Large mammalian herbivores (LMH), or megafauna, are important mediators of nutrient cycling, ecosystem processes, and specifically carbon storage and flux, due to a range of direct and indirect biogeochemical interactions with their environment. Recent advances in the field of zoogeochemistry have repeatedly alluded to the importance of LMH in the carbon cycle and the need to include LMH in the global carbon budget and natural carbon capture efforts. However, LMH represent a wide range of domestic and wild species across a variety of unique habitats and contexts that result in significantly different influences on carbon stocks and fluxes.
In the context of a semi-arid sub-tropical landscape, I intend to address this gap in our understanding by 1) assessing LMH activity in relation to biophysical characteristics and natural and anthropogenic boundaries, and 2) evaluating the zoogeochemical impacts of domestic and wild assemblages on ecosystem carbon balance. This study will be conducted along the western boundary of Makgadikgadi National Park (Botswana), at sites of high versus low LMH activity adjacent to community rangelands. High-resolution soil sampling, plant overstory and understory surveys, soil respiration measurements, and camera trapping will be used to generate robust data for this system and quantify net effects of LMH on the carbon balance.