The causes and effects of indigenous C4 grass expansion into a hyper diverse fynbos shrubland

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posted on 2021-01-28, 13:12 authored by Edmund FebruaryEdmund February, Nthabeliseni Munyai, Claire Tucker, William Bond

Data accompanying the following publication;

E. February, N. Munyai, C. Tucker and W. Bond (2020). The causes and effects of indigenous C4 grass expansion into a hyper diverse fynbos shrubland. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-020-04842-2

Abstract

The cool season rainfall at our study site should favour C3 rather than C4 grasses. There are however several locations where C4 grasses have become dominant suggesting that rainfall seasonality is not a constraint on distribution. Here we explored the limitations on C4 grass distribution in a fynbos shrubland.

Using δ13C values of SOM we determined when these grasses had established. We also looked at the role of roads as conduits for establishment and asked what impact these grasses may have on fynbos species richness. We then conducted a field experiment designed to examine the extent to which soil moisture, nutrient availability and competition with fynbos for resources influences the establishment and growth of the grasses. Finally using aerial photography, we explored the role of changes in land use on distribution.

Our results showed that the establishment is recent, that roads may be acting as conduits and that with establishment there is a reduction in fynbos species richness and diversity. Disturbance and removing below-ground competition for resources, opens the system to establishment in wetter areas.

This study is the first to look at the potential for C4 grasses expanding into cool season rainfall shrublands such as in Western Australia and South Africa. What is interesting about these results is that C4 grasses can establish and dominate in a cool season rainfall regime. Rather than temperature of the growing season, it is competition for resources from fynbos that prevents these grasses from encroaching.

The causes and effects of indigenous C4 grass expansion into a hyper diverse fynbos shrubland

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NRF of South Africa

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