Fine‐scale habitat heterogeneity influences browsing damage by elephant and giraffe

• DOI: 10.1111/btp.12848
• Publication Date: 2020-09-21T07:21:06Z
• Authors: Duncan M. Kimuyu; David Kenfack; Paul M. Musili; Robert O. Ang’ila
• Keywords: Edaphic; Spatial heterogeneity

Abstract Effects of large mammalian herbivores on woody vegetation tend to be heterogeneous in space and time, but the factors that drive such heterogeneity are poorly understood. We examined influence fine‐scale habitat distribution browsing effects two largest African terrestrial mammals, elephant giraffe. conducted this study within a 120‐ha (500 x 2,400 m) ForestGEO long‐term monitoring plot located at Mpala Research Center, Kenya. The traverses three distinct topographic habitats (“plateau,” “steep slopes,” “valley”) with contrasting elevation, slope, soil properties, composition. To quantify damage, we focused Acacia mellifera , palatable tree species occurs across categories. Overall density, richness, diversity were highest steep slopes lowest plateau. trees tallest had number stems per slopes. Both giraffe avoided slopes, their activity was higher during wet season than dry season. Browsing damage Elephant valley, whereas Our findings suggest is an important factor predicting may interact other drivers as edaphic variations local variation structure