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Determinants of woody cover in African savannas

Author

Listed:
  • Mahesh Sankaran

    (Colorado State University)

  • Niall P. Hanan

    (Colorado State University)

  • Robert J. Scholes

    (CSIR)

  • Jayashree Ratnam

    (Colorado State University)

  • David J. Augustine

    (Commanche National Grassland)

  • Brian S. Cade

    (Fort Collins Science Center)

  • Jacques Gignoux

    (UMR 7625 CNRS, Université de Paris 6 ENS)

  • Steven I. Higgins

    (Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig Halle, Sekt Okosyst Anal)

  • Xavier Le Roux

    (Université Lyon 1 USC INRA 1193, Bâtiment G. Mendel)

  • Fulco Ludwig

    (CSIRO Plant Industry)

  • Jonas Ardo

    (Lund University)

  • Feetham Banyikwa

    (University of Dar es Salaam)

  • Andries Bronn

    (Port Elizabeth Technikon)

  • Gabriela Bucini

    (Colorado State University)

  • Kelly K. Caylor

    (Princeton University
    Princeton University)

  • Michael B. Coughenour

    (Colorado State University)

  • Alioune Diouf

    (Centre de Suivi Ecologique)

  • Wellington Ekaya

    (University of Nairobi)

  • Christie J. Feral

    (University of Virginia)

  • Edmund C. February

    (University of Cape Town, University Private Bag)

  • Peter G. H. Frost

    (University of Zimbabwe)

  • Pierre Hiernaux

    (CESBIO)

  • Halszka Hrabar

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Kristine L. Metzger

    (University of Wisconsin)

  • Herbert H. T. Prins

    (Wageningen University)

  • Susan Ringrose

    (University of Botswana)

  • William Sea

    (Colorado State University)

  • Jörg Tews

    (University of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry & Biology, Plant Ecology & Nature Conservation
    Biology, Plant Ecology & Nature Conservation)

  • Jeff Worden

    (Colorado State University)

  • Nick Zambatis

    (Kruger National Park)

Abstract

Savannas on the verge Ecologists have long debated mechanisms by which trees and grasses are able to coexist in savanna ecosystems. Based on data from 854 sites in Africa, Sankaran et al. identify a distinction between savannas receiving less that 650 mm of rainfall annually and those receiving more. Below the 650-mm mark, water is the critical determinant of woody community structure. These savannas are stable, and here disturbances (such as fire and herbivory) and soil properties will modify woody cover, but are not necessary for tree and grass to coexist. Above 650 mm, disturbances are essential for the maintenance of a savanna.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahesh Sankaran & Niall P. Hanan & Robert J. Scholes & Jayashree Ratnam & David J. Augustine & Brian S. Cade & Jacques Gignoux & Steven I. Higgins & Xavier Le Roux & Fulco Ludwig & Jonas Ardo & Feetha, 2005. "Determinants of woody cover in African savannas," Nature, Nature, vol. 438(7069), pages 846-849, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:438:y:2005:i:7069:d:10.1038_nature04070
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04070
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Guo, Tong & Weise, Hanna & Fiedler, Sebastian & Lohmann, Dirk & Tietjen, Britta, 2018. "The role of landscape heterogeneity in regulating plant functional diversity under different precipitation and grazing regimes in semi-arid savannas," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 379(C), pages 1-9.
    2. Tchuinté Tamen, A. & Dumont, Y. & Tewa, J.J. & Bowong, S. & Couteron, P., 2017. "A minimalistic model of tree–grass interactions using impulsive differential equations and non-linear feedback functions of grass biomass onto fire-induced tree mortality," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 265-297.
    3. Klaus Kellner & Jaco Fouché & David Tongway & Ricart Boneschans & Helga van Coller & Nanette van Staden, 2022. "Landscape Function Analysis: Responses to Bush Encroachment in a Semi-Arid Savanna in the Molopo Region, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-24, July.
    4. Accatino, Francesco & De Michele, Carlo, 2013. "Humid savanna–forest dynamics: A matrix model with vegetation–fire interactions and seasonality," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 265(C), pages 170-179.
    5. Larissa Robinov & Chris Hopkinson & Mark C. Vanderwel, 2021. "Topographic Variation in Forest Expansion Processes across a Mosaic Landscape in Western Canada," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Meyer, Katrin M. & Wiegand, Kerstin & Ward, David & Moustakas, Aristides, 2007. "SATCHMO: A spatial simulation model of growth, competition, and mortality in cycling savanna patches," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 209(2), pages 377-391.
    7. Pachzelt, Adrian & Rammig, Anja & Higgins, Steven & Hickler, Thomas, 2013. "Coupling a physiological grazer population model with a generalized model for vegetation dynamics," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 263(C), pages 92-102.
    8. Synodinos, Alexis D. & Tietjen, Britta & Jeltsch, Florian, 2015. "Facilitation in drylands: Modeling a neglected driver of savanna dynamics," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 304(C), pages 11-21.
    9. Akpoué, Kouadio Jean-Philippe & Barot, Sébastien & Raynaud, Xavier & Gignoux, Jacques, 2021. "Modeling the biomass allocation of tree resprout in a fire-prone savanna," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 448(C).
    10. Epstein, Graham & Vogt, Jessica & Cox, Michael & Shimek, Luke, 2014. "Confronting problems of method in the study of sustainability," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 42-50.
    11. Loudermilk, E.L. & Cropper, W.P. & Mitchell, R.J. & Lee, H., 2011. "Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and hardwood dynamics in a fire-maintained ecosystem: A simulation approach," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(15), pages 2733-2750.
    12. Cecilia Parracciani & Robert Buitenwerf & Jens-Christian Svenning, 2023. "Impacts of Climate Change on Vegetation in Kenya: Future Projections and Implications for Protected Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, November.
    13. Blanco, Carolina Casagrande & Scheiter, Simon & Sosinski, Enio & Fidelis, Alessandra & Anand, Madhur & Pillar, Valério D., 2014. "Feedbacks between vegetation and disturbance processes promote long-term persistence of forest–grassland mosaics in south Brazil," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 291(C), pages 224-232.
    14. Guo, Tong & Lohmann, Dirk & Ratzmann, Gregor & Tietjen, Britta, 2016. "Response of semi-arid savanna vegetation composition towards grazing along a precipitation gradient—The effect of including plant heterogeneity into an ecohydrological savanna model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 325(C), pages 47-56.
    15. Kenneth R. Young, 2023. "Reflections on the Dynamics of Savanna Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-12, September.
    16. Djeumen, I.V. Yatat & Dumont, Y. & Doizy, A. & Couteron, P., 2021. "A minimalistic model of vegetation physiognomies in the savanna biome," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 440(C).

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