Fellowship Year:
2026
Degree:
PhD
Research Country:
Botswana
Research Continent:
Africa
Project Title:
Carbon in the Kalahari: Quantifying the magnitude and persistence of animal-mediated hotspots in drylands
Abstract:
This study examines how wild large herbivores influence carbon storage and stabilization in the dryland ecosystems of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi region by shaping patterns of above- and belowground carbon through their movement and behavior. Using camera-trap monitoring, stratified soil sampling and radiocarbon dating across 60 sites, the project investigates how herbivore activity affects the age, turnover and stabilization pathways of organic and inorganic soil carbon pools. By integrating field measurements with satellite imagery, the research aims to better understand the persistence, sequestration potential and resilience of dryland carbon stocks under changing climatic and land-use conditions.