image: Sub-Saharan Africa was classified into four herbivory regimes, or 'herbivomes' based on analyses of the abundance and community composition of different herbivore functional types. These ecoregions support previously held views on the distinctiveness of forest, desert, nutrientrich savanna and nutrient poor savanna systems. [Inset: Giraffe are most prevalent in the High VALS (variety and abundance of larger species) herbivome.] Note: this image is a modification of Fig. 4A in Hempson et al. 2015 Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.aac7978. This material relates to a paper that appeared in the Nov. 27, 2015 issue of Science, published by AAAS. The paper, by G.P. Hempson at University of Cape Town in Rondebosch, South Africa, and colleagues was titled, "A continent-wide assessment of the form and intensity of large mammal herbivory in Africa." view more
Credit: Gareth P. Hempson