Savanna tree demography
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Germination and recruitment
Becoming an established plant in a savanna is risky business: unpredictable moisture, fires, and herbivores make it tough to become an established savanna plant. We ask: what factors change the probability of germination and recruitment and what traits have plants evolved to help themselves in this precarious transition?
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Elephant mortality
Elephants are the largest terrestrial animal and well-known ecosystem engineers. Elephant populations in Serengeti are thriving and we study the tree-elephant interactions in this dynamic and heterogenous landscape.
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Fire and resprouting
Savannas are defined by frequent and often low-intensity fire. How have savanna trees evolved to tolerate this persistent disturbance in a system favored by highly competitive and flammable grasses?
Potter et al. in press