Back to Search Start Over

Savanna vegetation-fire-climate relationships differ among continents.

Authors :
Lehmann CE
Anderson TM
Sankaran M
Higgins SI
Archibald S
Hoffmann WA
Hanan NP
Williams RJ
Fensham RJ
Felfili J
Hutley LB
Ratnam J
San Jose J
Montes R
Franklin D
Russell-Smith J
Ryan CM
Durigan G
Hiernaux P
Haidar R
Bowman DM
Bond WJ
Source :
Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 2014 Jan 31; Vol. 343 (6170), pp. 548-52.
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

Ecologists have long sought to understand the factors controlling the structure of savanna vegetation. Using data from 2154 sites in savannas across Africa, Australia, and South America, we found that increasing moisture availability drives increases in fire and tree basal area, whereas fire reduces tree basal area. However, among continents, the magnitude of these effects varied substantially, so that a single model cannot adequately represent savanna woody biomass across these regions. Historical and environmental differences drive the regional variation in the functional relationships between woody vegetation, fire, and climate. These same differences will determine the regional responses of vegetation to future climates, with implications for global carbon stocks.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1095-9203
Volume :
343
Issue :
6170
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Science (New York, N.Y.)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
24482480
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1247355