Research Starter Grant: Understanding savanna vegetation dynamics in East Africa under different off-take methods and precipitation regimes

了解东非不同采伐方法和降水制度下的稀树草原植被动态草原植被占东非陆地总面积的很大比例，稀树草原对数百万畜牧牧民和野生动物的可持续性很重要。稀树草原植被动态的生态过程是水分、营养物质、火和食草动物相互作用的结果。这项研究的目的是依靠包含更多真实世界条件的试验田研究，以更好地了解稀树草原的植被动态，特别是植被剥离方法如何影响植被的再生。这项调查将利用东非塞伦盖蒂-马拉生态系统内跨越降水梯度的围栏进行实验性处理。该项目将提供有关稀树草原可能如何影响子孙后代的新知识，并解决这些变化对人、景观和野生动物可持续性的影响。这项研究将对保护和发展政策产生直接影响，有助于新的知识和政策的制定，更充分地考虑到影响稀树草原的现实世界条件。该项目将通过培训当地马赛人进行生态监测和评估，加强代表不足群体的参与。该项目还将使密歇根大学和内罗毕大学的本科生受益，他们将成为一年一度的海外学习活动的一部分，以了解东非稀树草原保护和发展战略的生态层面。

Understanding savanna vegetation dynamics in East Africa under different off-take methods and precipitation regimesSavanna vegetation comprises a large percentage of the total land surface area in East Africa and savannas are important for the sustainability of millions of livestock keeping pastoralists and wildlife. The ecological processes underlying the dynamics of savanna vegetation are the result of interactions between moisture, nutrients, fire and herbivory. The objective of this research is to rely on experimental field studies, which incorporate more real-world conditions, in order to better understand vegetation dynamics of savannas, specifically, how the method of vegetative off-take matters for regrowth. The investigation will utilize experimental treatments through enclosures across a precipitation gradient within the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem of East Africa. This project will contribute new knowledge on how savannas might be impacted in future generations and addresses the implications of these changes for the sustainability of people, landscapes and wildlife. This research will have a direct bearing on conservation and development policies, contributing to new knowledge and the development of policies which more fully consider the real world conditions affecting savannas. The project will enhance the participation of underrepresented groups by training local Maasai peoples in ecological monitoring and evaluation. The project will also benefit undergraduate students from the University of Michigan and the University of Nairobi who will be part of a yearly study abroad effort to understand the ecological dimensions of conservation and development strategies in East African savannas.