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An Overview of Nitrogen Cycling in a Semiarid Savanna: Some Implications for Management and Conservation in a Large African Park

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is a major control on primary productivity and hence on the productivity and diversity of secondary producers and consumers. As such, ecosystem structure and function cannot be understood without a comprehensive understanding of N cycling and dynamics. This overview describes the factors that govern N distribution and dynamics and the consequences that variable N dynamics have for structure, function and thresholds of potential concern (TPCs) for management of a semiarid southern African savanna. We focus on the Kruger National Park (KNP), a relatively intact savanna, noted for its wide array of animal and plant species and a prized tourist destination. KNP’s large size ensures integrity of most ecosystem processes and much can be learned about drivers of ecosystem structure and function using this park as a baseline. Our overview shows that large scale variability in substrates exists, but do not necessarily have predictable consequences for N cycling. The impact of major drivers such as fire is complex; at a landscape scale little differences in stocks and cycling were found, though at a smaller scale changes in woody cover can lead to concomitant changes in total N. Contrasting impacts of browsers and grazers on N turnover has been recorded. Due to the complexity of this ecosystem, we conclude that it will be complicated to draw up TPCs for most transformations and pools involved with the N cycle. However, we highlight in which cases the development of TPCs will be possible.

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Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank the following: SANParks’ Rina Grant for her continued support during this project and many valuable comments; Izak Smith and Mahesh Sankaran for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript and Izak Smith for Fig. 2; Sanparks staff at Scientific Services, Skukuza, for help with logistics, SMJ benefitted from research grants from the Andrew Mellon Foundation and the National Research Foundation. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. All work complies with the laws of South Africa.

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  1. School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P/Bag 6531 Saasveld, George, 6530, Western Cape, South Africa

    Corli Coetsee

  2. Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Shayne Jacobs

  3. Sanparks Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa

    Navashni Govender

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  1. Corli Coetsee
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  2. Shayne Jacobs
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Correspondence to Corli Coetsee.

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Coetsee, C., Jacobs, S. & Govender, N. An Overview of Nitrogen Cycling in a Semiarid Savanna: Some Implications for Management and Conservation in a Large African Park. Environmental Management 49, 387–402 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9779-0

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