Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Savanna browse production. 2 : Prediction
Author
Penderis, Caryn A
Kirkman, Kevin P
Publisher
African Journal of Range & Forage Science
Publication Year
2014
Body

Browsing herbivores are generally highly selective feeders, selecting for new shoots and young plant material. Determinations of browser carrying capacity are then greatly inflated when based on available browse biomass estimates. Our study was initiated with the aim of modelling browse production rates of key savanna tree species in the northern Zululand region of KwaZulu-Natal, with the assumption that browse production equates to utilised browse biomass. Predictive models for the production of browse, at different game feeding levels, on deciduous, semi-deciduous and evergreen trees were developed using multivariate adaptive regression spline functions. The most significant predictors of the production of browse were measurable plant dimensions, namely available canopy volume, stem diameter and foliage density, and climatic variables, namely maximum and minimum daily temperatures and cumulative daily rainfall for each quarter. Comparing the browse production figures of consecutive years supplies land managers with valuable insight whether the browse component of the system is under stress, is maintaining, or is encroaching, as well as the impact of browsers on the system.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Journal Volume
31
Journal Number
1
Journal Pages
25-36
Journal Name
African Journal of Range & Forage Science
Keywords
savanna
browsing
grazing
game
wildlife
conservation
carrying capacity
climate
soil
rainfall
modelling
plant production
management
Zululand region
KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa