelia C. Grant
- Scientific Services, SANParks; Private Bag X402 Skukuza 1350 South Africa
- Department of Zoology; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; PO Box 77000 Port Elizabeth 6031 South Africa
| | - Fred J. Kruger
- Organization for Tropical Studies; PO Box 33 Skukuza 1350 South Africa
- Centre for Environmental Management; Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State; PO Box 339 Bloemfontein 9300 South Africa
| | - Laurence M. Kruger
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Cape Town; Private Bag X1 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
- Organization for Tropical Studies; PO Box 33 Skukuza 1350 South Africa
| | - Courtney Moxley
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Cape Town; Private Bag X1 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
| | - Norman Owen-Smith
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Private Bag 3 Wits 2050 South Africa
| | - Mike J. S. Peel
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Private Bag 3 Wits 2050 South Africa
- Rangeland Ecology; Agricultural Research Council, Animal Production Institute; PO Box 7063 Nelspruit 1200 South Africa
| | - Izak P. J. Smit
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Private Bag 3 Wits 2050 South Africa
- Scientific Services, SANParks; Private Bag X402 Skukuza 1350 South Africa
| | - Karen J. Vickers
- Organization for Tropical Studies; PO Box 33 Skukuza 1350 South Africa
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27
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Levick SR, Baldeck CA, Asner GP. Demographic legacies of fire history in an African savanna. Funct Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shaun R. Levick
- Department of Biogeochemical Processes Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Hans‐Knöll‐Str. 10Jena 07745 Germany
| | - Claire A. Baldeck
- Department of Global Ecology Carnegie Institution for Science 260 Panama St Stanford California 94305 USA
| | - Gregory P. Asner
- Department of Global Ecology Carnegie Institution for Science 260 Panama St Stanford California 94305 USA
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28
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Scholtz R, Kiker GA, Smit IPJ, Venter FJ. Identifying drivers that influence the spatial distribution of woody vegetation in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Ecosphere 2014. [DOI: 10.1890/es14-00034.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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