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

在不同的取水方法和降水制度下，了解东非稀树草原植被的动态稀树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业者和野生动物的可持续发展至关重要。热带稀树草原植被动态的生态过程是水分、养分、火和食草动物相互作用的结果。这项研究的目的是依靠实验性的实地研究，其中包括更多的现实世界的条件，以更好地了解稀树草原的植被动态，特别是，如何植物的方法，采取事项再生。 调查将利用实验处理，通过围栏跨越东非塞伦盖蒂-马拉生态系统内的降水梯度。该项目将为稀树草原如何影响后代提供新的知识，并解决这些变化对人类，景观和野生动物可持续性的影响。这项研究将对养护和发展政策产生直接影响，有助于获得新的知识和制定更充分地考虑到影响稀树草原的真实的世界条件的政策。该项目将通过培训当地马赛人进行生态监测和评价，加强代表性不足群体的参与。该项目还将使密歇根大学和内罗毕大学的本科生受益，他们将参加每年一次的出国学习，以了解东非稀树草原的养护和发展战略的生态方面。

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.