How pastoralism changes savanna vegetation: impact of old pastoral settlements on plant diversity and abundance in south-western Kenya

For centuries, pastoralists have influenced savanna ecology through their construction of settlements, traditional movement patterns in search of forage, water and safety for their livestock. Construction of settlements initiates localised changes in the vegetation due to clearance of vegetation at construction and collection of construction materials. During the occupation period a lot of dung is deposited in and around settlements. When pastoral families abandon settlements and move away, they leave behind mud huts and livestock corrals surrounded by fences. These sites become nutrient-rich patches supporting a different abundance and diversity of plants and large mammals compared to the rest of the savanna. This study aimed to broaden our understanding of how pastoral land use influences plant diversity in East African savannas. Past work on the effects of settlements has been done in dry places (