Some vegetation characteristics of natural savanna ecosystems with different herbivore species in Zimbabwe
2001
Richardson-Kageler, S.J. (University of Zimbabwe, Harare (Zimbabwe). Dept. of Crop Science)
Large areas of Zimbabwe previously used for cattle have been converted to game or game and cattle. The different effects of these animals need to be examined. The effects of cattle on the different classes of palatability of woody plants were compared to that of the effects of large indigenous African herbivores in Zimbabwe. Thirty-six plots were placed along each of seven fence-lines: plots were placed on either side of each fence at each of 18 positions. There were no differences in the species richness of the different palatability classes, but there were differences in the numbers of plants in each class for all but one fence-line. It was found that stocking rate as well as the numbers of species of large herbivore present was an important factor in influencing the numbers of plants in each palatability class. It was hypothesised that the time needed to change the numbers of woody plants present was longer than that for which the sites on either sides of the fence-lines had been established.
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