R scripts

This study investigates how anthropogenic disturbances influence plant population dynamics and species interactions, with a focus on predicting biodiversity resilience and informing conservation strategies. We specifically examine Securidaca longepedunculata, a long-lived medicinal tree native to sub-Saharan Africa, which is experiencing population declines due to pressures such as lethal root harvesting and herbivory. To understand the combined effects of environmental, anthropogenic, and ecological factors on its population dynamics, we conducted field surveys and demographic monitoring across three populations in Muswodi, Limpopo, South Africa, and applied structural equation modeling to disentangle the direct and indirect drivers of population change.