Some preliminary results of the relationship between soils and tree response to elephant damage

Abstract

Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve (VMGR) in Malawi exhibits a variety of conditions ranging from sandy well-drained sites where soil-water dynamics generally favour plant biomass production to clay poorly drained sites where soil-water dynamics do not favour plant biomass production. This paper examines preliminary data on the relationship between the range of these soil-water conditions in VMGR and how trees respond to elephant damage. Whereas the standard models of elephant-woodland interactions hypothesize that the effect of elephant on woodland is to reduce tree density, and therefore to reduce food availability, this study indicates that elephant-woodland interactions may be more site specific that previously considered.