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Elephant rewilding indirectly affects the abundance of an arboreal but not generalist savanna lizard

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Abstract

Trophic rewilding provides a nature-based solution for biological conservation; however, empirical studies demonstrating rewilding effects are limited. Megaherbivores moderate the type and quality of habitat available to other fauna. However, these effects may take time to develop. Further, fauna responses to megaherbivore rewilding will depend on a suite of life-history traits and strategies that allow persistence within megaherbivore modified landscapes. We conducted a space-for-time field survey in South African savanna to determine if habitat modifications mediated by a reintroduced megaherbivore, the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana), impacts the abundance of the diurnal arboreal cape dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus capensis) and two generalist diurnal skinks [the variable skink (Trachylepis varia) and striped skink (Trachylepis striata), collectively] across a 47-year period. The relative abundance of lizards and six habitat attributes utilized by lizards were assessed at 30 sites stratified across three biophysically and climatically similar nature reserves with different elephant reintroduction times (no elephants, 2003, 1972). The arboreal gecko was less common at the reserve with an older reintroduction time than the other reserves and was most commonly observed on, and positively correlated with, the density of the corkwood tree (Commiphora mollis). The generalist skinks were common across all reserves and were observed in a variety of habitats. Our results suggest that elephant rewilding differently impacts lizard species with different life-history strategies and that these effects take prolonged periods to develop. Given such knowledge, a long-term understanding of post-rewilding interactions will be a key point when designing and assessing the success of rewilding initiatives.

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Funding

The research was funded as part of a Carlsberg Foundation Semper Ardens grant (MegaPast2Future) awarded to Jens-Christian Svenning (Grant CF16-0005). JCS also considers this work a contribution to his VILLUM Investigator project “Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World” funded by VILLUM FONDEN (Grant 16549). Michelle Greve is supported by the South African National Research Foundation (Grant 116333).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World and Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Christopher E. Gordon & Jens-Christian Svenning

  2. Ndlovu Node, South African Environmental Observation Network, X1021, Phalaborwa, 1390, South Africa

    Rion E. Lerm

  3. Transfrontier Africa, Hoedspruit, 1380, South Africa

    Paul Allin

  4. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa

    Michelle Greve

Authors
  1. Christopher E. Gordon
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  2. Rion E. Lerm
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  3. Paul Allin
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  4. Michelle Greve
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  5. Jens-Christian Svenning
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Contributions

CEG and J-CS conceived the research idea; CEG, PA and RL conducted the fieldwork; CEG conducted the data analysis; all authors contributed to writing and editing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Christopher E. Gordon.

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The authors have no conflicts or competing interests.

Ethical approval

Scientific research approvals were obtained from the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (No: 5651) and the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (No: ZA/LP/96069).

Consent to participate

Reserve warden Collin Rowles gave consent to work on Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. Reserve wardens Craig Spencer and Ian Nowak gave consent to work on the other reserves.

Additional information

Communicated by Dirk Sven Schmeller.

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Gordon, C.E., Lerm, R.E., Allin, P. et al. Elephant rewilding indirectly affects the abundance of an arboreal but not generalist savanna lizard. Biodivers Conserv 30, 1277–1291 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02141-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02141-7

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