Grass and tree cover responses to intra-seasonal rainfall variability vary along a rainfall gradient in African tropical grassy biomes

Scientific Reports
Donatella D'OnofrioMara Baudena

Abstract

Although it is well known that mean annual rainfall (MAR) and rainfall seasonality have a key role in influencing the distribution of tree and grass cover in African tropical grassy biomes (TGBs), the impact of intra-seasonal rainfall variability on these distributions is less agreed upon. Since the prevalent mechanisms determining biome occurrence and distribution change with MAR, this research investigates the role of intra-seasonal rainfall variability for three different MAR ranges, assessing satellite data on grass and tree cover, rainfall and fire intervals at a sub-continental scale in sub-Saharan Africa. For MAR below 630 mm y-1, rainfall frequency had a positive relationship with grass cover; this relationship however became mostly negative at intermediate MAR (630-1200 mm y-1), where tree cover correspondingly mostly increased with rainfall frequency. In humid TGBs, tree cover decreased with rainfall intensity. Overall, intra-seasonal rainfall variability plays a role in determining vegetation cover, especially in mesic TGBs, where the relative dominance of trees and grasses has previously been largely unexplained. Importantly, the direction of the effect of intra-seasonal variability changes with MAR. Given the predi...Continue Reading

References

Dec 13, 2005·Nature·Mahesh SankaranNick Zambatis
Apr 21, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·David MedvigyPaul R Moorcroft
Feb 19, 2011·Nature·Seung-Ki MinGabriele C Hegerl
Mar 9, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Stephen P Good, Kelly K Caylor
Apr 6, 2011·The New Phytologist·Caroline E R LehmannWilliam J Bond
Oct 15, 2011·Science·Marina HirotaMarten Scheffer
Jul 7, 2012·The American Naturalist·A Carla Staver, Simon A Levin
Dec 26, 2012·Oecologia·David WardStephan Getzin
Mar 19, 2014·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Catherine L ParrAlan N Andersen
Aug 27, 2015·Theoretical Population Biology·Chi Yuan, Peter Chesson
Oct 7, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Xiangtao XuIgnacio Rodriguez-Iturbe
Oct 24, 2015·Ecology Letters·Vinícius de L DantasJuli G Pausas
Dec 4, 2015·PloS One·Michael G Mazzacavallo, Andrew Kulmatiski
Jan 9, 2016·Science·William J Bond
Aug 10, 2016·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Immaculada Oliveras, Yadvinder Malhi
Aug 10, 2016·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Brett P MurphyCatherine L Parr
Jun 5, 2018·The New Phytologist·Madelon F Case, A Carla Staver

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Matlab

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Water Science and Technology : a Journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
Chenglin LiuChuanhao Wu
Plantation Health
N P LARSEN
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved