Coevolution of African grasses and large herbivores

Abstract

African grasslands have developed under the impact of fire and grazing. There has been strong selection for grass plants to deter, escape and tolerate herbivory, and to escape and tolerate fire. It follows that the complete withdrawal of fire from those communities adapted to it and its replacement by heavy grazing, is not in the grazier's short or long term interests as strong selection of deterrents must result. It is proposed, then, that periodic burning in certain communities should become as legally obligatory as resting of veld.

Keywords: coevolution|grasses|large herbivores|grasslands|fire ecology|grazing|herbivory|tolerance levels|deterrents|burning regimes|periodic burning|savannas|evolution