Aspects of ecosystem function in a woodland savanna in South West Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A study was made of certain relations operating within a South West Africanwoodland savanna ecosystem which was characterised by simplificationwithin most of its basic components. . Main attention was given to therelatively unexplored field of spatial and structural organisation of theprimary producer component in relation to its quantified intra-seasonalfunctional changes including its phenology. Simple mathematical modeldescriptions of seasonal mass change of the herbaceous parts of theprimary producer component were derived. Various parts of the primaryproducer component were also evaluated in terms of some of the mainclimatic driving forces of the ecosystem, decomposition relations in theform of disappearance rates, soil-vegetation mineral relations andconsumer (mainly insect) relations. Gross effects of manipulation ofthe ecosystem type by fire and management is included.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University