10.5061/DRYAD.F3H1342
Cramer, Michael D.
University of Cape Town
Power, Simon C.
University of Cape Town
Belev, Anastas
Princeton University
Gillson, Lindsay
Princeton University
Bond, William J.
University of Cape Town
Hoffman, Michael Timm
University of Cape Town
Hedin, Lars O.
Princeton University
Gillson, Lindsey
University of Cape Town
Data from: Are forest‐shrubland mosaics of the Cape Floristic Region an
example of alternate stable states?
Dryad
dataset
2018
Anthropocene
edaphic properties
Niche construction
2018-09-14T13:36:46Z
2018-09-14T13:36:46Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.03860
157544 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The idea of alternate stable states (ASS) has been used to explain the
juxtaposition of distinct vegetation types within the same climate regime.
ASS may explain the co‐existence of relatively inflammable closed‐canopy
Afrotemperate Forest patches (“Forest”) within fire‐prone open‐canopy
Fynbos in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) on sandstone‐derived soils. We
evaluated the hypothesis that although fire and local topography and
hydrology likely determined the paleogeographic boundaries of Forest,
present‐day boundaries are additionally imposed by emergent edaphic
properties and disturbance histories. We studied vegetation and edaphic
properties of Forest‐Transition‐Fynbos vegetation at two sites within the
CFR on sandstone‐derived soils and tracked historical change using aerial
photography. Whereas Forest and Fynbos have changed little in extent or
density since 1945, Transition vegetation increased into areas formerly
occupied by Fynbos. Forest soils were ubiquitously more nutrient‐rich than
Fynbos soils, with Transition soils being intermediate. These edaphic
differences are not due to geological differences, but instead appear to
have emerged as a consequence of different nutrient cycling within the
different ecosystems. Soil nutrients are now so different that a switch
from Fynbos to Forest is unlikely, in the short term (i.e. decades).
Floristically and nutritionally, Transitional vegetation is more similar
to Fynbos than Forest and may be less resilient to changes in exogenous
drivers (e.g., fire). Our findings are consistent with the idea that
geologically Forest and Fynbos are largely fire‐derived long‐term ASS,
with the stability of each state reinforced by marked soil nutrient
differences. In contrast, the intermediate Transitional vegetation that
might switch states is unlikely to be stable.
Empirical data for Cramer et alThe data is in a Microsoft Excel
spreadsheet with multiple worksheets. The worksheets detail the site
geographic locations, vegetation cover change (from aerial photographs),
soil nutrients, soil elemental composition (XRF analysis), particle sizes,
C and N isotopes, charcoal and vegetation composition for each
site.Blink_Okloof_Dryad_data.xlsx
Cape Floristic Region
South Africa