An Integrated Field Protocol for Multi-taxon Biodiversity Surveys in African Rangeland Ecosystems

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Rangelands are vital ecosystems supporting human livelihoods and wildlife.
• These areas face threats from degradation, expansion, and climate change.
• Healthy rangelands play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a methodology for monitoring African rangeland biodiversity and health.
• To describe protocols for collecting robust, replicable data across multiple taxa.
• To provide an integrated assessment of rangeland health across trophic levels.

Main Methods:

• Development of standardized protocols for data collection.
• Sampling across diverse taxa including vegetation, invertebrates, birds, and mammals.
• Inclusion of indicators for anthropogenic disturbance and habitat characteristics.

Main Results:

• A suite of protocols for planning, implementation, and analysis of rangeland monitoring.
• Data collection methods accounting for landscape heterogeneity.
• Integrated assessment of rangeland health from multiple trophic levels.

Conclusions:

• The proposed methodology enables robust and replicable assessment of African rangeland health.
• This integrated approach supports effective conservation strategies for these critical ecosystems.
• Monitoring biodiversity and anthropogenic impacts is key to rangeland management.