Elephants, woodlands and biodiversity in southern Africa.

摘要: When elephant densities exceed approximately 0.5 per km[2], savanna woodlands are generally converted to shrub-lands or grasslands. The impact of such elephant-mediated habitat change on biodiversity in African game reserves has seldom been measured. We examined species richness woody plants, birds, bats, mantises and ants where elephants had destroyed the miombo woodland adjacent but intact outside reserves. Species birds was significantly lower removed tree canopy. Our findings may have important policy implications for conserving many face rapidly growing populations (approximately 5% annum). problem is further compounded by international public pressures against reducing within while, these protected areas, their associated faunas being lost agriculture. Where then will refugia habitat-sensitive exist if not region's largest areas?