Plant functional types differ between the grassland and savanna biomes along an agro-ecosystem disturbance gradient in South Africa

Botha, Monique; Siebert, Stefan; Berg, Johnnie Van den; Ellis, Suria; Dreber, Niels

doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2017.09.008

Cited by 9 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Asteraceae and Fabaceae were the most dominant forb families in both transformed and untransformed grassland, a trend that has previously been reported (Botha et al 2017). It can be deduced that regenerative traits, such as wind dispersal and seed dormancy for rapid colonisation (Asteraceae), ballochory and/or or endozoochory as seed dispersal traits, and resource acquisition traits, which increase resprouting capacity (Fabaceae), make them rather resilient to disturbance.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…In contrast, certain families, such as the geophytic Hyacinthaceae and Iridaceae, were extensively disadvantaged by habitat transformation, as they are sensitive to soil disturbance because their bud-banks are belowground (Fidelis et al 2014). The general trend is therefore one of species loss and displacement by a new flora, mostly annuals, with colonising traits better suited to a transformed environment, such as creepers, clonal plants and fruit or seed adapted for exozoochorous or anemochorous dispersal (Botha et al 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Grassland Biome is one of the most at-risk South African biomes, with 40-60% irreversibly modified, and less than 3% formally protected (Little, Hockey & Jansen 2015). The intactness of unprotected South African grasslands is threatened as there is an increase in the intensity of agriculture and afforestation (O'Connor & Kuyler 2009;Botha et al 2017) and urban and industrial development activities (Siebert, Van Wyk & Bredenkamp 2001;O'Connor & Kuyler 2009). Changes in composition, structure and functioning of these grasslands influence the ability to deliver fresh water, soil formation, climate regulation and reduction of disaster risk (Egoh et al 2011), and in addition, probable loss of biodiversity and grassland production (Everson & Everson 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A floristic assessment of grassland diversity loss in South Africa

Muller

Siebert

Ntloko³

et al. 2021

BothaliaABC

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Background: Land-use effects on grassland flora are difficult to predict due to poor understanding of species losses caused by transformation.Objectives: To determine changes in species diversity and composition by comparing transformed with untransformed grassland.Methods: Floristics of paired plots were sampled within 18 transformed sites (representing agricultural and urban land-uses) and neighbouring untransformed grassland.Results: Endemic and threatened species were negatively affected by transformation, particularly species with belowground bud-banks and storage organs. Species composition, with clear shifts in dominant families, was changed by over 90% on average by transformation.Conclusion: Land-use transformation leads to the loss of native species and increased alien invasive species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A floristic assessment of grassland diversity loss in South Africa

Muller

Siebert

Ntloko³

et al. 2021

BothaliaABC

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“…First, dominant grasses represent only a small proportion of species richness, and forb species richness can be 6‐fold higher than grasses (Siebert 2011). Forbs provide services, such as nitrogen‐fixing, nutritious seasonal food source for browsers, mixed feeders, and particularly for cattle (Odadi et al 2007; O'Connor et al 2010), invertebrates (Botha et al 2017), and medicinal sources for human livelihoods (Dzerefos & Witkowski 2001).…”

Section: Myth 9 Grassland Restoration Is Only About Grassesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Myth‐busting tropical grassy biome restoration

Silveira

Arruda

Bond

et al. 2020

Restoration Ecology

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The historical focus in research and policy on forest restoration and temperate ecosystems has created misunderstandings for the restoration of tropical and subtropical old-growth grassy biomes (TGB). Such misconceptions have detrimental consequences for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human livelihoods in woodlands, savannas, and grasslands worldwide. Here, we demystify TGB restoration myths to promote a positive agenda to increase the likelihood of success of ambitious landscapescale restoration goals of nonforest ecosystems. The 10 TGB restoration myths are: (1) grasslands originate from degraded forests, (2) tree cover is a reliable indicator of habitat quality, (3) planting trees is always good for biodiversity and ecosystem services, (4) grasslands are biodiversity-poor and provide few ecosystem services, (5) enhancing plant nutrition is needed in restoration, (6) disturbance is detrimental, (7) techniques used to restore temperate grasslands also work for TGB, (8) grasslands represent early stages of forest succession, (9) grassland restoration is only about grasses, and (10) grassland restoration is fast. By demystifying TGB restoration, we hope that policymakers, scientists, and restorationists come to understand and embrace the value of these ecosystems and are motivated to establish policies, standards, indicators, and techniques that enhance the success of TGB restoration. We must abandon misperceptions and misunderstandings of TGB ecology that result in ill-conceived policies and build an informed and compelling global ecosystem restoration agenda that maintains and improves the well-being of all inhabitants of grassy biomes.

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“…Relating biodiversity and functional losses to current land-use practices (Botha et al 2017) should consider the intensity, and more specifically the duration of landuse disturbances, since past effects strongly affect biodiversity patterns and resilience (Shackleton 2000). This study therefore aimed to test land-use change effects on the community ecology of herbaceous vegetation in a semi-arid Mopaneveld savanna, with the specific objectives to (i) consider context-specific disturbance effects, and (ii) compare species-and functional trait responses across land-use types, in this case strip mines, communal land and protected area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of land-use on herbaceous vegetation in a semi-arid Mopaneveld savanna

et al. 2021

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Background: Low altitude Mopaneveld savanna in the northeastern parts of South Africa is generally well conserved. However, extensive copper mining, agricultural practices and urbanisation in the Phalaborwa region prompted research on the possible effects of land-use change on plant community diversity and function. Species diversity measures are usually considered adequate to assess disturbance effects to inform conservation efforts and management practices. However, diversity measures based on species level accounts often limit the outcomes of these studies as this approach fails to quantify how disturbances affect ecosystem functioning when community assembly, and not species diversity alone, is altered by land-use change.Objectives: The aim of this study was to apply both species and functional diversity measures to a data set derived from various land-use types (i.e. areas exposed to strip mining activities, communal farming practices and conservation) in the Phalaborwa region to examine the effects of land-use change on the community ecology of the herbaceous layer.Results: Land-use change, particularly severe top-soil disturbances through strip mining activities, had a significant filtering effect on all measures of species diversity, though functional evenness was maintained across land-use types.Conclusion: These results suggest that, despite initial species loss, this particular savanna ecosystem is buffered against anthropogenic disturbances through functional stability. Indicator species analyses, as well as relationships between plant functional types and land-use change, revealed that forb species are largely responsible for ecosystem stability in areas exposed to anthropogenic disturbances.

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Plant functional types differ between the grassland and savanna biomes along an agro-ecosystem disturbance gradient in South Africa

Cited by 9 publications

References 51 publications

A floristic assessment of grassland diversity loss in South Africa

A floristic assessment of grassland diversity loss in South Africa

Myth‐busting tropical grassy biome restoration

Effects of land-use on herbaceous vegetation in a semi-arid Mopaneveld savanna

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