Themeda triandra has bigeniculate hygroscopic lemma seed awns that twist when wet and drying, thereby transporting the caryopsis across the soil surface into suitable germination microsites. The prediction that awns would be longer in drier grassland and have greater motility to enable them to move quickly and farther to find scarce germination sites was tested in KwaZulu-Natal. Awns (n = 100) were

The coexistence of a large herbivore community depends on the degree of overlap in the resource used by the different species composing it. We investigated the role of grass greenness, height, biomass and feeding patch status on feeding patch selection by ruminant black and blue wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou, Connochaetes taurinus), red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) and non-ruminant plains zebra

Rangeland management approaches, including rotational grazing, rely on assumptions about plant growth responses to the intensity, or severity (sward height) plus frequency, of defoliation. We tested these assumptions at the farm, patch and plant scale using data from a grazing management trial in an Eastern Cape mesic grassland of South Africa along with field plot and glasshouse pot experiments. The

Large herbivores form an essential component in the ecosystem, because of the impact that they have on their surrounding habitat. In this study, we aimed to evaluate some of the mechanisms behind how herbivores select forage at a patch scale. Thirty-six experimental plots were established and fitted with camera traps in Kruger National Park to test forage selectivity by grazers. Plots were manipulated

In order to improve crop productivity, farmers should have strategies for higher quantity and quality of forage without excessive inputs, like irrigation water. In order to assess forage quality of Amaranthus caudatus in response to irrigation levels (irrigation after 70, 140 and 210 mm of evaporation from class A pan) as main plots and foliar sprays of abscisic acid (ABA; 50 μM), salicylic acid (SA;

Invasive alien plants (IAPs) compromise the productive capability of a land parcel from both an economic and a biodiversity perspective. Given the magnitude of degradation and the benefits of landscape-scale restoration, a unified approach among stakeholders is required to upscale restoration efforts. Seeking such an approach, we compare the efficiencies of two restoration and land use models for the

In livestock-based livelihoods of the developing world, determination of the nutritive value of browse species is mainly associated with farmer perceptions. Additionally, little is known on seasonal variation in nutritive value of these species in some areas. Therefore, chemical analysis is necessary to validate farmer nutritive value ranking, because this has implications on rangeland management.

(2020). Livestock predation and its management in South Africa: A scientific assessment. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 243-244.

(2020). Aboveground-Belowground Community Ecology. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 245-246.

Revegetation of marginalised rangelands using pastoral halophytes is considered an appropriate scientific and environmental approach to rehabilitation. Atriplex halimus L. (Amaranthaceae), A. mollis Desf. (Amaranthaceae), Cenchrus ciliaris L. (Poaceae) and Lotus creticus L. (Fabaceae) are promising species for arid rangeland rehabilitation, because of their adaptation and palatability. Dry biomass

(2020). The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing II. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 197-198.

(2020). Aboveground-Belowground Community Ecology. African Journal of Range & Forage Science. Ahead of Print.

We investigated application of MaxEnt, a one-class classifier, in mapping the spatial distribution of Colophospermum mopane, Dichrostachys cinerea and Salvadora persica using drainage, elevation, slope, soil and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index as environmental variables. Model performance was evaluated based on the area under the ROC curve (AUC), Kappa and Total Skills Statistic. The AUC results

The potential for forage accumulated during periodic long rests to provide valuable winter grazing for livestock in heavily stocked communal rangelands in sourveld was assessed. In a continuously-grazed commonage at Ntshiqo in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, we measured seasonal patterns of biomass accumulation and forage quality under a short season rest (October–January), a full summer rest (October–June)

The study aimed to elucidating the seasonal variations of copper (Cu2+) and zinc (Zn2+) contents occurring in Atriplex canescens shrubs, as well as in surrounding soil. Cu and Zn concentrations were determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Data were compared with those reported in other Atriplex species from different regions of the world. The results disclosed that the highest plant

In the Nama-Karoo, South Africa, rainfall and grazing by livestock are two important drivers of botanical composition. Summer rains are advantageous particularly to the grass layer, whereas the characteristic dwarf shrubs survive better than grasses during drought, and benefit from rainfall during cool months. Heavy grazing by livestock during summer reduces the abundance of grasses, whereas winter

The objective of this study was to evaluate storage methods of cactus pear as a way of conservation for use in animal feeding. The randomised experimental design composed twelve treatments and three replications. Three cactus pear genotypes, Nopalea cochenillifera genotype Doce and Baiana and Opuntia tuna genotype Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM), were stored in natura (0, 30 and 60 days after harvest)

(2020). Context and complexity: response to Fabricius review of ‘Complex Ecology’. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 141-142.

(2020). Desertification: Past, Current and Future Trends. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 37, Droughts in South African savannas, pp. 139-140.

(2020). Drought: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 37, Droughts in South African savannas, pp. 137-138.

Drought studies are often opportunistic and post hoc, where a drought fortuitously occurs during a research project that was not specifically designed to study the drought, but where researchers capitalised on the opportunity. These studies often lack focus on formulating and studying ‘drought specific’ research questions. By learning from observations during droughts, research gaps can be identified

The Lowveld of South Africa, a savanna biome region economically dominated by nature tourism, has experienced a prolonged dry period beginning in approximately 2015. Despite emerging literature on climate and tourism in southern Africa, the challenges to tourism in the region as a result of the drought remain under explored. This paper quantifies the extent of the reduction in precipitation during

Despite the size of the informal small-scale farming sector and its livestock holdings in South Africa, there has been little detailed work to assess how livestock populations are affected by drought. South Africa experienced a major drought in 2015–2016. We analysed goat and cattle census data from the Msinga area in KwaZulu-Natal, which represent the livestock of some 3 000 households. Cattle farmers

Protected areas (PAs) adjacent to the Kruger National Park (KNP) are divided into fenced and unfenced properties. We discuss land-use development to provide context of how these savannas have evolved over the past century. Although the PAs have embraced the basic philosophies of the KNP management approach and have similar high-level objectives, they function at different spatial, and consequently

Droughts are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity for large parts of Africa. It is unclear how this may impact native grazers in protected areas, and how these outcomes may differ under contrasting management approaches. Reducing artificial water sources and increasing the size of protected areas have been proposed as management responses that could possibly increase system resilience and

Projected increases in the frequency and severity of drought events are expected to impose changes in the ecology of native forb communities in semi-arid ecosystems. We examined the state of forb communities during, and directly after an extreme drought event across two contrasting land-use types, which included a protected area (high diversity of free roaming wild herbivores) and communal rangeland

Drought is often discussed as a major perturbation in savanna ecosystems, associated with lasting shifts in savanna structure and functioning. However, historically, droughts have occurred frequently in southern African savannas, suggesting that plants might benefit from being resilient to drought. Here, we evaluate whether the 2014–2016 drought was an extreme event in terms of effects on the herbaceous

Drought is thought to be a factor limiting the abundance of shrubs and trees in savannas, but this has rarely been tested empirically. The severe drought of 2014–2016 provided an opportunity to document the impact of drought on the mortality of woody plants in semi-arid savannas of South Africa. Annual data from long-term tree monitoring plots were combined with opportunistic sampling in areas of high

Droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe, due to climate change, with uncertain consequences for savanna vegetation. Drought-driven tree mortality has been observed in some savannas, but little is known about how tolerant savanna trees are to drought, or what determines differences among species in drought vulnerability. Here, we examine which characteristics best distinguished tree

Associated with the 2015/2016 El Niño, extreme drought occurred over the Lowveld of South Africa. The area includes the Kruger National Park (KNP). Significant die-offs of a mega herbivore species occurred, corroborated by census data in KNP. The drought situation and impact were likely exacerbated by a frequency of recorded extreme temperatures never observed before together with increased numbers

(2020). Special Issue: Drought in South African savannas. African Journal of Range & Forage Science: Vol. 37, Droughts in South African savannas, pp. iii-v.

Livestock farming in communal areas is an activity pursued by rural households as one of a range of livelihood strategies aimed at spreading risk. The cash and non-cash benefits derived from livestock, as well as the wide range of secondary resources harvested from communal rangelands, make an important contribution to livelihood diversification, and hence, resilience. Rural development policy should