During his PhD studies, Reece Thornley investigated how anthropogenic disturbances in African savanna protected areas affect megafauna. He examined the influence of both human and natural factors on megafauna abundance within these areas, assessed the extent of anthropogenic disturbance-induced defaunation, and used findings from the IPCC climate change reports to predict how megafauna will respond to future global changes.

The newly discovered research contributes to understanding the widespread human impacts on savanna protected areas, despite their legally protected status. Reece's work also underscores the magnitude of challenges faced by megafauna due to global environmental changes, emphasizing the substantial efforts required for the restoration of protected areas across Africa.

The PhD study was completed at Biochange Centre, Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology,. Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, March 22^nd 2024, at 13:00,
Place: Building 1532, room 116, AUD G1, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 118, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: African megafauna and savanna protected areas in the Anthropocene

Contact information: Reece Thornley, e-mail: reecethornley@hotmail.com , tel.: +447521813310

Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Robert Pringle, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Princeton University, USA

Professor Bente J. Graae, Deprtment of Biology, NTNU, Norway

Associate Professor Alejandro Ordonez Gloria, Department of Biology, Aarhus University (chair), Denmark

Main supervisor:
Professor Jens Christian Svenning, Department of Biology, Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Aarhus University, Denmark

Co-supervisor:
Associate Professor Robert Buitenwerf, Department of Biology, Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Aarhus University, Denmark

Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.