Constraints, crashes and conservation: Were historical African savanna elephants Loxodonta africana densities relatively high or lower than those seen in protected areas today?

D.M. Wilkinson; J.J. Midgley; A.B. Cunningham

doi:10.1080/17550874.2022.2078244

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Constraints, crashes and conservation: Were historical African savanna elephants Loxodonta africana densities relatively high or lower than those seen in protected areas today?

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Constraints, crashes and conservation: Were historical African savanna elephants Loxodonta africana densities relatively high or lower than those seen in protected areas today?

D.M. Wilkinson, J.J. Midgley and A.B. Cunningham

Plant Ecology & Diversity, pp.1-11

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2022.2078244

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Abstract

African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) are significant ecosystem engineers – having profound effects on the vegetation when at high population densities. To provide a context for modern conservation decisions it would be useful to know the ‘natural’ population densities prior to the arrival of firearms in Africa. Here, we use botanical and archaeological arguments to suggest a lower density of elephant populations than in some present protected areas over at least the last few millennia, and arguably much longer. This suggests that elephant population densities seen in some protected areas during the second half of the twentieth century are likely higher than those seen in the past and so have the potential to result in significant negative impacts on associated fauna and flora.

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Title: Constraints, crashes and conservation: Were historical African savanna elephants Loxodonta africana densities relatively high or lower than those seen in protected areas today?
Authors/Creators: D.M. Wilkinson (Author/Creator) - University of Lincoln
J.J. Midgley (Author/Creator) - University of Cape Town
A.B. Cunningham (Author/Creator) - University of KwaZulu-Natal
Publication Details: Plant Ecology & Diversity, pp.1-11
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Identifiers: 991005542356207891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.40 Forestry; 3.40.838 Rangeland Dynamics
Web Of Science research areas: Plant Sciences
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science