dc.contributor.author |
Buitenwerf, R
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Stevens, N
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Gosling, CM
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Anderson, TM
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Olff, H
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2012-05-04T10:08:04Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2012-05-04T10:08:04Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2011-05 |
|
dc.identifier.citation |
Buitenwerf, R, Stevens, N, Gosling, CM, Anderson, TM and Olff, H. 2011. Interactions between large herbivores and litter removal by termites across a rainfall gradient in a South African savanna. Journal of Tropical Ecology, vol. 27(4), pp. 375-382 |
en_US |
dc.identifier.issn |
0266-4674 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8281345
|
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5834
|
|
dc.description |
Copyright: 2011 Cambridge University Press |
en_US |
dc.description.abstract |
Litter-feeding termites influence key aspects of the structure and functioning of semi-arid ecosystems around the world by altering nutrient and material fluxes, affecting primary production, food web dynamics and modifying vegetation composition. Understanding these complex effects depends on quantifying spatial heterogeneity in termite foraging activities, yet such information is scarce for semi-arid savannas. Here, the amount of litter that was removed from 800 litterbags in eight plots (100 litterbags per plot) was measured in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park (HiP) South Africa. These data were used to quantify variation in litter removal at two spatial scales: the local scale (within 450-m2 plots) and the landscape scale (among sites separated by 8–25 km). Subsequently, we attempted to understand the possible determinants of termites’ foraging patterns by testing various ecological correlates, such as plant biomass and bare ground at small scales and rainfall and fences that excluded large mammalian herbivores at larger scales. No strong predictors for heterogeneity in termite foraging intensity were found at the local scale. At the landscape scale termite consumption depended on an interaction between rainfall and the presence of large mammalian herbivores: litter removal by termites was greater in the presence of large herbivores at the drier sites but lower in the presence of large herbivores at the wetter sites. The effect of herbivores on termite foraging intensity may indicate a switch between termites and large herbivore facilitation and competition across a productivity gradient. In general, litter removal decreased with increasing mean annual rainfall, which is in contrast to current understanding of termite consumption across rainfall and productivity gradients. These results generate novel insights into termite ecology and interactions among consumers of vastly different body sizes across spatial scales. |
en_US |
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_US |
dc.publisher |
Cambridge University Press |
en_US |
dc.relation.ispartofseries |
Workflow;7493 |
|
dc.subject |
Africa |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Decomposition |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Heterogeneity |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Isoptera |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Nitrogen |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Nutrient cycling |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Nutrient hotspot |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Patchiness |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Spatial scale |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Termite mound |
en_US |
dc.title |
Interactions between large herbivores and litter removal by termites across a rainfall gradient in a South African savanna |
en_US |
dc.type |
Article |
en_US |
dc.identifier.apacitation |
Buitenwerf, R., Stevens, N., Gosling, C., Anderson, T., & Olff, H. (2011). Interactions between large herbivores and litter removal by termites across a rainfall gradient in a South African savanna. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5834 |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.chicagocitation |
Buitenwerf, R, N Stevens, CM Gosling, TM Anderson, and H Olff "Interactions between large herbivores and litter removal by termites across a rainfall gradient in a South African savanna." (2011) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5834 |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.vancouvercitation |
Buitenwerf R, Stevens N, Gosling C, Anderson T, Olff H. Interactions between large herbivores and litter removal by termites across a rainfall gradient in a South African savanna. 2011; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5834. |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.ris |
TY - Article
AU - Buitenwerf, R
AU - Stevens, N
AU - Gosling, CM
AU - Anderson, TM
AU - Olff, H
AB - Litter-feeding termites influence key aspects of the structure and functioning of semi-arid ecosystems around the world by altering nutrient and material fluxes, affecting primary production, food web dynamics and modifying vegetation composition. Understanding these complex effects depends on quantifying spatial heterogeneity in termite foraging activities, yet such information is scarce for semi-arid savannas. Here, the amount of litter that was removed from 800 litterbags in eight plots (100 litterbags per plot) was measured in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park (HiP) South Africa. These data were used to quantify variation in litter removal at two spatial scales: the local scale (within 450-m2 plots) and the landscape scale (among sites separated by 8–25 km). Subsequently, we attempted to understand the possible determinants of termites’ foraging patterns by testing various ecological correlates, such as plant biomass and bare ground at small scales and rainfall and fences that excluded large mammalian herbivores at larger scales. No strong predictors for heterogeneity in termite foraging intensity were found at the local scale. At the landscape scale termite consumption depended on an interaction between rainfall and the presence of large mammalian herbivores: litter removal by termites was greater in the presence of large herbivores at the drier sites but lower in the presence of large herbivores at the wetter sites. The effect of herbivores on termite foraging intensity may indicate a switch between termites and large herbivore facilitation and competition across a productivity gradient. In general, litter removal decreased with increasing mean annual rainfall, which is in contrast to current understanding of termite consumption across rainfall and productivity gradients. These results generate novel insights into termite ecology and interactions among consumers of vastly different body sizes across spatial scales.
DA - 2011-05
DB - ResearchSpace
DP - CSIR
KW - Africa
KW - Decomposition
KW - Heterogeneity
KW - Isoptera
KW - Nitrogen
KW - Nutrient cycling
KW - Nutrient hotspot
KW - Patchiness
KW - Spatial scale
KW - Termite mound
LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za
PY - 2011
SM - 0266-4674
T1 - Interactions between large herbivores and litter removal by termites across a rainfall gradient in a South African savanna
TI - Interactions between large herbivores and litter removal by termites across a rainfall gradient in a South African savanna
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5834
ER -
|
en_ZA |