Determinants of woody encroachment and cover in African savannas.

ABSTRACT: Savanna ecosystems are an integral part of the African landscape and sustain the livelihoods of millions of people. Woody encroachment in savannas is a widespread phenomenon but its causes are widely debated. We review the extensive literature on woody encroachment to help improve understanding of the possible causes and to highlight where and how future scientific efforts to fully understand these causes should be focused. Rainfall is the most important determinant of maximum woody cover across Africa, but fire and herbivory interact to reduce woody cover below the maximum at many locations. We postulate that woody encroachment is most likely driven by CO₂ enrichment and propose a two-system conceptual framework, whereby mechanisms of woody encroachment differ depending on whet

SUBMITTER: Devine AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5348564 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature