Woody Plants and Large Herbivores in Savannas Ancient Past – Uncertain Future

Abstract

This chapter reviews what people understand, and what they need to understand, about woody plant ecology in savannas in general, and their interactions with large browsing herbivores in particular, in order to manage and conserve the diversity of woody taxa and large herbivores in savannas into the future. From studies in African savannas, many woody species are highly tolerant of severe browsing (strong shoot regrowth capacity), others mainly avoid severe browsing (high phenolic concentrations or high spinescence), while others have some combination of tolerance and avoidance traits, such as certain fine‐leaved species. The chapter also provides scope for inferring impacts of introduced, wild, or domestic browsers on different continents, as well as inferring impacts of browser removal from savannas. Such information is useful for managing “rewilding” or “resurrection” conservation programs, as well as managing domestic livestock farming or feral animal control programs.