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Plant spinescence in arid southern Africa: does moisture mediate selection by mammals?

Plant spinescence in arid southern Africa: does moisture mediate selection by mammals? The prediction that spinescence in plants increases with aridity, soil fertility and mammalian herbivory was examined at regional and local scales in southern Africa. Spinescence tended to increase with aridity. Within arid areas, vegetation of moist, nutrient-rich habitats was more spinescent than that of the surrounding dry plains. Spinescence in plants of drainage lines and pans in arid southern Africa occurs in a wide range of genera and appears to have been selected by the effect of large mammals which concentrate on these moist patches. It is concluded that spinescence may be selected by breakage as well as herbivory, and that in arid areas moisture may be important in mediating mammalian selection of spinescence. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Oecologia Springer Journals

Plant spinescence in arid southern Africa: does moisture mediate selection by mammals?

Oecologia , Volume 87 (2) – Jul 1, 1991

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References (42)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 by Springer-Verlag
Subject
Life Sciences; Ecology; Plant Sciences
ISSN
0029-8549
eISSN
1432-1939
DOI
10.1007/BF00325267
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The prediction that spinescence in plants increases with aridity, soil fertility and mammalian herbivory was examined at regional and local scales in southern Africa. Spinescence tended to increase with aridity. Within arid areas, vegetation of moist, nutrient-rich habitats was more spinescent than that of the surrounding dry plains. Spinescence in plants of drainage lines and pans in arid southern Africa occurs in a wide range of genera and appears to have been selected by the effect of large mammals which concentrate on these moist patches. It is concluded that spinescence may be selected by breakage as well as herbivory, and that in arid areas moisture may be important in mediating mammalian selection of spinescence.

Journal

OecologiaSpringer Journals

Published: Jul 1, 1991

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