An overview of nitrogen cycling in a semiarid savanna: Some implications for management and conservation in a large African park

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dc.contributor.authorCoetsee C.
dc.contributor.authorJacobs S.
dc.contributor.authorGovender N.
dc.date.accessioned2012-04-12T08:21:19Z
dc.date.available2012-04-12T08:21:19Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractNitrogen (N) is a major control on primary productivity and hence on the productivity and diversity of secondary producers and consumers. As such, ecosystem structure and function cannot be understood without a comprehensive understanding of N cycling and dynamics. This overview describes the factors that govern N distribution and dynamics and the consequences that variable N dynamics have for structure, function and thresholds of potential concern (TPCs) for management of a semiarid southern African savanna. We focus on the Kruger National Park (KNP), a relatively intact savanna, noted for its wide array of animal and plant species and a prized tourist destination. KNP's large size ensures integrity of most ecosystem processes and much can be learned about drivers of ecosystem structure and function using this park as a baseline. Our overview shows that large scale variability in substrates exists, but do not necessarily have predictable consequences for N cycling. The impact of major drivers such as fire is complex; at a landscape scale little differences in stocks and cycling were found, though at a smaller scale changes in woody cover can lead to concomitant changes in total N. Contrasting impacts of browsers and grazers on N turnover has been recorded. Due to the complexity of this ecosystem, we conclude that it will be complicated to draw up TPCs for most transformations and pools involved with the N cycle. However, we highlight in which cases the development of TPCs will be possible. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
dc.identifier.citationEnvironmental Management
dc.identifier.citation49
dc.identifier.citation2
dc.identifier.citation387
dc.identifier.citation402
dc.identifier.issn0364152X
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s00267-011-9779-0
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20570
dc.subjectEcosystem management
dc.subjectElephants
dc.subjectFire
dc.subjectHerbivores
dc.subjectMineralisation
dc.subjectSavanna
dc.subjectTotal soil N
dc.titleAn overview of nitrogen cycling in a semiarid savanna: Some implications for management and conservation in a large African park
dc.typeReview
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