Large Tree Mortality in Kruger National Park

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Large Tree Mortality in Kruger National Park Tough times for large trees: Relative impacts of elephant and fire on large trees in Kruger National Park Graeme Shannon1, Maria Thaker1 Abi Tamim Vanak1, Bruce Page1, Rina Grant2, Rob Slotow1 1University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2Scientific Services, SANParks Shannon G., Thaker M, et al. 2011. Ecosystems 14: 1372-1381 Large trees in savanna ecosystems • Key role in ecosystem functioning – Keystone components – Nutrient pumps – Habitat heterogeneity – Increase biodiversity Damage to large trees: Role of elephant • Foliage utilisation • Breaking of large branches • Debarking • Pushing over Damage to large trees: Role of fire • Removal of lower crown biomass • Damage to tissues • Topkill Effect of elephant and fire: are they additive? • Elephant damage to trees makes them more susceptible to fire • Opening up of canopy increases fuel load – Higher intensity fires Understanding the patterns of damage • Determine impact of elephant, fire (main ecological drivers) and disease on large trees over a 30-month period subsequent to initial description • Particular focus on the independent and combined effects of previous impact on subsequent levels of impact and mortality Surveys of large trees • Transects: 2.5 years apart (Apr 2006, Nov 2008) • 22 Transects (67 km total) • Southern Kruger • N = 2522 trees (> 5 m height) 1st survey of large trees • location of individual trees (≥ 5 m height) • species, dimensions • use/impact by elephant (proportion tree volume removed) • fire damage (proportion tree volume removed) • disease (presence of wood borer, heart rot, etc) 2nd survey of large trees • each relocated tree assessed to determine additional level of impact by elephant, fire, disease • New trees that progressed into > 5m height class were included and assessed Damages by height class All trees 5.0-6.5 m 6.6-8.0 m 8.1- 9.5 m > 9.6 m 35 30 25 20 15 Percentage 10 5 0 Elephant Fire Disease Mortality Damages by height class All trees 5.0-6.5 m 6.6-8.0 m 8.1- 9.5 m > 9.6 m 35 30% 30 25 20 16% 15 Percentage 10 5 0 Elephant Fire Disease Mortality Damages by species Acacia nigrescens Spirostachys africana Sclerocarya birrea Combretum apiculatum Terminalia sericea 35 30 25 20 15 Percentage 10 5 0 Elephant Fire Disease Mortality Progression into ≥ 5m height class Heavy impact on Acacia, Combretum & Sclerocarya Acacia nigrescens Spirostachys africana Sclerocarya birrea Combretum apiculatum Terminalia sericea 35 * 30 25 * * * 20 * 15 * * * Percentage * 10 5 ** 0 * Elephant Fire Disease Mortality Progression into ≥ 5m height class No worries for Terminalia sericea Acacia nigrescens Spirostachys africana Sclerocarya birrea Combretum apiculatum Terminalia sericea 35 30 25 20 15 * Percentage 10 * 5 * * 0 Elephant Fire Disease Mortality Progression into ≥ 5m height class What have we learnt? • Mortality levels of large trees were 4.6% per annum • Mortality was double that of progression into the > 5 m height class • Pattern was species-specific – Mortality > progression for some palatable species (A. nigrescens, C. apiculatum, S. birrea) – Progression > mortality for less palatable species (S. africana, T. sericea) • At current rates of mortality and progression, composition and structure of large tree guild will change • Pattern is heterogenous across landscape - lowveld sour bushveld: highest levels of damage by fire and elephant (highest mortality) ** 3rd survey in March 2011 (7 years after 1st survey) Previous damage affects the amount of subsequent damage Repeated damage by elephant and fire Only fire Both Only (180) elephant No fire (318) or (1218) Fire in 2006 elephant No fire in 2006 (806) If no elephant and no fire damage in 2006, then little subsequent fire impact (180) (318) (1218) Fire in 2006 No fire in 2006 (806) If in 2006…fire only, elephant only or both, then subsequent impact by fire was similar Only fire Both Only (180) elephant (318) (1218) Fire in 2006 No fire in 2006 (806) Previous elephant and fire damage are not additive… Subsequent fire impact depended on species… • When A. nigrescens is utilised by only elephant, then subsequent tree volume removed by fire increases by 1.11 times – Elephant damage makes A. nigrescens vulnerable to fire damage – Certain areas with A. nigrescens were prone to fires • Tree volume removed by subsequent fire increases by 1.12 times for Spirostachys and 1.3 times for Combretum, but only if previously damaged by both elephant and fire – Double the type of damage results in similar further impact • Little effect of previous damage on subsequent tree volume removed by fire for Sclerocarya and Terminalia Tree volume removed by elephant was highest for trees that were previously burned but not elephant utilised (180) (318) (806) (1218) Fire in 2006 No fire in 2006 Elephant do not repeatedly target the same trees Effect of previous fire and elephant damage were not additive (180) Both fire and elephant (318) (806) (1218) Fire in 2006 No fire in 2006 Subsequent elephant utilisation was not double Subsequent elephant impact depended on species… • If a tree had previous fire damage, then tree volume subsequently removed by elephant increased – by 1.16 times in Sclerocarya and 1.23 times in A. nigrescens Elephants targeted burnt trees! • If a tree was previously utilised by elephant, then tree volume subsequently removed by elephant decreased – by 1.11 times in A. nigrescens and 1.18 times in Combretum Elephants did not repeatedly target the same trees! • Little effect of previous damage on subsequent tree volume removed by elephant for Spirostachys and Terminalia Type of elephant damage matters… Trouble starts once you are pushed over… 80 47 times more likely to die 60 25 times more likely to die 40 20 Probability of mortalityratio)of(Odds Probability 0 ― fire elephant disease ― fire elephant disease pushed over (2006) debarked (2006) Trouble starts once you are pushed over… 80 60 2 times 40 more likely to die 20 Probability of mortalityratio)of(Odds Probability 0 ― fire elephant disease ― fire elephant disease pushed over (2006) debarked (2006) Trouble starts once you are pushed over… 80 47 times more likely to die 60 25 times more likely to die 40 20 Probability of mortalityratio)of(Odds Probability 0 ― fire elephant disease ― fire elephant disease pushed over (2006) debarked (2006) Just debark me and leave please… 80 60 40 6 times more likely to die 20 Probability of mortalityratio)of(Odds Probability 0 ― fire elephant disease ― fire elephant disease pushed over (2006) debarked (2006) Just debark me and leave please… 80 60 2 times 40 more likely to die 20 Probability of mortalityratio)of(Odds Probability 0 ― fire elephant disease ― fire elephant disease pushed over (2006) debarked (2006) Just debark me and leave please… 80 60 40 6 times more likely to die 20 Probability of mortalityratio)of(Odds Probability 0 ― fire elephant disease ― fire elephant disease pushed over (2006) debarked (2006) What have we learnt? Repeated damage is a problem but sequence of events matters • Elephant did not target individual trees repeatedly – Diminishing returns to over-forage? • Elephant removed more volume from trees that were burned but not previously elephant utilised – fire events may be facilitating foraging behaviour at the plant-scale (post-fire flush?) Repeated damage is a problem but sequence of events matters • Intense utilisation by elephant is a bad start – probability of mortality was much higher for trees that suffered subsequent damage after being pushed over or debarked • Fire is the last straw – Fire was the leading cause of mortality for trees previously damaged by elephant Acknowledgements • Amarula Elephant Research Programme • UKZN Research Office • SANParks • National Research Foundation • Dave Druce • Alain Smith Strength of effect = odds ratio 10 9 8 7 Odds ratio 0.1 = 10 times less likely 6 5 4 Likelihood 3 Odds ratio 10 = 10 times more likely 2 1 0 1 5 10 Odds Ratio .
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