The consequences of replacing wildlife with livestock in Africa

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dc.citation.doi10.1038/s41598-017-17348-4en_ZA
dc.citation.issue1en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHempson, G.P.
dc.contributor.authorArchibald, S.
dc.contributor.authorBond, W.J.
dc.date.accessioned2019-11-14T13:38:33Z
dc.date.available2019-11-14T13:38:33Z
dc.date.issued2017-12-01
dc.description.abstractThe extirpation of native wildlife species and widespread establishment of livestock farming has dramatically distorted large mammal herbivore communities across the globe. Ecological theory suggests that these shifts in the form and the intensity of herbivory have had substantial impacts on a range of ecosystem processes, but for most ecosystems it is impossible to quantify these changes accurately. We address these challenges using species-level biomass data from sub-Saharan Africa for both present day and reconstructed historical herbivore communities. Our analyses reveal pronounced herbivore biomass losses in wetter areas and substantial biomass increases and functional type turnover in arid regions. Fire prevalence is likely to have been altered over vast areas where grazer biomass has transitioned to above or below the threshold at which grass fuel reduction can suppress fire. Overall, shifts in the functional composition of herbivore communities promote an expansion of woody cover. Total herbivore methane emissions have more than doubled, but lateral nutrient diffusion capacity is below 5% of past levels. The release of fundamental ecological constraints on herbivore communities in arid regions appears to pose greater threats to ecosystem function than do biomass losses in mesic regions, where fire remains the major consumer.en_ZA
dc.description.librarianNLBen_ZA
dc.funderGPH was supported by South African DST/NRF Global Change Grand Challenge Grant #92464. SA was supported by the USAID/NAS programme Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (Sub-Grant 2000004946, Cycle 3). Tristan Charles-Dominique provided valuable feedback on an earlier version of the manuscripten_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHempson, G.P., Archibald, S. and Bond, W.J., 2017. The consequences of replacing wildlife with livestock in Africa. Scientific reports, 7(1), Article number 17196.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2045-2322(electronic)
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/28443
dc.journal.titleScientific Reportsen_ZA
dc.journal.volume7en_ZA
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherScientific Reportsen_ZA
dc.rights© The Author(s) 2017en_ZA
dc.subjectAfricaen_ZA
dc.subjectanimalen_ZA
dc.subjectbiomassen_ZA
dc.subjectchemistryen_ZA
dc.subjectdiffusionen_ZA
dc.subjectenvironmental protectionen_ZA
dc.subjectgreenhouse gasen_ZA
dc.subjectherbivoryen_ZA
dc.subjectlife stocken_ZA
dc.subjectmetabolismen_ZA
dc.subjectwild animalen_ZA
dc.titleThe consequences of replacing wildlife with livestock in Africaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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