Spatial heterogeneity in ecosystem structure and productivity in a moist Kenyan savanna

Topographic variations and disturbances are key sources of spatial heterogeneity in the ecosystem and may influence its functioning, productivity, and carbon (C) storage. In water controlled ecosystems, structural and functional heterogeneity become distinct during drought when the ecosystem process...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Plant ecology Vol. 212; no. 5; pp. 769 - 783
Main Authors:	Otieno, D. O., K'Otuto, G. O., Jákli, B., Schröttle, P., Maina, J. N., Jung, E., Onyango, J. C.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Dordrecht Springer 01-05-2011 Springer Netherlands Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Acacia Agricultural land Agricultural soils Applied Ecology Biodiversity Biomass Biomedical and Life Sciences Carbon Carbon dioxide Community & Population Ecology Drought Droughts Ecology Ecosystem components Ecosystem structure Ecosystems Environmental aspects Grazing Heterogeneity Isoptera Life Sciences Moisture content Mounds Nitrogen Plant Ecology Plants Primary production Productivity Respiration Savanna soils Savannahs Savannas Shifting cultivation Soil Soil ecology Soil moisture Soil quality Soil water Soil water content Soils Spatial heterogeneity Structure-function relationships Termitaria Terrestial Ecology Terrestrial ecosystems Trees Vegetation Water availability Water content Productivity Moist savanna Biomass Grazing Nitrogen Soil moisture
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Summary:	Topographic variations and disturbances are key sources of spatial heterogeneity in the ecosystem and may influence its functioning, productivity, and carbon (C) storage. In water controlled ecosystems, structural and functional heterogeneity become distinct during drought when the ecosystem processes are operating at their limits. We examined spatial heterogeneity arising from grazing, abandoned cropland, presence of Acacia trees, and termite mounds (termitaria). Soil water content (SWC) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in termitaria and fenced (un-grazed) plots. Higher soil nitrogen (N) content occurred in the Acacia, termitaria, and fenced plots while total biomass was highest in the fenced plot. The termitaria plots showed the highest net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE), ecosystem respiration (R eco ), and gross primary production (GPP) and were the only plots that were net CO₂ sinks. Except in fenced plots, maximum GPP was positively correlated with SWC and green biomass in all the other plots. Green biomass and R eco were positively correlated with SWC. Shifting cultivation (abandoned farmlands) negatively affected soil quality, ecosystem CO₂ assimilation, and productivity. Removal of grazing (cattle) from the ecosystem negatively influenced GPP, while the presence of termitaria and Acacia trees facilitated soil water and N availability and ecosystem productivity. We concluded that soil water availability was responsible for most of the localized differences in the savanna and has a strong influence on ecosystem C capture and storage. We recommend that future studies on savanna productivity and ecosystem CO₂ fluxes should consider heterogeneity in the ecosystem in order to avoid bias and increase the accuracy of any estimates made.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23
ISSN:	1385-0237 1573-5052
DOI:	10.1007/s11258-010-9863-1