ILALA PALM (<i>HYPHAENE PETERSIANA</i>) USE IN SOUTHERN ZIMBABWE: SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING SUSTAINABILITY

Foote, A. Lee; Krogman, Naomi; Grundy, Isla; Nemarundwe, N.; Campbell, Bruce M.; Gambiza, James; Gibbs, Lisle H.

doi:10.1080/14728028.2003.9752466

Cited by 4 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Although we did not record damage to ivory palm leaves, observations while sampling indicated that relatively low proportions of leaves were damaged, but by which large herbivore is uncertain. Our observations also indicated the complete removal of the growing meristem of ivory palm stems, particularly from subadults which, as in the case of human utilisation, led to the death of the plant (Cunningham & Milton, ; Foote et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Our observations also indicated the complete removal of the growing meristem of ivory palm stems, particularly from subadults which, as in the case of human utilisation, led to the death of the plant (Cunningham & Milton, 1987;Foote et al, 2003).…”

Section: Ivory Palm Frequency Density and Mortalitysupporting

confidence: 52%

“…In the ivory palm surveys, we used the classification of Foote et al () to distinguish between palm growth stages but added an additional subadult stage: juveniles—plants with well formed leaf rosettes but trunks < 0.5 m; small subadults—trunks between 0.5–2.0 m; large subadults—trunks between 2.0–2.5 m; adults—trunks > 2.5 m. We distinguished between small and large subadults as the latter are higher than the leaf rosettes of juveniles, and like adults readily apparent.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Elephant herbivory of knob‐thorn (Senegalia nigrescens) and ivory palm (Hyphaene petersiana) in Bwabwata National Park, Caprivi, Namibia: The role of ivory palm as a biotic refuge

2019

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African elephants have major impacts on vegetation, particularly at high densities. Knob‐thorns (Senegalia nigrescens) are typically ring‐barked by elephant, and high levels of mortality are common at high elephant densities. Our study aimed to test whether ivory palm clusters (Hyphaene petersiana) form a biotic refuge for knob‐thorn against elephant herbivory. We measured the density, damage and mortality of knob‐thorns in sites differing according to ivory palm presence and elephant density, and thus, the probability of knob‐thorn encounter by elephants. The site with palms and low elephant density, had a high density of knob‐thorns, but lower proportions of damaged and dead trees, than sites without palms but with similar or higher elephant density. In the former, knob‐thorns were associated with palm clusters, particularly saplings and young adults. In this site, low proportions of damaged and dead knob‐thorns were recorded in palm clusters, compared with outside clusters, and to those in the other sites. Our study also showed that juvenile palms which protected knob‐thorns, suffered low mortality in contrast to subadult palms. We have no evidence but implicate elephants and suggest that in palm clusters, subadult palms are more accessible to elephants than knob‐thorns because of the different methods of utilisation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Ivory Palm Frequency Density and Mortalitysupporting

confidence: 52%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Elephant herbivory of knob‐thorn (Senegalia nigrescens) and ivory palm (Hyphaene petersiana) in Bwabwata National Park, Caprivi, Namibia: The role of ivory palm as a biotic refuge

2019

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“…Firstly, and critically, sterile plants cannot evolve new adaptations, such as to the looming threat of global change, nor can they disperse seeds to move with moving climate zones. Secondly, without seedling recruitment populations will eventually go extinct, although in the case of this highly persistent resprouting palm, this is only likely with sudden or significant environmental change because this species can live for about a century 20 . Thirdly, because sterile plants do not produce flowers, fruits and large stems this too has biodiversity implications.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Species with tall maximum heights may be a priority. Also, if the present high level of elephant herbivory in KNP is reduced, fruiting by well-established resprouts of this palm could occur within two decades, because they are capable of rapid growth 20 . However, there is no plan 14 to directly control the presently steadily increasing population 1 , although there are plans to reduce access to artificial waterpoints 14 Finally, we emphasize the general conservation problem that resprouting plant species such as H. petersiana present 15 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass sterilization of a common palm species by elephants in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Midgley

Coetzee

Tye³

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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chronic herbivory by elephants rarely eliminates any species of woody savanna plants because these plants are typically vigorous basal resprouters after damage by fire or herbivory. In some instances, resprouting after elephant herbivory even increases stem numbers per unit area compared to protected areas. It is thus difficult to know whether an area has been severely degraded by elephant herbivory or not because although trees may be severely reduced in size, they will still be present and may even be relatively dense. By using an elephant exclosure in the Kruger national park, South Africa, we demonstrate that this resprouting ability masks the fact that entire populations of a widespread African palm, Hyphaene petersiana, are prevented from reaching sexual maturity by chronic elephant herbivory. Besides sterilizing these palms and thus preventing their evolution and seed dispersal, the absence of the palm fruits, flowers and tall stems has other negative biodiversity impacts on their associated fauna. We suggest that to determine sustainable elephant impacts on savanna plants, conservation managers also use the reproductive condition of savanna plants rather than their presence, height or stem density.

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Property rights and the conservation of forests in communal areas in Zimbabwe

Mudombi-Rusinamhodzi

Thiel

2020

Forest Policy and Economics

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ILALA PALM (HYPHAENE PETERSIANA) USE IN SOUTHERN ZIMBABWE: SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING SUSTAINABILITY

Cited by 4 publications

References 17 publications

Elephant herbivory of knob‐thorn (Senegalia nigrescens) and ivory palm (Hyphaene petersiana) in Bwabwata National Park, Caprivi, Namibia: The role of ivory palm as a biotic refuge

Elephant herbivory of knob‐thorn (Senegalia nigrescens) and ivory palm (Hyphaene petersiana) in Bwabwata National Park, Caprivi, Namibia: The role of ivory palm as a biotic refuge

Mass sterilization of a common palm species by elephants in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Property rights and the conservation of forests in communal areas in Zimbabwe

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