New preprint! In a landscape-scale study from #Kruger NP, we show that dominance of a native tree, Colophospermum #mopane, reduces diversity of insects, birds, and mammals, while not affecting plants. Led by @fpgaona1 @RobertTropek and Petr Pyšek doi.org/10.1101/2025.1…

#Mopane dominates over one-third of southern African savannas and is projected to expand under climate change. Its dense canopy, thick litter, and coppicing growth strongly modify light, soil moisture, and understorey structure, yet its broad biodiversity impacts remained unclear

Across 27 plots, species richness of insects, birds, bats, and non-flying mammals declined with increasing mopane cover. Birds showed the steepest reductions. Plant diversity stayed stable, with grasses showing only a weak positive trend.

Community composition also shifts along the mopane gradient in birds, mammals, and bats, while insects mainly lose species without systematic restructure. Overall, mopane dominance acts as a powerful ecological filter that simplifies savanna ecosystems.

With mopane projected to expand under climate change, these findings highlight the importance of maintaining heterogeneous savanna mosaics rather than promoting monodominant stands in management or restoration. doi.org/10.1101/2025.1…