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Contents:
Part 1 - The historical and conceptual framework; Part 2 - A template for savanna heterogeneity; Part 3 - Interactions between biotic components; Part 4 - Humans and savannas.
Review:
Although general overviews of biomes and regions are crucial parts of initial ecological and environmental education there is still a need for books which look at all aspects of a specific place. In this volume we have not only a multi-dimensional picture of the management of one of the most famous national parks, Kruger, but also a picture of the historical development of this 20,00 sq km reserve. The result is not a dry catalogue of data but a highly informative and detailed read.
The editors have been able to call upon a large number of specialists who together contribute to the 23 chapters of this book. For ease, its divided into 4 parts. The first part looks at the development of the area and its basic features. The first chapter takes us back 40,000 years to the first hunter-gatherers in the area and brings us swiftly to the last 100 years with an obvious focus of the development of the national park concept. From there we get an overview of the biotic and abiotic features of the area. This is not put down as a catalogue but within a framework because a key part of the text is not just description but the placing of work in a scientific context. Heterogeneity is not just a description of park diversity but a model in and through which to examine management strategies. From our basic introduction we move on to the development of a range of management strategies from simple charismatic-creature conservation to ecosystem-based heterogeneity. The final chapter in this section is the extremely useful examination of the links between science, research and management. Part two takes a number of aspects mentioned in part one and expands upon them. The first chapter here looks at abiotic patterns and the resultant vegetation. Next is biochemistry and general cycling. Since this is savanna, fire regimes receives detailed treatment followed by the impact of water in the region. Part three starts with a description of the interactions between species and ecosystems and the very special impact of elephants on the area. There follows seven chapters, each devoted to a specific group of organisms (insects, birds, elephants etc) but focussed on their roles within the Kruger as an area and as a model of heterogeneity research. Unusual here is the examination of wildlife diseases which can create considerable variations in populations. The final part, four, puts humans in the picture. There's a chapter devoted to human impact in the park and one dealing with the impact of those outside the area. Final chapters examine management and the future of the area.
This is a highly detailed and interesting account of one area in Africa. Its value lies in the rigid framework it sets for itself and the huge amount of detail that we are given about the area. We don't need to have visited the area or be experts in African ecology to follow what is being said: the background data fills in all the blanks. It's rare to find such a wealth of information about one place and this, backed with more visual material would provide a fascinating case study for any group of interested students.