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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
earth and planetary sciences
Tree cover and its heterogeneity in natural ecosystems is linked to large herbivore biomass globally
One Earth, Volume 6, No. 12, Year 2023
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Description
Addressing intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss is a pressing global challenge, with trees playing pivotal roles in promoting carbon sequestration and habitat diversity. However, there is a distinct knowledge gap concerning the global drivers shaping tree cover and its heterogeneity, particularly the roles and relative importance of large herbivores and fire compared to climatic and topo-edaphic conditions. Here, we deploy satellite observations of strictly protected areas worldwide to reveal that in regions where vegetation may be in disequilibrium with climate, high biomass of large herbivores, especially browsers, is inversely related to tree cover but positively associated with its spatial heterogeneity. Conversely, fire reduces both tree cover and heterogeneity. These results suggest that top-down megafauna effects on landscape-scale vegetation openness and heterogeneity manifest worldwide. Our finding supports the need to consider megafauna, particularly large herbivores, in ecosystem effects on climate change mitigation and conservation and restoration efforts through trophic rewilding. © 2023 The Author(s)
Authors & Co-Authors
Cromsigt, Joris P.G.M.
Sweden, Uppsala
Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet
South Africa, Gqeberha
Nelson Mandela University
Netherlands, Utrecht
Universiteit Utrecht
Buitenwerf, Robert
Denmark, Aarhus
Aarhus Universitet
Lundgren, Erick J.
Denmark, Aarhus
Aarhus Universitet
Li, Wang
Denmark, Aarhus
Aarhus Universitet
Bakker, Elisabeth S.Liesbeth
Netherlands, Wageningen
Netherlands Institute of Ecology Nioo - Knaw
Netherlands, Wageningen
Wageningen University & Research
Svenning, Jens Christian
Denmark, Aarhus
Aarhus Universitet
Statistics
Citations: 1
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.oneear.2023.10.007
ISSN:
25903330
Research Areas
Environmental
Genetics And Genomics