Herbivore Diversity Research Articles

ECOLOGY. Learning from Africa's herbivores.

Herbivore diversity plays a key role in grassland ecosystems [Also see Research Article by Hempson et al. ]

Combining paleo-data and modern exclosure experiments to assess the impact of megafauna extinctions on woody vegetation

Until recently in Earth history, very large herbivores (mammoths, ground sloths, diprotodons, and many others) occurred in most of the World’s terrestrial ecosystems, but the majority have gone extinct as part of the late-Quaternary extinctions. How has this large-scale removal of large herbivores affected landscape structure and ecosystem functioning? In this review, we combine paleo-data with information from modern exclosure experiments to assess the impact of large herbivores (and their disappearance) on woody species, landscape structure, and ecosystem functions. In modern landscapes characterized by intense herbivory, woody plants can persist by defending themselves or by association with defended species, can persist by growing in places that are physically inaccessible to herbivores, or can persist where high predator activity limits foraging by herbivores. At the landscape scale, different herbivore densities and assemblages may result in dynamic gradients in woody cover. The late-Quaternary extinctions were natural experiments in large-herbivore removal; the paleoecological record shows evidence of widespread changes in community composition and ecosystem structure and function, consistent with modern exclosure experiments. We propose a conceptual framework that describes the impact of large herbivores on woody plant abundance mediated by herbivore diversity and density, predicting that herbivore suppression of woody plants is strongest where herbivore diversity is high. We conclude that the decline of large herbivores induces major alterations in landscape structure and ecosystem functions.

Space-based long-term observation of shrinking grassland habitat: A case-study from central India

Grassland ecosystem is critical for survival of herbivores and plays an important role in conservation and management of wildlife. These habitats are widely studied for various issues, including biodiversity, biomass assessment, carrying capacity, etc. Woody species ingression in grasslands is one such important aspect that needs critical attention in protected area as this leads to shrinking of grasslands habitat. This study presents a case of Ronda grassland in Kanha National Park – a well-known protected area in India, known for its herbivore diversity and hard-ground Barasingha (Rucervus duvaceli branderi), in particular. Long-term satellite observation for five decades was carried out to understand spatio-temporal changes. Declassified Corona satellite data, aerial photographs along with satellite datasets in the subsequent period were utilised for this study. The study revealed that 88 ha (16% of Ronda and surrounding) have been ingressed during 1962–2011, in and around Ronda grassland of Kanha National Park. Rates of ingression on linear transects were found to be 60–120 m per decade. Field studies and NDVI analysis along the edge of grassland pixels as well as inside region using 1972 as baseline data, indicated woody vegetation replacing area of grassland. It was noted that Butea monosperma is invading more than other species in Ronda grassland, particularly along the stream where moisture availability is higher. Grassland habitats in Kanha are thus shrinking and thus leading to reduction in the area available for herbivore population which has increased in recent years. This can lead to severe impact on carrying capacity of these grasslands.

Phytochemical diversity drives plant–insect community diversity

What are the ecological causes and consequences of variation in phytochemical diversity within and between plant taxa? Despite decades of natural products discovery by organic chemists and research by chemical ecologists, our understanding of phytochemically mediated ecological processes in natural communities has been restricted to studies of either broad classes of compounds or a small number of well-characterized molecules. Until now, no studies have assessed the ecological causes or consequences of rigorously quantified phytochemical diversity across taxa in natural systems. Consequently, hypotheses that attempt to explain variation in phytochemical diversity among plants remain largely untested. We use spectral data from crude plant extracts to characterize phytochemical diversity in a suite of co-occurring plants in the tropical genus Piper (Piperaceae). In combination with 20 years of data focused on Piper-associated insects, we find that phytochemical diversity has a direct and positive effect on the diversity of herbivores but also reduces overall herbivore damage. Elevated chemical diversity is associated with more specialized assemblages of herbivores, and the cascading positive effect of phytochemistry on herbivore enemies is stronger as herbivore diet breadth narrows. These results are consistent with traditional hypotheses that predict positive associations between plant chemical diversity, insect herbivore diversity, and trophic specialization. It is clear from these results that high phytochemical diversity not only enhances the diversity of plant-associated insects but also contributes to the ecological predominance of specialized insect herbivores.

Diverse and abundant insect herbivory on Miocene Nothofagaceae of the Dunedin Volcano, Otago, New Zealand

Terrigenous sediments occurring within the mid/upper Miocene Dunedin Volcanic Group in southern New Zealand contain well-preserved leaf-beds, commonly dominated by Nothofagaceae leaf fossils. Abundant insect herbivory traces occur on Nothofagaceae leaf fossils from the Double Hill and Kaikorai Valley localities, including 28 types of external foliage feeding traces, 8 types of galling and a possible fungal trace, several not described previously. Relatively high diversity of insect herbivory traces on broad-leaved Nothofagaceae suggests a high diversity of insect herbivores. The high abundance and diversity of trace fossils in combination with evidence for plicate vernation suggests that Nothofagaceae growing on the mid/late Miocene Dunedin Volcano had shorter leaf retention times than modern New Zealand Nothofagaceae. The loss of Nothofagaceae diversity from New Zealand due to cooling climate in the late Neogene could also have meant the demise of an arthropod community adapted to living on broad-leaved Nothofagaceae. Insect damage diversity and amount at Double Hill was significantly higher than at Kaikorai Valley, as well as the occurrence of plicate vernation and leaves with stunted growth forms. This suggests that there may have been some difference in the insect diversity of the two sites, relating to local palaeoenvironment, such as higher temperatures at Double Hill during the warm season and/or differences in forest density.

Mechanisms of coexistence in diverse herbivore–carnivore assemblages: demographic, temporal and spatial heterogeneities affecting prey vulnerability

Simple models coupling the dynamics of single predators to single prey populations tend to generate oscillatory dynamics of both predator and prey, or extirpation of the prey followed by that of the predator. In reality, such oscillatory dynamics may be counteracted by prey refugia or by opportunities for prey switching by the predator in multi‐prey assemblages. How these mechanisms operate depends on relative prey vulnerability, a factor ignored in simple interactive models. I outline how compositional, temporal, demographic and spatial heterogeneities help explain the contrasting effects of top predators on large herbivore abundance and population dynamics in species‐rich African savanna ecosystems compared with less species‐diverse northern temperate or subarctic ecosystems. Demographically, mortality inflicted by predation depends on the relative size and life history stage of the prey. Because all animals eventually die and are consumed by various carnivores, the additive component of the mortality inflicted is somewhat less than the predation rate. Prey vulnerability varies annually and seasonally, and between day and night. Spatial variation in the risk of predation depends on vegetation cover as well as on the availability of food resources. During times of food shortage, herbivores become prompted to occupy more risky habitats retaining more food. Predator concentrations dependent on the abundance of primary prey species may restrict the occurrence of other potential prey species less resistant to predation. The presence of multiple herbivore species of similar size in African savannas allows the top predator, the lion, to shift its prey selection flexibly dependent on changing prey vulnerability. Hence top–down and bottom–up influences on herbivore populations are intrinsically entangled. Models coupling the population dynamics of predators and prey need to accommodate the changing influences of prey demography, temporal variation in environmental conditions, and spatial variation in the relative vulnerability of alternative prey species to predation.SynthesisWhile re‐established predators have had major impacts on prey populations in northern temperate regions, multiple large herbivore species typically coexist along with diverse carnivores in African savanna ecosystems. In order to explain these contrasting outcomes, certain functional heterogeneities must be recognised, including relative vulnerability of alternative prey, temporal variation in the risk of predation, demographic differences in susceptibility to predation, and spatial contrasts in exposure to predation. Food shortfalls prompt herbivores to exploit more risky habitats, meaning that top–down and bottom–up influences on prey populations are intrinsically entangled. Models coupling the interactive dynamics of predator and prey populations need to incorporate these varying influences on relative prey vulnerability.

Patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation in resistance gene clusters of two hybridizing European Populus species

Resistance genes (R-genes) are essential for long-lived organisms such as forest trees, which are exposed to diverse herbivores and pathogens. In short-lived model species, R-genes have been shown to be involved in species isolation. Here, we studied more than 400 trees from two natural hybrid zones of the European Populus species Populus alba and Populus tremula for microsatellite markers located in three R-gene clusters, including one cluster situated in the incipient sex chromosome region. The results indicate that all three R-gene clusters present extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD). Outlier tests suggest balancing selection as a potential driver of R-gene diversity, but divergent selection was also detected. Nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) type R-gene clusters exhibit low species differentiation and appear to be affected by shared selection pressures between species, recurrent interspecific gene flow, or both. Our results are consistent with a role for R-gene clusters in the evolution of chromosome XIX, recently put forward as an incipient sex chromosome in Populus.

Plant-herbivorous beetle networks: molecular characterization of trophic ecology within a threatened steppic environment.

DNA barcoding facilitates many evolutionary and ecological studies, including the examination of the dietary diversity of herbivores. In this study, we present a survey of ecological associations between herbivorous beetles and host plants from seriously threatened European steppic grasslands. We determined host plants for the majority (65%) of steppic leaf beetles (55 species) and weevils (59) known from central Europe using two barcodes (trnL and rbcL) and two sequencing strategies (Sanger for mono/oligophagous species and Illumina for polyphagous taxa). To better understand the ecological associations between steppic beetles and their host plants, we tested the hypothesis that leaf beetles and weevils differ in food selection as a result of their phylogenetic relations (within genera and between families) and interactions with host plants. We found 224 links between the beetles and the plants. Beetles belonging to seven genera feed on the same or related plants. Their preferences were probably inherited from common ancestors and/or resulted from the host plant's chemistry. Beetles from four genera feed on different plants, possibly reducing intrageneric competition and possibly due to an adaptation to different plant chemical defences. We found significant correlations between the numbers of leaf beetle and weevil species feeding on particular plants for polyphagous taxa, but not for nonpolyphagous beetles. Finally, we found that the previous identifications of host plants based on direct observations are generally concordant with host plant barcoding from insect gut. Our results expand basic knowledge about the trophic relations of steppic beetles and plants and are immediately useful for conservation purposes.

Assessing the latitudinal gradient in herbivory

AbstractPlant–herbivore interactions occur in all ecosystems and provide a major avenue for energy flow to higher trophic levels. A long‐standing hypothesis to explain the latitudinal gradient in species diversity proposes that the relatively stable and frost‐free climate of the tropics should lead to more intense biotic interactions in tropical compared with temperate environments, giving rise to a greater diversity of plants and herbivores. Herbivory rates have been compared across latitudes to test this biotic interactions hypothesis, with herbivory typically being measured from observable leaf damage. However, we argue that a measure of percentage leaf damage alone does not straightforwardly reflect the cost of herbivory to the plant, and on its own does not constitute an appropriate test of the biotic interactions hypothesis. For a given amount of herbivory, the impact of herbivory is dependent upon many factors, such as the construction cost of the leaf, the growth and replacement rates and leaf life span. We investigate the latitudinal gradient in herbivory by analysing a large dataset of herbivory rates for 452 tree species and separating the species into those with short and long leaf life spans. We show that annual herbivory rates tend to be greater at lower latitudes for evergreen species (which have long‐lived leaves), but no trend in herbivory rate with latitude was found for species with short leaf life spans. Phylogenetic least squares regression assuming Ornstein‐Uhlenbeck processes also showed a negative effect of latitude on herbivory rate for evergreen trees, but we caution that viewing herbivory as a species trait is problematic. An integrative approach that incorporates leaf life span, as well as the costs of investment in growth and potential costs of losing leaf tissue, is needed to further our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of herbivory.

The Micronesia Challenge: Assessing the Relative Contribution of Stressors on Coral Reefs to Facilitate Science-to-Management Feedback.

Fishing and pollution are chronic stressors that can prolong recovery of coral reefs and contribute to ecosystem decline. While this premise is generally accepted, management interventions are complicated because the contributions from individual stressors are difficult to distinguish. The present study examined the extent to which fishing pressure and pollution predicted progress towards the Micronesia Challenge, an international conservation strategy initiated by the political leaders of 6 nations to conserve at least 30% of marine resources by 2020. The analyses were rooted in a defined measure of coral-reef-ecosystem condition, comprised of biological metrics that described functional processes on coral reefs. We report that only 42% of the major reef habitats exceeded the ecosystem-condition threshold established by the Micronesia Challenge. Fishing pressure acting alone on outer reefs, or in combination with pollution in some lagoons, best predicted both the decline and variance in ecosystem condition. High variances among ecosystem-condition scores reflected the large gaps between the best and worst reefs, and suggested that the current scores were unlikely to remain stable through time because of low redundancy. Accounting for the presence of marine protected area (MPA) networks in statistical models did little to improve the models’ predictive capabilities, suggesting limited efficacy of MPAs when grouped together across the region. Yet, localized benefits of MPAs existed and are expected to increase over time. Sensitivity analyses suggested that (i) grazing by large herbivores, (ii) high functional diversity of herbivores, and (iii) high predator biomass were most sensitive to fishing pressure, and were required for high ecosystem-condition scores. Linking comprehensive fisheries management policies with these sensitive metrics, and targeting the management of pollution, will strengthen the Micronesia Challenge and preserve ecosystem services that coral reefs provide to societies in the face of climate change.

Gall-Insect Community on Big Sagebrush Varies With Plant Size but not Plant Age.

There is astounding variation in the abundance and diversity of insect herbivores among plant individuals within plant species in natural systems. One of the most well studied hypotheses for this pattern, the plant architecture hypothesis, suggests that insect community patterns vary with plant structural complexity and plant traits associated with structure. An important limitation to our understanding of the plant architecture hypothesis has been that most studies on the topic confound plant size and plant age. This occurs because, for most plant species, larger individuals are older individuals. This is a limitation because it prevents us from knowing whether insect community patterns are more dependent on traits associated with plant size, like resource quantity or plant apparency, or traits associated with plant age, like ontogenetic changes in phytochemistry. To separate these effects, we characterized galling insect communities on sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)-a shrub in which age and size are not tightly correlated. We identified gall insects and recorded morphological measurements from 60 plants that varied separately in size and age. We found that plant size explained significantly more variation in insect gall abundance and species richness than did plant age. These results suggest that processes supporting the plant architecture hypothesis in this system are driven primarily by plant size and not plant age per se. Resource qualities associated with host-plant ontogeny may be less important than resource quantity in the assembly of herbivorous insect communities.

Independent role of belowground organisms and plant cultivar diversity in legume-grass communities

Plant diversity and different groups of belowground organisms have been shown to influence the characteristics of plant communities and their associated aboveground organisms; however, little is known about the interactions and combined effects of these biotic factors. Furthermore, while plant species richness has received a lot of attention, intraspecific diversity has only recently come into the focus of community ecology. The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of beneficial soil organisms (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and anecic earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) and different levels of plant cultivar diversity interactively influence productivity, weed establishment, leaf damage by herbivores and pathogens, and the diversity of aboveground herbivores in legume-grass communities. Our results indicated that the addition of AMF increased aboveground plant productivity and tended to decrease the diversity of aboveground herbivores. Earthworms attenuated the effect of AMF addition on AMF root colonization, but had no effect on plant productivity or herbivore diversity. Weed biomass was significantly lower in plant communities with high cultivar diversity compared to low cultivar diversity. We did not find interactive effects of the two soil organism groups and plant cultivar diversity. Our results demonstrate the independent roles and additive positive effects of AMF and plant cultivar diversity on functions such as productivity and resistance against weeds in the field. We suggest that AMF and plant cultivar diversity manipulations may be applied more frequently in agriculture management programs that aim for sustainable yield enhancement and biocontrol of herbivores and weeds.

Impacts of grazing by different large herbivores in grassland depend on plant species diversity

Summary It is well documented that large herbivores have pronounced effects on plant communities in grassland ecosystems, and the extent and course of their effects can largely depend on both plant and herbivore characteristics. Previous studies highlighted the importance of plant productivity in predicting the impact of herbivores on grasslands. Yet, there has been little consideration of how different herbivores affect plant communities that, in turn, differ in plant diversity. In a 2‐year grazing experiment, we tested the effects of large herbivores (cattle or sheep, or both together) on plant communities under high and low plant diversity levels in eastern Eurasian steppe. We found that, for high plant diversity grassland, mixed grazing by cattle and sheep significantly increases plant diversity, but we found no effect of grazing by cattle or sheep alone. Grazing by cattle or sheep alone or mixed grazing by cattle and sheep did not significantly affect plant biomass in the high diversity grassland. However, for low plant diversity grassland, grazing by cattle alone and mixed grazing by cattle and sheep significantly increased plant diversity, but significantly decreased plant biomass. There was no significant impact on both plant diversity and biomass from sheep grazing. Synthesis and applications. We conclude that the effects of grazing in grassland strongly depend on herbivore assemblages and pre‐grazing plant diversity. Herbivore grazing might contribute more to the maintenance of grassland structure and ecosystem functioning under high plant diversity compared with low plant diversity. Furthermore, our data suggest that multiple‐species mixed grazing regimes in grassland systems with high plant diversity could represent the optimal protocol for grazing management. This study emphasizes the importance of maintaining both plant and herbivore diversity to optimize ecosystem functioning.

Insect herbivores drive the loss of unique chemical defense in willows

AbstractThroughout the course of their evolution, plants have acquired a wide range of chemical and mechanical defenses to protect against herbivores. Ehrlich & Raven's coevolutionary theory suggests that this diversification of defensive traits is driven by the strong impact of novel traits on insect herbivores. However, the impact of plant defenses on insects is difficult to compare between related plant species due to variation in environmental and biotic conditions. We standardized these factors as far as possible by analyzing the effects of chemical and mechanical defensive traits on insects in a local community of 11 Salicaceae species growing in sympatry, and their leaf‐chewing herbivores. Defensive traits (salicylates, flavonoids, tannins, trichomes, and leaf toughness) were generally not inter‐correlated, with the exception of a negative correlation between salicylates and trichomes. The content of salicylates, a novel group of defensive metabolites in the Salicaceae, was correlated with low herbivore diversity and high host specificity. Despite these effects, the phylogeny of the studied species shows loss of salicylates in some Salix species instead of their further diversification. This could be due to salicylates not decreasing the overall abundance of herbivores, despite accounting for up to 22% of the dry leaf mass and therefore being costly. The defense of low‐salicylate willow species is thus probably maintained by other defensive traits, such as trichomes. Our study shows that the balance between costs and benefits of defensive traits is not necessarily in favor of novel compounds and illustrates a process, which may lead to the reduction in a defensive trait.

Phytophagous insects on native and non-native host plants: combining the community approach and the biogeographical approach.

During the past centuries, humans have introduced many plant species in areas where they do not naturally occur. Some of these species establish populations and in some cases become invasive, causing economic and ecological damage. Which factors determine the success of non-native plants is still incompletely understood, but the absence of natural enemies in the invaded area (Enemy Release Hypothesis; ERH) is one of the most popular explanations. One of the predictions of the ERH, a reduced herbivore load on non-native plants compared with native ones, has been repeatedly tested. However, many studies have either used a community approach (sampling from native and non-native species in the same community) or a biogeographical approach (sampling from the same plant species in areas where it is native and where it is non-native). Either method can sometimes lead to inconclusive results. To resolve this, we here add to the small number of studies that combine both approaches. We do so in a single study of insect herbivory on 47 woody plant species (trees, shrubs, and vines) in the Netherlands and Japan. We find higher herbivore diversity, higher herbivore load and more herbivory on native plants than on non-native plants, generating support for the enemy release hypothesis.

Trophic phylogenetics: evolutionary influences on body size, feeding, and species associations in grassland arthropods.

Contemporary animal-plant interactions such as herbivory are widely understood to be shaped by evolutionary history. Yet questions remain about the role of plant phylogenetic diversity in generating and maintaining herbivore diversity, and whether evolutionary relatedness of producers might predict the composition of consumer communities. We tested for evidence of evolutionary associations among arthropods and the plants on which they were found, using phylogenetic analysis of naturally occurring arthropod assemblages sampled from a plant-diversity manipulation experiment. Considering phylogenetic relationships among more than 900 arthropod consumer taxa and 29 plant species in the experiment, we addressed several interrelated questions. First, our results support the hypothesis that arthropod functional traits such as body size and trophic role are phylogenetically conserved in community ecological samples. Second, herbivores tended to cooccur with closer phylogenetic relatives than would be expected at random, whereas predators and parasitoids did not show phylogenetic association patterns. Consumer specialization, as measured by association through time with monocultures of particular host plant species, showed significant phylogenetic signal, although the. strength of this association varied among plant species. Polycultures of phylogenetically dissimilar plant species supported more phylogenetically dissimilar consumer communities than did phylogenetically similar polycultures. Finally, we separated the effects of plant species richness and relatedness in predicting the phylogenetic distribution of the arthropod assemblages in this experiment. The phylogenetic diversity of plant communities predicted the phylogenetic diversity of herbivore communities even after accounting for plant species richness. The phylogenetic diversity of secondary consumers differed by guild, with predator phylogenetic diversity responding to herbivore relatedness, while parasitoid phylogenetic diversity was driven by plant relatedness. Evolutionary associations between plants and their consumers are apparent in plots only meters apart in a single field, indicating a strong role for host-plant phylogenetic diversity in sustaining landscape consumer biodiversity.

Diversity of Arthropods Associated withMikaniaspp. andChromolaena odorata(Asterales: Asteraceae: Eupatorieae) in Florida

Summary Field surveys revealed that in south Florida the recently established Mikania micrantha Kunth (Asterales: Asteraceae: Eupatorieae) had a lower diversity of monophagous insect herbivores compared to the native Mikania spp. or Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob. (Asterales: Asteraceae: Eupatorieae). In addition, Mikania micrantha served as a host for pests of agricultural and ornamental crops in Florida.

Herbivory and the resilience of Caribbean coral reefs: knowledge gaps and implications for management

Herbivory is a key process on coral reefs that can facilitate reef-building corals by excluding algae that otherwise negatively impact coral settlement, growth, and survivorship. Over the last several de cades, coral cover on Caribbean reefs has declined precipitously. On many reefs, large structurally complex corals have been replaced by algae and other non-reef-building or- ganisms, resulting in the collapse of physical structure and the loss of critical ecosystem services. The drivers of coral decline on Caribbean reefs are complex and vary among locations. On many reefs, populations of key her- bivores have been greatly reduced by disease and over- fishing, and this has resulted in the proliferation of algae that hinder coral recovery following major disturbances. Yet, evidence that increases in herbivory can promote coral recovery on Caribbean reefs has been mixed. Here, we discuss key contingencies that will modify the rela- tionships between herbivores, algae, and corals and identify critical knowledge gaps that limit our ability to predict when and where herbivores are most likely to facili tate coral persistence and recovery. Impacts of her- bivores on coral reef ecosystems will vary greatly in space and time and will depend on herbivore diversity and species identity. While there are still a large number of knowledge gaps, we make several management rec- ommendations based on our current understanding of the processes that structure reef ecosystems. Reversing the fate of Caribbean coral reefs will require the de - velopment of integrated management strategies that simultaneously address multiple stressors in addition to the impacts of fisheries on herbivore assemblages.

Comparison of invertebrate herbivores on native and non‐native Senecio species: Implications for the enemy release hypothesis

AbstractThe enemy release hypothesis posits that non‐native plant species may gain a competitive advantage over their native counterparts because they are liberated from co‐evolved natural enemies from their native area. The phylogenetic relationship between a non‐native plant and the native community may be important for understanding the success of some non‐native plants, because host switching by insect herbivores is more likely to occur between closely related species. We tested the enemy release hypothesis by comparing leaf damage and herbivorous insect assemblages on the invasive species Senecio madagascariensis Poir. to that on nine congeneric species, of which five are native to the study area, and four are non‐native but considered non‐invasive. Non‐native species had less leaf damage than natives overall, but we found no significant differences in the abundance, richness and Shannon diversity of herbivores between native and non‐native Senecio L. species. The herbivore assemblage and percentage abundance of herbivore guilds differed among all Senecio species, but patterns were not related to whether the species was native or not. Species‐level differences indicate that S. madagascariensis may have a greater proportion of generalist insect damage (represented by phytophagous leaf chewers) than the other Senecio species. Within a plant genus, escape from natural enemies may not be a sufficient explanation for why some non‐native species become more invasive than others.

Can diverse herbivore communities increase landscape heterogeneity? Comparing wild and domestic herbivore assemblages in a South African savanna

The structure and composition of woody and grassy vegetation in savannas is strongly influenced by herbivores. In recent decades, the proportion of browsers has declined across African savannas in favour of more grazers, triggered by large-scale human-induced cattle grazing. This has led to overgrazing and an imbalance of woody and grassy vegetation. Our study investigated mono-specific and multi-species herbivore assemblages of varying density and assessed similarities in vegetation patterns under wildlife and livestock herbivory in and around Kruger National Park, South Africa. Under mono-specific herbivory, overall tree cover was more than twice as high compared to multi-species herbivory while the branching height of small and tall trees was lowest. Small tree and bush densities were strongly elevated at mono-specific compared to multi-species herbivore sites. Tall trees were dominated by Acacia nigrescens under multi-species herbivory at low wildlife density but not at high density sites. Grass leaf nitrogen contents were almost twice as high at multi compared to mono herbivory sites, particularly beneath tree canopies. Livestock and wildlife herbivore sites showed similar patterns in their woody plant structure and grass nutrients. We conclude that a characteristic herbaceous and woody vegetation structure as well as species composition can be matched with mammalian herbivore communities, which has implications for landscape heterogeneity and grazing management in savanna systems.