Archibald ecology lab

Permanent URI for this collection

https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/31390

Sally Archibald works on understanding the dynamics of savanna ecosystems in the context of global change. My work integrates field ecological data, remote sensing, modelling, and biogeochemistry. I am involved in collaborative research projects with Yale University, Edinburgh University and the University of Liverpool among others which variously work on fire-grazer interactions, inter-continental savanna comparisons, the importance of land-atmosphere feedbacks, and pursuing a global theory of fire. I am closely linked with research projects at the Global Change and Ecosystems group at the CSIR where I hold an affiliate position.

News

This collection archives data elsewhere published for long term data access and preservation

Browse

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1

Dataset from : Browsing is a strong filter for savanna tree seedlings in their first growing season
(ARCHIBALD ECOLOGY LAB, 2021-06-15) Archibald, Sally; Twine, Wayne; Mthabini, Craddock; Stevens, Nicola
1: Newly germinated seedlings are vulnerable to biomass removal but usually have at least six months to grow before they are exposed to dry-season fires, a major disturbance in savannas. In contrast, plants are exposed to browsers from the time they germinate, making browsing potentially a very powerful bottleneck for establishing seedlings. 2: Here we assess the resilience of seedlings of 10 savanna tree species to top-kill during the first 6 months of growth. Newly-germinated seeds from four dominant African genera from across the rainfall gradient were planted in a common garden experiment at the Wits Rural Facility and clipped at 1 cm when they were ~2, 3, 4, and 5 months old. Survival, growth, and key plant traits were monitored for the following 2.5 years. 3: Seedlings from environments with high herbivory pressure survived top-kill at a younger age than those from low-herbivore environments, and more palatable genera had higher herbivore-tolerance. Most individuals that survived were able to recover lost biomass within 12 months, but the clipping treatment affected root mass fraction and branching patterns. 4: Synthesis: The impact of early browsing as a demographic bottleneck can be predicted by integrating information on the probability of being browsed and the probability of surviving a browse event. Establishment limitation through early-browsing is an under-recognised constraint on savanna tree species distributions. Data may be used without requesting permission after the J Ecology paper is published and in the public domain (estimated after October 2021).

Browse

Recent Submissions