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Nutrient Vectors and Riparian Processing: A Review with Special Reference to African Semiarid Savanna Ecosystems

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Abstract

This review article describes vectors for nitrogen and phosphorus delivery to riparian zones in semiarid African savannas, the processing of nutrients in the riparian zone and the effect of disturbance on these processes. Semiarid savannas exhibit sharp seasonality, complex hillslope hydrology and high spatial heterogeneity, all of which ultimately impact nutrient fluxes between riparian, upland and aquatic environments. Our review shows that strong environmental drivers such as fire and herbivory enhance nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment transport to lower slope positions by shaping vegetative patterns. These vectors differ significantly from other arid and semiarid ecosystems, and from mesic ecosystems where the impact of fire and herbivory are less pronounced and less predictable. Also unique is the presence of sodic soils in certain hillslopes, which substantially alters hydrological flowpaths and may act as a trap where nitrogen is immobilized while sediment and phosphorus transport is enhanced. Nutrients and sediments are also deposited in the riparian zone during seasonal, intermittent floods while, during the dry season, subsurface movement of water from the stream into riparian soils and vegetation further enrich riparian zones with nutrients. As is found in mesic ecosystems, nutrients are immobilized in semiarid riparian corridors through microbial and plant uptake, whereas dissimilatory processes such as denitrification may be important where labile nitrogen and carbon are in adequate supply and physical conditions are suitable—such as in seeps, wallows created by animals, ephemeral wetlands and stream edges. Interaction between temporal hydrologic connectivity and spatial heterogeneity are disrupted by disturbances such as large floods and extended droughts, which may convert certain riparian patches from sinks to sources for nitrogen and phosphorus. In the face of increasing anthropogenic pressure, the scientific challenges are to provide a basic understanding of riparian biogeochemistry in semiarid African savannas to adequately address the temporal and spatial impact of disturbances, and to apply this knowledge to better regional land and water management. An integrated, multidisciplinary approach applied in protected as well as human-disturbed ecosystems in southern Africa is essential for underpinning a strong environmental basis for sustainable human-related expansion.

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Acknowledgements

This article emanated from a workshop on riparian biogeochemistry in semiarid ecosystems held in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, South Africa in October 2004. We thank the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and South African National Parks for funding the workshop, and all workshop participants for intellectual inputs. Sandra McFadyan and Holger Eckartdt from KNP graciously provided photos and maps. We thank Rina Grant (Northern Plains Research Program, Kruger National Park), Neil Pettit (University of Washington), Nikki Fisher (University of the Witwatersrand), Scotney Watts (University of Stellenbosch) and two anonymous reviewers for providing constructive comments on earlier versions of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Campus Box 355020, Seattle, Washington, 98195-5020, USA

    S. M. Jacobs, J. S. Bechtold & R. J. Naiman

  2. Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, Private Bag X402, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa

    H. C. Biggs

  3. School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287-4501, USA

    N. B. Grimm

  4. School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    S. Lorentz

  5. Department of Environmental Studies, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA

    M. E. McClain

  6. USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA

    S. S. Perakis

  7. Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Evolutive, CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    G. Pinay

  8. School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS, 2050, South Africa

    M. C. Scholes

  9. Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    S. M. Jacobs

  10. University of Birmingham, GEES, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    G. Pinay

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  1. S. M. Jacobs
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Jacobs, S.M., Bechtold, J.S., Biggs, H.C. et al. Nutrient Vectors and Riparian Processing: A Review with Special Reference to African Semiarid Savanna Ecosystems. Ecosystems 10, 1231–1249 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-007-9092-1

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