Veldhuis, M. P. et al. (2019) Cross-boundary human impacts compromise the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Science, 363(6434), pp. 1424-1428. (doi: 10.1126/science.aav0564) (PMID:30923217)
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183914.pdf - Accepted Version 1MB |
Abstract
Protected areas provide major benefits for humans in the form of ecosystem services, but landscape degradation by human activity at their edges may compromise their ecological functioning. Using multiple lines of evidence from 40 years of research in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, we find that such edge degradation has effectively "squeezed" wildlife into the core protected area and has altered the ecosystem's dynamics even within this 40,000-square-kilometer ecosystem. This spatial cascade reduced resilience in the core and was mediated by the movement of grazers, which reduced grass fuel and fires, weakened the capacity of soils to sequester nutrients and carbon, and decreased the responsiveness of primary production to rainfall. Similar effects in other protected ecosystems worldwide may require rethinking of natural resource management outside protected areas.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Morrison, Dr Thomas and Hopcraft, Professor Grant |
| Authors: | Veldhuis, M. P., Ritchie, M. E., Ogutu, J. O., Morrison, T. A., Beale, C. M., Estes, A. B., Mwakilema, W., Ojwang, G. O., Parr, C. L., Probert, J., Wargute, P. W., Hopcraft, J. G. C., and Olff, H. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
| Journal Name: | Science |
| Publisher: | American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| ISSN: | 0036-8075 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1095-9203 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2019 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Science 363(6434):1424-1428 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
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