TITLE:
Woodland Conversion by Elephants in Africa: The Search for Causal Factors, Processes, Mechanisms and Management Strategies
AUTHORS:
Paul Zyambo
KEYWORDS:
Biodiversity, Density, Elephants, Grasslands, Herbivores, Woodland Conversion
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.6 No.2,
January
27,
2016
ABSTRACT: The impacts of elephants on woodlands have triggered concerns that elephants
were converting woodlands to grasslands in African savannas leading to the loss
of biodiversity. Therefore, the objectives of the study are to identify the
causes, processes and impacts of woodland conversion by elephants and thereby
propose a guideline for formulating management strategies. The study is
conducted through reviewing published documents on elephant-woodland
interaction, factors, mechanisms and processes of woodland conversion to
grasslands and impacts on biodiversity have been identified. The study reveals
that: 1) the large nutritional and energetic requirements by elephants and high
elephant population densities are two driving forces that may cause elephants
to convert woodlands to grasslands; 2) the process of woodland conversion is
not just elephant-tree interaction, but usually included other agents such as
fires, droughts or other herbivores. Woodlands are converted to grasslands or
scrublands because elephants, fires, droughts and other herbivores prevent
recruitment of tree to larger class sizes and regeneration of seedlings of
woody plants; 3) whereas there are few studies that support biodiversity
decline due to impacts of elephants on woodlands, there are studies that
indicate woodland disturbance by elephants have benefited and increased
diversity of other species. It is concluded that woodland disturbance by
elephant is not always detrimental to biodiversity, but may create
heterogeneity and suitable habitats for other species. In formulating
management strategies, considerations must be made to elephant densities, other
agents that interact or work with elephants in woodland conversion and the
benefits of woodland changes to biodiversity due to elephants.