In view of the rapidly changing ecology of Africa, this work provides benchmarks for some of the major, and more neglected, aspects, with an accent on historical data to enable habitats to be seen in relation to their previous state, forming a background reference work to understanding how the ecology of Africa has been shaped by its past. Reviewing historical data wherever possible it adopts an holistic view treating man as well as animals, with accent on diseases both human and animal which have been a potent force in shaping Africa's ecology, a role neglected in ecological studies.
1. Introduction I: The Abiotic Environment
2. The changing climate of Africa
3. The changing climate of Africa
Part II: Introduction and Eastern Africa
4. The changing climate of Africa
Part III: Southern Africa
5. The changing climate of Africa
Part IV: Its effects
6. Fire Part I: Introduction and History
7. Fire Part II: Effects and Ecology
The Floral Environment
8. Vegetation and change: Introduction and Western Africa
9. Vegetation and change: Eastern and Southern Africa and conclusion
Abundance of Populations
10. Locusts the forgotten plague I
11. Locusts the forgotten plague II
12. Other abundant populations
13. To many hippopotamuses?
14. Elephants - a continent-wide problem Part I
15. Elephants - continent-wide problem Part II
16. Elephants - a continent-wide problem Part III
Animal Parasites and Diseases
17 The tsetse fly I: Africa's bane and benefice
18. The tsetse fly II: Decline and recovery
19. The Trypanosomiases I
20. The Trypanosomiases II
21. The Trypanosomiases III
22. Rinderpest, the great panzootic and its after effects
23. Zoonoses, animal and human diseases, endo and ectoparasites mainly mamal I
25. Epidemic disease in African history I: Micro and macro parasites, zoonoses, introduction, viral and protozoal diseases
26. Epidemic disease in African history II: Viral diseases
27. Epidemic disease in African history III: Bacterial and higher order infections
28. Epidemic disease in African history IV: Bubonic and pneumonic plague
Conclusion
29. Man's place in the ecology of Africa
Appendices
Appendix I: Age of baobabs
Appendix II: African mammal trypanosome host-parasite list