Woody Vegetation Dynamics in a Protected African Savanna: Insights From Vegetation Resurvey of the Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe

IF 2 3区环境科学与生态学 Q3 ECOLOGY

Applied Vegetation Science Pub Date : 2025-04-08 DOI:10.1111/avsc.70020

Bob Mandinyenya, Robert Cunliffe, Riccardo Testolin, Fabio Attorre

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Abstract

Aims

This study assessed changes in woody vegetation cover, richness, diversity, and species composition in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) between 2010 and 2023, focusing on the impacts of fire and elephants. Analyses were conducted for the entire park and its main vegetation types and ecoregions.

Location

GNP is located in southern Zimbabwe, bordering Mozambique, covering approximately 5000 km².

Methods

In 2010, 313 sampling areas were surveyed, and a resurvey was conducted in 2022/2023 using a plotless method. For each area, woody species cover was recorded in four height classes. Indices for total woody cover, species richness, diversity (Shannon), and evenness (Pielou) were calculated for both surveys across the park, ecoregions, and vegetation types. Differences between surveys were analyzed with paired t-tests. Species composition changes were analyzed using NMDS and PERMANOVA, while the effects of fire frequency, slope, and distance from rivers on species composition were tested with a mixed linear model. The change in dominant species occurrence was also examined.

Results

Species richness significantly declined, with no changes in woody vegetation cover, diversity, or evenness, except in the alluvial ecoregion, where diversity decreased. Changes across height layers revealed increased richness and diversity in the < 1 m layer and declines in the 1–3 m and 3–5 m layers. Species composition changes were significant across ecoregions and influenced by fire frequency. A decrease in dominant tree species was observed, varying by species' resilience to current pressures.

Conclusions

GNP is undergoing simplification in woody vegetation, likely due to the combined effects of elephants and fire. This is leading to shrubbier vegetation and changes in species composition, particularly in trees. To prevent further degradation, actions must be implemented, such as the use of individual protection systems from debarking, the development of a fire management system, and the creation of ecological corridors in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area to facilitate the movement of elephants.

Abstract Image

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非洲热带稀树草原木本植被动态：来自津巴布韦Gonarezhou国家公园植被调查的见解

研究了2010 - 2023年戈纳雷州国家公园木本植被覆盖度、丰富度、多样性和物种组成的变化，重点分析了火灾和大象对森林的影响。对整个公园及其主要植被类型和生态区进行了分析。GNP位于津巴布韦南部，与莫桑比克接壤，占地约5000平方公里。方法2010年对313个采样区进行调查，2022/2023年采用无图法进行调查。每个区域的木本物种覆盖分为4个高度级。计算了整个公园、生态区和植被类型的总木本盖度、物种丰富度、多样性（Shannon）和均匀度（Pielou）指数。调查之间的差异用配对t检验进行分析。采用NMDS和PERMANOVA分析物种组成变化，采用混合线性模型分析火灾频率、坡度和距离河流的距离对物种组成的影响。对优势种发生的变化也进行了分析。结果物种丰富度显著下降，木本植被覆盖度、多样性和均匀度均无变化，但冲积区物种丰富度明显下降。不同高度层间的变化表明，1 m层丰富度和多样性增加，1 - 3 m和3-5 m层丰富度和多样性下降。各生态区物种组成变化显著，且受火灾频率的影响。观察到优势树种的减少，因物种对当前压力的适应能力而异。结论：在木本植被方面，国民生产总值正在简化，这可能是由于大象和火灾的共同影响。这导致了灌木植被和物种组成的变化，特别是树木。为了防止进一步退化，必须采取行动，例如使用个人保护系统防止脱落，开发消防管理系统，以及在大林波波跨境保护区建立生态走廊以促进大象的活动。

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来源期刊

Applied Vegetation Science 环境科学-林学

CiteScore

6.00

自引率

10.70%

发文量

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Applied Vegetation Science focuses on community-level topics relevant to human interaction with vegetation, including global change, nature conservation, nature management, restoration of plant communities and of natural habitats, and the planning of semi-natural and urban landscapes. Vegetation survey, modelling and remote-sensing applications are welcome. Papers on vegetation science which do not fit to this scope (do not have an applied aspect and are not vegetation survey) should be directed to our associate journal, the Journal of Vegetation Science. Both journals publish papers on the ecology of a single species only if it plays a key role in structuring plant communities.