Offered Papers Theme B: Grassland and the Environment

Description

The productivity of grasses is most important for herbivores in extensive semi-arid savannas. In these areas an increase in woody plant abundance, commonly referred to as bush encroachment, suppresses grasses. This is the main reason why landowners often consider thinning or even total clearing of all woody plants. The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of different intensities of tree thinning and subhabitat differentiation on the grass layer of a semi-arid South African savanna.

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The Influence of Tree Thinning and Subhabitat Differentiation on Panicum Maximum and Urochloa Mosambicensis of a Bush Encroached Semi-Arid Savanna in South Africa

The productivity of grasses is most important for herbivores in extensive semi-arid savannas. In these areas an increase in woody plant abundance, commonly referred to as bush encroachment, suppresses grasses. This is the main reason why landowners often consider thinning or even total clearing of all woody plants. The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of different intensities of tree thinning and subhabitat differentiation on the grass layer of a semi-arid South African savanna.