Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vegetation dynamics of the savannization process on Cuba

  • Published:
Vegetatio Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The main determinants of tropical savannas are shortly discussed, notably climate, insufficient drainage, fire and their interactions. The savannization process on Cuba is basically induced by man as shown for six different habitats. Different savanna types develop from different forests and shrublands through regular burning and grazing. In dry habitats and on oligotrophic soils, savannization is a short-term, usually irreversible process, while in humid habitats and on fertile soils it is a long-term reversible process, with spontaneous recolonization of forest elements after savannization has been stopped.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aubréville A. M. 1947. The disappearance of the tropical forests of Africa. Unasylva 1: 5–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aubréville A. M. 1965. Les étranges savanes des llanos de l'Orénoque. Adansonia 5: 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balátová-Tuláčková E. & Capote R. 1985. The Cassio lineatae-Aristidetum neglectae, a new association of the serpentine in Cuba. Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 20: 177–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balátová-Tuláčková E. & Surli M. 1983. Contribution to the phytosociological characteristics of the Yaguaramas Savanna (Cienfuegos Province, Cuba). Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 18: 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beard J. S. 1944. Climax vegetation in tropical America. Ecology 25: 127–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beard J. S. 1953. The savanna vegetation of northern Tropical America. Ecol. Monogr. 23: 149–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, H. H. & Allison, R. V. 1928. The soils of Cuba. Washington.

  • Borhidi, A. 1973. Fundamentals of geobotany of Cuba. Thesis D. Sc. Habil. Budapest.

  • Borhidi, A. 1974. Kubában térképeztünk. Mapping in Cuba. In Hungarian. Budapest, Gondolat.

  • Borhidi A. & Herrera R. 1977. Génesis, caracteristicas y classificación de los ecosistemas de sabana en Cuba. Cien. Biol. Acad. Cien. Cuba 1: 115–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borhidi A. & Muñiz O. 1980. Die Vegetationskarte von Kuba. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 26: 25–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borhidi A. & Muñiz O. 1984. Mapa de Vegetación de Cuba, Imp. Juceplan, La Habana.

    Google Scholar 

  • Budowski G. 1956. Tropical savannas, a sequence of forest felling and repeated burnings. Turrialba 15: 40–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busse W. 1908. Die periodischen Grassbrande im tropischen Africa, ihr Einfluss auf die Vegetation und ihre Bedeutung für die Landeskultur. Mitt. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. 21, 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole M. M. 1960. Cerrado, Caatinga and Pantanal: the distribution and origin of the savanna-vegetation of Brazil. Geogr. J. 126: 168–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole M. M. 1986. The Savannas. Biogeography and geobotany. Acad. Press. Inc. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eden M. J. 1964. The savanna ecosystem—northern Rupununi, British Guayana, McGill Univ. Savanna Res. Ser. 1: 1–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eiten G. 1972. The Cerrado vegetation of Brasil. Bot. Rev. 38: 201–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodland R., 1970. The savanna controversy. McGill Univ. Savanna Res. Ser. 15: 1–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guevara S., Purata S. E. & van der Maarel E. 1986. The role of remnant forest trees in tropical secondary succession. Vegetatio 66: 77–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hills T. L. 1969. The savanna landscape of the Amazon basin. McGill Univ. Savanna Res. Ser. 14: 1–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hills, T. L. & Randall, R. E. (eds) 1968. The ecology of the forest savanna boundary. McGill Univ. Savanna Res. Ser. 13: 1–128.

  • Komarek Sr E. V. 1971. Lightning and fire ecology in Africa. Proc. Ann. Tall Timbers Fire Ecol. Conf. 11: 473–511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanjouw J. 1936. Studies on the vegetation of the Surinam savannahs and swamps. Nederl. Kruidk. Arch. 46: 823–851.

    Google Scholar 

  • León, H. Sauget 1946. Flora de Cuba. Vol. I. Contr. Ocas. Mus. Hist. Nat. Col. La Salle, No. 8. 1-441 La Habana.

  • Marie-Victorin F. & León H.Sauget 1942, 1944. Itinéraires botaniques dans l'ile de Cuba. Contr. Inst. Bot. Univ. Montreal 41: 1–496, 50: 1–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Medina E. 1982. Physiological ecology of Neotropical savanna plants. In. Huntley B. J. & Walker B. H. (eds), Ecology of tropical savannas, pp. 308–335. Springer, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monasterio M. 1971. Ecologia de las sabanas de America tropical, I. Análisis macroecológico de los llanos de Calabozo, Venezuel. Cuad. Geogr. 4: 1–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monasterio M. & Sarmiento G. 1971. Ecologia de las sabanas de America tropical. II. Caracterización ecológica del clima en los llanos de Calabozo, Venezuel. Rev. Geogr. 21: 5–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers J. G. 1936. Savannah and forest vegetation of the interior Guiana Plateau. J. Ecol. 24: 163–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samek V. 1969. La vegetación de la Isla de Pinos. Acad. Cien. Cuba, Ser. Isla de Pinos 28: 1–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarmiento G. 1983. The savannas of tropical America. In: Bowliere F. (ed.), Ecosystems of the world. vol. 13. Tropical savannas. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarmiento, G. & Monasterio, M. 1975. A critical consideration of the environmental conditions associated with the ocurrence of savanna ecosystems in tropical America. In: Golley, F. B. & Medina, E. (eds), Tropical ecological systems. Ecol. Stud. 11: 223–250.

  • Schimper A. F. W. 1898. Pflanzengeographie auf physiologischer Grundlage. Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seifriz W. 1943. The plant life of Cuba. Ecol. Monogr. 13: 375–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troll C. 1935. Gedanken und Bemerkungen zur ökologischen Pflanzengeographie. Geogr. 14: 1–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vareschi V. 1960. La estación biológica de los llanos de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias naturales y su tarea. Bol. Soc. Venezol. Cien. Nat. 21, 96: 107–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vareschi V. 1962. La quema como factor ecológico en los llanos. Bol. Soc. Venezol. Cien. Nat. 23, 101. 9–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vesey-FitzGerald D. F. 1963. Central African grasslands. J. Ecol. 51: 243–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waibel L. 1948. Vegetation and land-use in the Planalto Central of Brazil. Geogr. Rev. 38: 529–544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, B. H. 1987. A general model of savanna structure and function. In: Walker, B. H. (ed.), Determinants of tropical savannas. IUBS Monogr. Ser. No. 3: 1–12.

  • Walter H. 1962. Die Vegetation der Erde in ökophysiologischer Betrachtung. I. Die tropischen und subtropischen Zonen. Fischer, Stuttgart-Jena.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter H. 1970. El problema de la sabana. Bol. Soc. Venezol. Cien. Nat. 115–116: 121–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warming, E. & Graebner, P. 1918. Lehrbuch der ökologischen Pflanzengeographie, Berlin.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Botany, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-2163, Vácrátót, Hungary

    Attila Borhidi

Authors
  1. Attila Borhidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Borhidi, A. Vegetation dynamics of the savannization process on Cuba. Vegetatio 77, 177–183 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045763

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045763

Keywords

Search

Navigation