Pyric herbivory: Understanding fire-herbivore interactions in Gorongosa National Park

Fire plays a major role in determining the structure and dynamics of tropical savannas. By removing old biomass and promoting nutritious regrowth, it facilitates the coexistence of grass and trees characteristic of these ecosystems. Though extensive research has been conducted on the immediate and l...

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Main Author:	Stahl, Maria
Other Authors:	Pringle, Robert
Format:	Princeton University Senior Theses
Language:	English
Published:	2020
Online Access:	http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01kp78gk399
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id	princeton-88435-dsp01kp78gk399
record_format	dspace
spelling	princeton-88435-dsp01kp78gk3992020-09-30T15:00:09Z Pyric herbivory: Understanding fire-herbivore interactions in Gorongosa National Park Stahl, Maria Pringle, Robert Fire plays a major role in determining the structure and dynamics of tropical savannas. By removing old biomass and promoting nutritious regrowth, it facilitates the coexistence of grass and trees characteristic of these ecosystems. Though extensive research has been conducted on the immediate and lasting effects of these disturbances on the density and nutritional quality of vegetation, the interactive effects of fire and herbivory on the nutritional landscape are more poorly understood. The frequency with which an area burns may dictate the overall palatability and biomass density of savanna grasses, generating heterogeneity in the vegetation available to grazers and promoting herbivore diversity through niche partitioning. This study examines the interaction of fire, vegetation and herbivores in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, in which controlled burns are used as a tool of active management. I found that though the amount of vegetation available to grazers did not vary significantly with fire frequency or herbivory pressure, forage material had significantly higher protein and calcium content in areas with higher grazing intensity and burn frequency. I also found that ungulates tend to avoid recently burned areas, but that small ungulates in general and nonruminants in particular return to burned patches more quickly than large ungulates and ruminants. Accordingly, fires create a heterogeneous landscape of burned and unburned patches that ungulates selectively graze upon based on their body size and digestive strategy. 2020-09-25T16:38:18Z 2020-09-25T16:38:18Z 2020-05-05 2020-09-25 Princeton University Senior Theses http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01kp78gk399 en application/pdf
institution	Repositorio Princeton
collection	DSpace
language	English
description	Fire plays a major role in determining the structure and dynamics of tropical savannas. By removing old biomass and promoting nutritious regrowth, it facilitates the coexistence of grass and trees characteristic of these ecosystems. Though extensive research has been conducted on the immediate and lasting effects of these disturbances on the density and nutritional quality of vegetation, the interactive effects of fire and herbivory on the nutritional landscape are more poorly understood. The frequency with which an area burns may dictate the overall palatability and biomass density of savanna grasses, generating heterogeneity in the vegetation available to grazers and promoting herbivore diversity through niche partitioning. This study examines the interaction of fire, vegetation and herbivores in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, in which controlled burns are used as a tool of active management. I found that though the amount of vegetation available to grazers did not vary significantly with fire frequency or herbivory pressure, forage material had significantly higher protein and calcium content in areas with higher grazing intensity and burn frequency. I also found that ungulates tend to avoid recently burned areas, but that small ungulates in general and nonruminants in particular return to burned patches more quickly than large ungulates and ruminants. Accordingly, fires create a heterogeneous landscape of burned and unburned patches that ungulates selectively graze upon based on their body size and digestive strategy.
author2	Pringle, Robert
author_facet	Pringle, Robert Stahl, Maria
format	Princeton University Senior Theses
author	Stahl, Maria
spellingShingle	Stahl, Maria Pyric herbivory: Understanding fire-herbivore interactions in Gorongosa National Park
author_sort	Stahl, Maria
title	Pyric herbivory: Understanding fire-herbivore interactions in Gorongosa National Park
title_short	Pyric herbivory: Understanding fire-herbivore interactions in Gorongosa National Park
title_full	Pyric herbivory: Understanding fire-herbivore interactions in Gorongosa National Park
title_fullStr	Pyric herbivory: Understanding fire-herbivore interactions in Gorongosa National Park
title_full_unstemmed	Pyric herbivory: Understanding fire-herbivore interactions in Gorongosa National Park
title_sort	pyric herbivory: understanding fire-herbivore interactions in gorongosa national park
publishDate	2020
url	http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01kp78gk399
work_keys_str_mv	AT stahlmaria pyricherbivoryunderstandingfireherbivoreinteractionsingorongosanationalpark
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Pyric herbivory: Understanding fire-herbivore interactions in Gorongosa National Park

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