Savanna aliens

Abstract

Numerous alien plant species are invading African savannas causing loss of biodiversity and altering ecosystem functioning. The ecological factors and underlying mechanisms causing these invasions are poorly understood. This hinders invasive species management and biodiversity conservation. In this thesis, a range of approaches (i.e., field measurements, a greenhouse experiment, field experiments, a long-term burning experiment, remote sensing, and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques) was used to understand how the availability of two key resources limiting primary productivity in African savannas (water and nutrients) and how major disturbances (i.e., fire, grazing) determine the invasion of these systems by alien plant species