A prehistoric tsunami induced long-lasting ecosystem changes on a semi-arid tropical island—the case of Boka Bartol (Bonaire, Leeward Antilles)

Abstract The global climate change processes are expected to impact African savanna ecosystems in their ecological functionality and availability of food resources for herbivores. To understand the feeding responses of large savanna herbivores placed to space-constrained and two environmentally distinct (semi-arid versus sub-humid savanna) conditions, we investigated the diet quality of five species living in a mixed community of species native and non-native for the West African savanna and compared them between the two sites as a proxy for a potential ecosystem shift due to climate change. Grazers and mixed feeders maintained diet quality in most nutrients at similar levels, while browser’s diet had lower nitrogen and fibres, specifically lignin, and more calcium in semi-arid savanna. Our findings suggest that adaptation to different ecosystems with no possibility to leave the area required changes in feeding behaviour across feeding types to maintain diet quality, especially mixed feeders escaped the competition with zebras for grasses in sub-humid savanna by switching to browse. Pure browser experienced reduced diet quality in drier environment and may potentially become susceptible to ecosystem changes. Conservation strategies should facilitate both, animals’ adequate behavioural responses together with nutritional resilience in changing savanna landscapes.

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Special Issue on Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Semi-Arid Africa

Journal of Disaster Research ◽

10.20965/jdr.2014.p0411 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 411-411 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kazuhiko Takeuchi ◽

Edwin Akonno Gyasi

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

United Nations ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Social Institutions ◽

Capacity Development ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Ecosystem Change ◽

Special Issue ◽

Ecosystem Changes ◽

Semi Arid

In 2011, a collaborative project focused on climate and ecosystem change adaptation and resilience studies in Africa (CECAR-Africa) with Ghana as the focal country, was initiated. The goal was to combine climate change and ecosystem change research, and to use that combination as a basis for building an integrated resilience enhancement strategy as a potential model for semi-arid regions across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Project is being financially supported by the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), a collaborative programme of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). CECAR-Africa involves the following leading climate and ecosystems research organizations in Ghana and Japan: The University of Tokyo; Kyoto University; United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS); University of Ghana; Ghana Meteorological Agency; University for Development Studies; and United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNUINRA). CECAR-Africa has been operating fully since 2012, with a focus on three thematic areas, namely: Forecast and assessment of climate change impact on agro-ecosystems (Agro-ecosystem resilience); Risk assessment of extreme weather hazards and development of adaptive resource management methods (Engineering resilience); and Implementing capacity development programs for local communities and professionals (social institutions-technical capacity development) using the assessment results derived from work on the first two themes. This special issue presents major outcomes of the Project so far. The articles featured used various techniques and methods such as field surveys, questionnaires, focal group discussions, land use and cover change analysis, and climate downscaled modelling to investigate the impacts of climate and ecosystem changes on river flows and agriculture, and to assess the local capacity for coping with floods, droughts and disasters, and for enhancing the resilience of farming communities. We are happy to be able to publish this special issue just in time for an international conference on CECAR-Africa in Tamale, Ghana, on 6-7 August, 2014. It is hoped that the shared research outcomes will facilitate discussions on the project research themes and interactions and exchange of ideas among academics, professionals, and government officials on the way forward for the CECARAfrica Project. We find it only appropriate to conclude by thanking the authors and reviewers of the articles, and by acknowledging, with gratitude, the local knowledge and other bits and pieces of information contributed by the many anonymous farmers and other people of northern Ghana.

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Triassic sponges (Sphinctozoa) from Hells Canyon, Oregon

Journal of Paleontology ◽

10.1017/s0022336000018333 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 62 (03) ◽

pp. 419-423 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Baba Senowbari-Daryan ◽

George D. Stanley

Keyword(s):

Endemic Species ◽

Upper Triassic ◽

Island Arc ◽

Tropical Island ◽

The Family ◽

Wallowa Terrane ◽

Unique Condition ◽

Hells Canyon

Two Upper Triassic sphinctozoan sponges of the family Sebargasiidae were recovered from silicified residues collected in Hells Canyon, Oregon. These sponges areAmblysiphonellacf.A. steinmanni(Haas), known from the Tethys region, andColospongia whalenin. sp., an endemic species. The latter sponge was placed in the superfamily Porata by Seilacher (1962). The presence of well-preserved cribrate plates in this sponge, in addition to pores of the chamber walls, is a unique condition never before reported in any porate sphinctozoans. Aporate counterparts known primarily from the Triassic Alps have similar cribrate plates but lack the pores in the chamber walls. The sponges from Hells Canyon are associated with abundant bivalves and corals of marked Tethyan affinities and come from a displaced terrane known as the Wallowa Terrane. It was a tropical island arc, suspected to have paleogeographic relationships with Wrangellia; however, these sponges have not yet been found in any other Cordilleran terrane.

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Climate Variability, Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the Semi-arid Tropics

10.1017/cbo9780511608308 ◽

1996 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Variability ◽

Social Vulnerability ◽

Semi Arid

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Ferrihydrite dissolution at the root zone of crops under semi-arid condition controls the plant uptake of uranium and arsenic

10.1021/scimeetings.0c03694 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Arindam Malakar ◽

Michael Kaiser ◽

Daniel D. Snow ◽

Harkamal Walia ◽

Chittaranjan Ray

Keyword(s):

Plant Uptake ◽

Root Zone ◽

Arid Condition ◽

Semi Arid

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Life strategies in a semi-arid grassland community — mechanisms of dispersal and reproduction within Lapiedro martinezii-Stipetum tenacissimae (Southeastern Spain)

Feddes Repertorium ◽

10.1002/fedr.4921100310 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 110 (3-4) ◽

pp. 265-285 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

I. Hensen

Keyword(s):

Life Strategies ◽

Grassland Community ◽

Southeastern Spain ◽

Semi Arid

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THE CLASSIFICATION OF LAND ACCORDING TO THE DEGREE OF RABBIT INFESTATION IN CENTRAL OTAGO

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.1987.48.1792 ◽

1987 ◽

pp. 65-70

Author(s):

I.G.C. Kerr ◽

J.M. Williams ◽

W.D. Ross ◽

J.M. Pollard

Keyword(s):

Carrying Capacity ◽

Mediterranean Climate ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Public Funding ◽

Soil Survey ◽

European Rabbit ◽

Cultural Modification ◽

Classification Information ◽

Semi Arid

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) introduced into New Zealand in the 183Os, has consistently flourished in Central Otago, the upper Waitaki, and inland Marlborough, all areas of mediterranean climate. It has proved difficult to manage in these habitats. The 'rabbit problem' is largely confined to 105,000 ha of low producing land mostly in semi arid areas of Central Otago. No field scale modifications of the natural habitat have been successful in limiting rabbit numbers. The costs of control exceed the revenue from the land and continued public funding for control operations appears necessary. A system for classifying land according to the degree of rabbit proneness is described. Soil survey and land classification information for Central Otago is related to the distribution and density of rabbits. This intormation can be used as a basis for defining rabbit carrying capacity and consequent land use constraints and management needs. It is concluded that the natural rabbit carrying capacity of land can be defined by reference to soil survey information and cultural modification to the natural vegetation. Classification of land according to rabbit proneness is proposed as a means of identifying the need for, and allocation of, public funding tor rabbit management. Keywords: Rabbit habitat, rabbit proneness, use of rabbit prone land.

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