Title |
Fire in Australian savannas: from leaf to landscape
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Published in |
Global Change Biology, September 2014
|
DOI | 10.1111/gcb.12686 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Jason Beringer, Lindsay B Hutley, David Abramson, Stefan K Arndt, Peter Briggs, Mila Bristow, Josep G Canadell, Lucas A Cernusak, Derek Eamus, Andrew C Edwards, Bradley J Evans, Benedikt Fest, Klaus Goergen, Samantha P Grover, Jorg Hacker, Vanessa Haverd, Kasturi Kanniah, Stephen J Livesley, Amanda Lynch, Stefan Maier, Caitlin Moore, Michael Raupach, Jeremy Russell-Smith, Simon Scheiter, Nigel J Tapper, Petteri Uotila |
Abstract |
Savanna ecosystems comprise 22% of the global terrestrial surface and 25% of Australia (almost 1.9 million km(2) ) and provide significant ecosystem services through carbon and water cycles and the maintenance of biodiversity. The current structure, composition and distribution of Australian savannas have coevolved with fire, yet remain driven by the dynamic constraints of their bioclimatic niche. Fire in Australian savannas influences both the biophysical and biogeochemical processes at multiple scales from leaf to landscape. Here, we present the latest emission estimates from Australian savanna biomass burning and their contribution to global greenhouse gas budgets. We then review our understanding of the impacts of fire on ecosystem function and local surface water and heat balances, which in turn influence regional climate. We show how savanna fires are coupled to the global climate through the carbon cycle and fire regimes. We present new research that climate change is likely to alter the structure and function of savannas through shifts in moisture availability and increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in turn altering fire regimes with further feedbacks to climate. We explore opportunities to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from savanna ecosystems through changes in savanna fire management. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Germany | 1 | 33% |
Australia | 1 | 33% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 3 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 3 | 1% |
United States | 2 | <1% |
Australia | 1 | <1% |
India | 1 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Mexico | 1 | <1% |
South Africa | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 228 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 44 | 18% |
Researcher | 39 | 16% |
Student > Master | 25 | 11% |
Student > Bachelor | 18 | 8% |
Professor | 16 | 7% |
Other | 40 | 17% |
Unknown | 56 | 24% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Environmental Science | 68 | 29% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 56 | 24% |
Earth and Planetary Sciences | 31 | 13% |
Engineering | 3 | 1% |
Computer Science | 2 | <1% |
Other | 11 | 5% |
Unknown | 67 | 28% |