Preface to the Special Issue on African Flora in a Changing World: Integrating multiple dimensions of diversity DOI Open Access
A. Muthama Muasya, Jasper A. Slingsby, G. Anthony Verboom

et al.

Annals of Botany, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 133(5-6), P. 643 - 648

Published: April 4, 2024

Africa is home to globally important biodiversity.Straddling the equator and extending temperate latitudes (at 37°N 34°S; not including oceanic islands such as Marion Prince Edward), continent accommodates a variety of ecosystems biomes, tropical forests, savanna montane grasslands, deserts, Mediterranean-type (Olson et al., 2011;Linder, 2014).The has remained relatively stable in Cenozoic period (66 2.5 million years ago, Ma), despite dramatic geological events, shifting coastlines, volcanism formation rift valley (Couvreur 2021).Africa rich diversity vascular plants, with over 65 000 species recorded on its surrounding (Qian 2021).This equates approximately 18.5% plant (Antonelli 2023).However, efforts catalogue African composition are uneven, certain regions (e.g.tropical east central Africa) being well catalogued others (e.g.Sudan) barely explored (Marshal 2016).At same time, increased ecological evolutionary research points varied patterns diversification assembly flora; however, there lack wider consolidation disparate knowledge.This Special Issue aims bring together pan-African build holistic synthesis knowledge ecology evolution plants.

Language: Английский

Viability and desirability of financing conservation in Africa through fire management DOI

Tony Knowles,

Nicola Stevens, Esther Ekua Amoako

et al.

Nature Sustainability, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Fire facilitates ground layer plant diversity in a Miombo ecosystem DOI Creative Commons
Jakub D. Wieczorkowski, Caroline E. R. Lehmann, Sally Archibald

et al.

Annals of Botany, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 133(5-6), P. 743 - 756

Published: March 4, 2024

Abstract Background and Aims Little is known about the response of ground layer plant communities to fire in Miombo ecosystems, which a global blind spot ecological understanding. We aimed: (1) assess impact three experimentally imposed treatments on species composition compare it with patterns observed for trees; (2) analyse effect richness how responses differ among functional groups. Methods At 60-year-long experiment Zambia, we quantified diversity plants terms taxa groups across experimental late dry-season fire, early exclusion. Data were collected five repeat surveys from onset wet season dry season. Key Results Of 140 recorded treatments, fire-maintained contributed most diversity, least number unique found no-fire treatment. The early-fire treatment was more similar than late-fire C4 grass geoxyle highest treatment, there no shared sedge between other treatments. plot level, average twice that exclusion Conclusions Heterogeneity seasonality intensity supports flora by providing local environments. African ecosystems face rapid expansion land- fire-management schemes carbon offsetting sequestration. demonstrate analyses impacts such predicated tree alone are highly likely underestimate biodiversity. A research priority must be new understanding integrated into policy land management.

Language: Английский

Citations

5
What to expect from restored Cerrado grasslands? Indicators and reference values from pristine ecosystems DOI Open Access
Bruna H. Campos, Natashi A. L. Pilon, Giselda Durigan

et al.

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 20, 2025

Open ecosystems are disappearing worldwide, requiring urgent restoration efforts. However, limited knowledge of their structure and composition hinders the assessment success. We aimed to establish reference values for plant community attributes in undisturbed native grasslands guide restoration. In an unprecedented data collection, we sampled 14 remnants under different climate, soil, fire regimes, representing a broad portion Brazilian savanna (except least converted northern). assessed composition, richness at scales, ground cover by functional groups, aboveground biomass. From 794 species recorded, half were unique occurrences, few present over 70% areas. Richness ranged from 9 22 species/m 2 53 130 30 m . Grasses (22–80%) non‐grasses (9–45%) did not entirely, leaving 4–56% exposed. Biomass 57 715 g/m Because is variable, finding “reference set” whole Cerrado possible. Regional subsets key guilds recommended instead. The number good proxy diversity, species/30 total richness. unreliable indicator due natural range independent integrity. maximum biomass, however, should never be surpassed. Structural targets include grasses, non‐grasses, bare soil within range, but achieving pristine may unrealistic most cases. Strong efforts focus on conservation rather than restoration, once recovering all reference's difficult.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Resilience of the Miombo Woodland to Different Fire Frequencies in the LevasFlor Forest Concession, Central Mozambique DOI Open Access

Osvaldo M. Meneses,

Natasha Ribeiro, Zeinab Shirvani

et al.

Forests, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(1), P. 10 - 10

Published: Dec. 24, 2024

Fires play a significant role in shaping the Miombo woodlands. Understanding how fire affects region’s resilience is crucial for ensuring its sustainability. This study evaluated plant composition and structure across different frequencies woodlands of LevasFlor Forest Concession (LFC), central Mozambique. Fire frequency clusters-high (HFF), moderate (MFF), low (LFF)-were identified using 21-year remote-sensing dataset. In each cluster, 90 random sampling plots were established (30 per cluster). plot, diameter at breast height (DBH) total saplings trees measured. Subplots used to count identify seedlings, herbs, climbers, grasses. Plant species richness, evenness,—diversity, importance value index (IVI), similarity computed assess composition. For structure, stem density, biomass, basal area, diameter, assessed. A 124 species-including trees, saplings, grasses-were three clusters. The Bray-Curtis Dissimilarity Index, tested with an ANOSIM test, revealed differences among clusters (p < 0.0003), overall average dissimilarity 71.98%. HFF fire-tolerant five highest IVI, while fire-sensitive predominated LFF. Additionally, Kruskal-Wallis test indicated seedling density 0.005) between LFF other However, overall, attributes suggested that current regime does not significantly compromise LFC. Still, it essential concentrate management conservation efforts on seedlings some key species, such as Brachystegia spiciformis, whose ecology particularly affected by fire.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Preface to the Special Issue on African Flora in a Changing World: Integrating multiple dimensions of diversity DOI Open Access
A. Muthama Muasya, Jasper A. Slingsby, G. Anthony Verboom

et al.

Annals of Botany, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 133(5-6), P. 643 - 648

Published: April 4, 2024

Africa is home to globally important biodiversity.Straddling the equator and extending temperate latitudes (at 37°N 34°S; not including oceanic islands such as Marion Prince Edward), continent accommodates a variety of ecosystems biomes, tropical forests, savanna montane grasslands, deserts, Mediterranean-type (Olson et al., 2011;Linder, 2014).The has remained relatively stable in Cenozoic period (66 2.5 million years ago, Ma), despite dramatic geological events, shifting coastlines, volcanism formation rift valley (Couvreur 2021).Africa rich diversity vascular plants, with over 65 000 species recorded on its surrounding (Qian 2021).This equates approximately 18.5% plant (Antonelli 2023).However, efforts catalogue African composition are uneven, certain regions (e.g.tropical east central Africa) being well catalogued others (e.g.Sudan) barely explored (Marshal 2016).At same time, increased ecological evolutionary research points varied patterns diversification assembly flora; however, there lack wider consolidation disparate knowledge.This Special Issue aims bring together pan-African build holistic synthesis knowledge ecology evolution plants.

Language: Английский

Citations

1