Soil Factors Affecting the Distribution of the Grassland Types and their Utilization by Wild Animals on the Serengeti Plains, Tanganyika

Plant communities on permanent plots of the serengeti plains

“…These have filled in the original strongly eroded landscape to give the present surface its slightly undulating character, which is occasionally interrupted by small islands of rocks (kopjes). Ashes blown here from volcanoes in the highlands to the east contain few silicates, but are very rich in sodium, calcium and potassium (Anderson & Talbot 1965). Tufts decrease and precipitation increases with increasing distance from the highlands along a southeast-northwest axis.…”

“…The shrubless character vegetation of the Serengeti Plains Vegetation boundaries according to Anderson & Talbot (1965), Braun (unpubl. ) and Gerresheim (1973).…”

“…This causes a parallel progression in soil development and several distinct soil types occur along this axis. Anderson & Talbot (1965) distinguish four soil types within the boundaries of the Serengeti National Park: 1. Brown calcareous soils are found on upper slopes in the western and northern Serengeti Plains (plot no.…”

“…This publication describes the plant communities found on these plots especially at the level of the small scale vegetation mosaic characteristic of the Serengeti Plains (Anderson & Talbot 1965, de Boer 1969, de Wit 1972. Aerial photography was used to increase accuracy of vegetation mapping and to study possible vegetation changes (Gerresheim 1970).…”

“…As edaphic and biotic factors are important determinants of occurrence and nature of grassland communities on the Serengeti Plains (Anderson & Talbot 1965, Bell 1970, de Wit 1972), soil profiles were described and top soil layers analyzed for chemical characteristics to complement the phytosociological survey.…”