Article
Ecology
Francis M. Rowney, Ralph M. Fyfe, Leonard Baker, Henry French, Martha B. Koot, Havananda Ombashi, Rhys G. O. Timms
Summary: Upland moorlands in Europe have been degraded due to human activities, and their protection and restoration are important. An analysis of paleoecological data from upland peatland sites on Exmoor in the UK revealed that drainage in the 19th century led to decreases in Sphagnum and non-arboreal taxon richness, while burning and grazing were associated with changes in vegetation abundance and taxon richness over longer timescales. Restoration activities aiming to increase Sphagnum abundances, taxon richness, and reduce graminoid dominance align with the long-term dynamics of peatland systems.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Kenneth R. Young
Summary: Savanna landscapes are influenced by various factors, including tree-grass interactions, fire regimes, predator-prey relations, etc. By examining the consequences of elephant hunting in Botswana, broader generalizations about the dynamics of savanna landscapes can be made, with some of these implications potentially applicable across global contexts.
Article
Plant Sciences
Adele C. M. Julier, Glynis J. Humphrey, Caitlin Dixon, Lindsey Gillson
Summary: The relationships between woody vegetation cover and fire, climate, herbivory, and human activities in African savanna ecosystems are complex. Fire suppression policies implemented in a national park in northeast Namibia from 1888 to 2005 did not lead to noticeable decreases in fire or enhanced tree recruitment, suggesting that fire occurrence in savanna ecosystems is more closely linked to climate than management. Fire management should adapt to rainfall variability and integrate customs of early dry season burning.
REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Stephen J. Gallagher, Barbara E. Wagstaff
Summary: Research indicates that the monsoon and continental dust in the northwest Australian sea are key factors frequenting the region's climate and sediment. Palynological analysis over the past 300,000 years reveals the sediment characteristics and climate changes during interglacial and glacial periods, as well as the presence of charcoal residue indicating the continuous impact of fires in the region prior to human entry 65,000 years ago.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Sadhan K. Basumatary, Eline N. van Asperen, H. Gregory Mcdonald, Swati Tripathi, Rajib Gogoi
Summary: The main aim of this study is to produce a modern analog for pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) preserved in soil in relation to the different vegetation types and herbivore impact in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP). The pollen data obtained reflects both the extant vegetation types in each habitat as well as landuse, but some site-by-site variation was observed with respect to the coprophilous fungal spores present in the palynoassemblage. The long-term association of the wildlife and their impact on different vegetation types is one of the main reasons for the variation seen in the depositional pattern in the assemblage.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stefanie Gilles, Meike Meinzer, Maria Landgraf, Franziska Kolek, Susanne von Bargen, Kaja Pack, Athanasios Charalampopoulos, Surendra Ranpal, Daria Luschkova, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Susanne Jochner-Oette, Athanasios Damialis, Carmen Buettner
Summary: Viruses are a common biocontaminant in healthy plants and can be caused by environmental stress such as urbanization, air pollution, and climate change. This study found that worsened air quality and fewer green areas may increase the frequency of viral infections in birch trees. The presence of two viruses, Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV) and a newly discovered birch idaeovirus (BIV), was determined in pollen samples from birch trees in Germany. The occurrence of BIV was found to be influenced by the urban index and NO2 levels, particularly in urban birch trees near high-traffic roads.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Ilse M. Kamerling, J. Edward Schofield, Kevin J. Edwards
Summary: Analysis of high-resolution pollen data, coprophilous fungal spores, microscopic charcoal and sedimentology, combined with radiocarbon dating, allows assessment of the impact of Sami and Nordic land use in the region around the winter market town of Lycksele in northern Sweden. Research suggests increased regional presence of grazing herbivores (possibly reindeer) between circa AD 800 and 1100, but little evidence of pre-seventeenth century agricultural activity.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Veronica Muiruri, Rob Marchant, Stephen M. Rucina, Louis Scott, Paul J. Lane
Summary: East African ecosystems have been shaped by long-term socio-ecological-environmental interactions, with beneficial connections between people and ecosystems particularly in savanna environments. Limited information and understanding of past interactions between humans and ecosystems of periods longer than a century hampers effective management of contemporary environments.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Arundhati A. Das, Maria Thaker, Corli Coetsee, Rob Slotow, Abi T. Vanak
Summary: Over a 12-year period, a study in Kruger National Park found that the cumulative mortality rate of large trees was 47.6%, with an annual mortality rate ranging from 3-5% between 2006 and 2015 and increasing to 8.8% in 2018. The main factor attributed to tree mortality was elephant damage, occurring either once or across multiple census periods.
Article
Ecology
Megan P. Singleton, Andrea E. Thode, Andrew J. Sanchez Meador, Jose M. Iniguez, Jens T. Stevens
Summary: The study examined the spatial patterns of high-severity fire patches in forests managed for ecological/resource benefit and fully suppressed fires, finding that suppression fires showed greater patch homogeneity. All spatial pattern metrics were significantly related to fire size and percent high-severity fire for both management strategies. Temporal trends in suppression fires have shifted towards smaller, more complex, fragmented patches since the early 2000s.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zachary L. Steel, Alissa M. Fogg, Ryan Burnett, L. Jay Roberts, Hugh D. Safford
Summary: Wildfires are creating large high-severity patches far from undisturbed habitats, impacting bird communities. Community richness decreases with distance and patch size, while increasing with years since fire. Large high-severity patch interiors contain subsets, rather than complements, of edge communities, leading to shifts in avian diversity and community composition.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Karin Amsten, Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt, Dries P. J. Kuijper, Jenny M. Loberg, Marcin Churski, Mats Niklasson
Summary: Fire and herbivory are fundamental processes that can strongly influence the recruitment of European temperate tree saplings. Different tree species showed varying responses to these disturbances, with some exhibiting tolerance and others opting for avoidance strategies. The experiment conducted in a wood-pasture highlighted the potential importance of fire and herbivory as drivers of structure and species composition in open ecosystems in temperate Europe in the past.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Devan Allen McGranahan, Carissa L. Wonkka, Sadikshya Dangi, Jonathan W. Spiess, Benjamin Geaumont
Summary: This study investigated the effects of grassland wildfires on soil heating, nutrients, and microbes in the northern Great Plains of North America. The results showed that the ammonium and nitrate levels in the soil increased immediately after the fires, while the abundance and composition of soil microbes remained unchanged. These findings suggest that well-managed wildfires can enhance the ecological function of grasslands without causing soil degradation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Natashi A. L. Pilon, Mario G. B. Cava, William A. Hoffmann, Rodolfo C. R. Abreu, Alessandra Fidelis, Giselda Durigan
Summary: Understanding how ground-layer plant communities respond to fire in savanna ecosystems is crucial for conservation. This study found that prescribed fire can change community structure in the short term, but most species recover quickly, showing resilience to fire. Recovery involved different strategies grouped into five functional groups, providing valuable insights for conservation and restoration efforts in fire-resilient ecosystems in the cerrado.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Debra A. Willard, Leslie F. Ruppert
Summary: This paper expands the description of sedimentary organic matter from coal petrography to include palynological and geochemical sedimentary organic matter. It demonstrates the use of palynological and geochemical analysis in understanding patterns and impacts of changing climate and fire regimes, as well as evaluating anthropogenic impacts on Earth and supporting forensics investigations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Glynis Joy Humphrey, Lindsey Gillson, Gina Ziervogel
Summary: This study examines the perceptions and practices of fire management among different communities and stakeholders in Bwabwata National Park. Results indicate that colonial policies had a lasting impact on traditional fire practices and the Khwe and Mbukushu communities utilize fires for various livelihood activities. Park management is responsible for late season fire management.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Lindsey Gillson, Anneli Ekblom
Article
Environmental Sciences
Abraham N. Dabengwa, Lindsey Gillson, William J. Bond
Summary: The study conducted in a South African mountain valley grassland over the past 1250 years suggests that a tallgrass phase, maintained by climate, people, and fire, replaced a shortgrass phase driven by indigenous herbivores. The tallgrass phase had unpalatable grasses and disturbed soil, which were linked to climate change and arrival of pastoralists. The results indicate that human activities may undermine grassland resilience, making it difficult to reverse some changes.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Michel Notelid, Anneli Ekblom
Summary: This paper discusses household vulnerability in Limpopo National Park (LNP) in relation to climate variability and the impacts of the park itself. Factors such as migrant labor, cattle production, illegal wildlife trade, and hunting bans all contribute to the vulnerability of households to climate change and other challenges. Strategies for resilience and potential avenues for transformation are explored in light of these complex issues.
Article
Geography, Physical
Estelle Razanatsoa, Lindsey Gillson, Malika Virah-Sawmy, Stephan Woodborne
Summary: Madagascar experienced environmental changes during the Late-Holocene, with the transition from forest-dominant vegetation to grass-dominant communities over the last millennium due to the combined effects of climate variability and increasing human activities. The data from the study shows that drier conditions around AD 950 initiated the changes in vegetation structure, leading to an open ecosystem at present. Subsequent changes in subsistence activities further maintained an open-structured ecosystem characterized by increased abundance of grass and pioneer taxa.
Article
Ecology
Glynis Humphrey, Conor Eastment, Lindsey Gillson, M. Timm Hoffman
Summary: This study assessed vegetation cover in Bwabwata National Park, northeast Namibia, and found that over the past two decades, trees declined while the shrub-grass mosaic vegetation type increased. The variation in woody cover estimates is attributed to different fire management practices in the eastern and western parts of the park. This has implications for biodiversity, people's livelihoods, and tourism in the area.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF RANGE & FORAGE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Abraham N. Dabengwa, Sally Archibald, Jemma Finch, Louis Scott, Lindsey Gillson, William J. Bond
Summary: This study discusses the importance of prehistoric sedimentary charcoal studies in African grassy biomes, and how they provide long-term data for fire ecology and ecosystem functioning. This contribution aims to assist stakeholders in improving and managing grassy ecosystems effectively.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF RANGE & FORAGE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Conor Eastment, Glynis Humphrey, Michael Timm Hoffman, Lindsey Gillson
Summary: This study investigates the impact of bush encroachment on biodiversity conservation and tourism in Bwabwata National Park, Namibia. The research shows that woody vegetation has increased by 13% since 1999 and that both early- and late-season fires are effective in managing bush encroachment. The study recommends using early dry-season fires to reduce encroachment rates and maintain a heterogeneous vegetation structure.
JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lindsey Gillson, Cherie Dirk, Peter Gell
Summary: Landscapes undergo changes over time due to various interacting drivers, with climate, disturbance, and land-use all playing a role in shaping ecosystem structure and function. Long-term data is crucial to understanding recent changes and planning appropriate restoration responses. Knowledge of ecological function can inform management decisions that account for ecosystem history and resilience.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lindsey Gillson
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sheona Shackleton, Anna Taylor, Louise Gammage, Lindsey Gillson, Nadia Sitas, Nadine Methner, Shayan Barmand, Jessica Thorn, Alice McClure, Leigh Cobban, Astrid Jarre, Oghenekaro Nelson Odume
Summary: The transformations required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa demand new ways of mobilizing, weaving together, and applying knowledge. The co-production of knowledge across disciplines and with non-academic actors offers a promising approach to foster such transformations. However, disciplinary and sectoral silos persist and TD is not well embedded in African academic institutions, hindering effective research. There is an urgent need to work collectively across disciplines and society to strengthen collaborative, impactful research and support relationship building for transformation towards sustainability.
ECOSYSTEMS AND PEOPLE
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Sabine Prader, Lindsey Gillson, Brian M. Chase, M. Timm Hoffman
Summary: Fynbos and afrotemperate forest coexist as stable states in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. In recent decades, there has been an expansion of afrotemperate forest in parts of Table Mountain National Park. This study aimed to investigate the drivers of this change and determine whether it is a recovery from previous forest clearance or a result of fire suppression policies. Analysis of sediments from Orange Kloof revealed fluctuations in forest cover over the past 3690 years, influenced by climate and human activities. The expansion of forest in the 20th century is likely due to fire suppression and recovery from past clearance, calling for appropriate fire management to prevent further expansion.
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Shreya Chakrabarti, Anneli Ekblom
Summary: The study reveals that partner conservancies in the Maasai Mara wildlife region took different measures to secure lease payments and salaries, such as staff rotation, attracting international funding, and developing domestic tourism. Landowners also explored alternative economic activities like cattle herding and diary production. The study emphasizes the positive role of domestic tourism and provides recommendations for alternative income sources and diversification strategies for the conservancies.
TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Joakim Wehlin, Magnus O. Ljunge, Petter I. Larsson, Sigrun Dogg Eddudottir, Anneli Ekblom, Jemt Anna Eriksson
Summary: The archaeological evidence in central Scandinavian boreal inlands suggests the presence of a sedentary hunter-gatherer society during the early metal ages, which has been previously overlooked. By combining archaeological data with landscape-scale changes, such as pollen records, the study reveals that domestication strategies and arable farming started in the Late Bronze Age and intensified in the Early Iron Age. This challenges previous assumptions about the farming practices in the area and emphasizes the importance of settled presence for domestication.
VEGETATION HISTORY AND ARCHAEOBOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Adele C. M. Julier, Glynis J. Humphrey, Caitlin Dixon, Lindsey Gillson
Summary: The relationships between woody vegetation cover and fire, climate, herbivory, and human activities in African savanna ecosystems are complex. Fire suppression policies implemented in a national park in northeast Namibia from 1888 to 2005 did not lead to noticeable decreases in fire or enhanced tree recruitment, suggesting that fire occurrence in savanna ecosystems is more closely linked to climate than management. Fire management should adapt to rainfall variability and integrate customs of early dry season burning.
REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY
(2024)