Vegetation state changes in the course of shrub encroachment in an African savanna since about 1850 CE and their potential drivers.

ABSTRACT: Shrub encroachment has far-reaching ecological and economic consequences in many ecosystems worldwide. Yet, compositional changes associated with shrub encroachment are often overlooked despite having important effects on ecosystem functioning.We document the compositional change and potential drivers for a northern Namibian Combretum woodland transitioning into a Terminalia shrubland. We use a multiproxy record (pollen, sedimentary ancient DNA, biomarkers, compound-specific carbon (δ13C) and deuterium (δD) isotopes, bulk carbon isotopes (δ13Corg), grain size, geochemical properties) from Lake Otjikoto at high taxonomical and temporal resolution.We provide evidence that state changes in semiarid environments may occur on a scale of one century and that transitions between stable states can

SUBMITTER: Tabares X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6988543 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature