Unveiling above‐ and below‐ground ecological strategies that underlie woody plant encroachment in grasslands

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 20, 2025

Abstract Forests and grasslands often occur side by in the landscape, forming a complex mosaic system with contrasting environmental conditions, maintained different fire‐vegetation stabilising feedbacks. Woody species that along this sharp gradient must adopt viable ecological strategies to deal environments of these ecosystems. For this, plants are challenged efficiently coordinate functioning strategy dimensions above‐ below‐ground. We tested hypotheses related structural changes vegetation associated shifts community‐level trait patterns during woody plant encroachment. surveyed 60 permanent plots forest‐grassland mosaics at two times (2012–2022) obtain data on structure, composition, abundance after 10 years without disturbance, capturing from open plant‐encroached closed forests. An integrated functional approach was used assess variation, including below‐ground traits, representing whole‐plant, leaf, stem root strategies. encroachment led substantial increase density former grasslands, transforming their structure resemble young Interestingly, we found clear trade‐offs between traits among species. On one hand, occurring grassland had conservative leaves, for protection against high solar incidence, physical damage drought, roots ‘do‐it‐yourself’ strategy, which ensures efficiency acquisition nutrients water nutrient‐limited soils, thick bark fire resistance. other forest were usually taller acquisitive indicating highly competitive ability light‐limited forests, whereas an ‘outsourcing’ resource uptake mycorrhizal fungi nutrient‐rich soils Synthesis: advanced current understanding showing underlying trait‐based enable transition through space time. Importantly, have shown how important explaining strategies, negative covariance Our integrative will be helpful better managing southern Brazil analogous patchy ecosystems around world.

Language: Английский

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A framework to apply trait‐based ecological restoration at large scales

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 60(8), P. 1562 - 1571

Published: May 30, 2023

Abstract Upscaling trait‐based restoration to regional levels is necessary as we enter the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. For this, need select species that achieve functional targets considering pool. Here, present a framework multiple using pool containing available market, unavailable, and occur in reference ecosystems. The enables optimising diversity (FD), recovering FD composition ecosystems, reducing cost increasing restoration. Additionally, our allows detection of functionally relevant are unavailable for market. We illustrate with data set Brazilian savanna tree communities. It was not possible optimise To this target, it would be use from However, market obtain communities resistant fire restore similar or greater than those observed Synthesis applications . Our selects large‐scale initiatives. shows range solutions can achieved That practitioner verify if parameters truly optimised which should added collected wild targets. also how different selected avoiding unintentional creation novel

Language: Английский

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Tree crown damage and its effects on forest carbon cycling in a tropical forest

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(18), P. 5560 - 5574

Published: June 24, 2022

Crown damage can account for over 23% of canopy biomass turnover in tropical forests and is a strong predictor tree mortality; yet, it not typically represented vegetation models. We incorporate crown into the Functionally Assembled Terrestrial Ecosystem Simulator (FATES), to evaluate how lags between recovery or death alter demographic rates patterns carbon turnover. represent as reduction tree's area leaf branch biomass, allow associated variation ratio aboveground belowground plant tissue. compare simulations with equivalent instant increases mortality benchmark results against data from Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. In FATES, causes decreases growth that match observations BCI. leads starvation but only configurations high root respiration storage following damage. also alters competitive dynamics, functional types recover outcompete those cannot. This first exploration trade-off additional complexity novel module improved predictive capabilities. At BCI, forest does experience levels disturbance, both reasonable job capturing observations. The provides functionality exploring dynamics more extreme disturbances such cyclones synergistic effects overlap space time.

Language: Английский

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Pine savanna restoration on agricultural landscapes: The path back to native savanna ecosystem services

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 818, P. 151715 - 151715

Published: Nov. 17, 2021

Language: Английский

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Seeing the Savanna Through the Trees: Vegetation Structure, Composition and Function Along a Forest‐Savanna Boundary in Cambodia

Biotropica, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 57(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT In the seasonally dry landscapes of continental Southeast Asia, deciduous dipterocarp vegetation (DDF) and semi‐evergreen forests (SEF) form patchy landscape mosaics, with abrupt boundaries between them. DDF resembles savanna, an open canopy a continuous grassy ground layer, while SEF lacks grass has high tree cover closed canopy. Alternative hypotheses suggest that these distinct types are alternative stable states maintained by fire‐vegetation feedbacks, differences in edaphic conditions across explain their distributions, and/or degraded or early successional whose distribution is determined legacies anthropogenic disturbance. Here, we compare structure, composition, functional traits woody DDF‐SEF boundaries, ask whether associated factors fire history. We found major structure species composition SEF, few shared types. Dominant were not suggesting represents community, rather than forest. Compared to species, had lower specific leaf area higher bark thickness, key trait tolerance. Soil texture fertility did differ Together, findings fire, factors, likely driver at boundaries. Our results further support classifying managing as savanna. Conserving unique biodiversity mosaic will require research evidence‐based management.

Language: Английский

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Linking leaf traits and litter flammability using a novel framework, tested with Brazilian Cerrado trees

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 23, 2025

Abstract In tree‐dominated ecosystems, the behaviour of surface fires is largely controlled by structure fine fuels. Because leaves make up most fuels, traits those leaves—their size, shape and leaf area for a given mass—help determine impacts vegetation on fire regimes. this study, we developed several methods to better quantify linkage between improve our understanding role tree species in Brazilian forest/savanna mosaic regime. We novel framework partition volume into linear combination orthogonal separate their influence flammability, using experimental burns constructed fuel beds. The key strengths are use specific rather than bulk density, representation as uncorrelated variables: curl area. collected intensive data traits, including foliar aluminium content measured with 3D scanner, from 90 woody savannas forests São Paulo, Brazil, assess importance various measures determining behaviour. Greater fireline intensity was primarily driven greater having large but secondary effect. effect size almost entirely mediated effects litter volume. Specific increased flammability both directly indirectly, while concentration reduced flammability. Forest savanna did not differ generalist were slightly more flammable, due Simple performed effectively time‐consuming scanning methods. Using allowed us independent contributions present highlights remaining flexible enough incorporate chemistry or other traits. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Woody encroachment affects multiple dimensions of ant diversity in a neotropical savanna

Insect Conservation and Diversity, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 16(3), P. 393 - 402

Published: Feb. 7, 2023

Abstract Although savanna woody encroachment has become a global phenomenon, relatively little is known about its effects on multiple dimensions and levels of biodiversity. Using combination field surveys, species‐level phylogeny, functional metrics drawn from morphological dataset, we evaluated how the progressive increase in tree cover fire‐suppressed landscape affects taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic diversity neotropical ant communities, at both alpha beta levels. Ants were sampled along an extensive gradient, ranging open savannas to forests established former areas. Variation had significant influence all facets level, whereas level variation affected taxonomic but not communities. In general, community responses largely non‐linear as differences composition communities often much stronger savanna/forest transition than any other part gradient. This indicates that switch rapidly alternative state once turns into forest. Ant newly formed forest areas lacked many species typical habitats, suggesting maintenance fire suppression policy likely result decrease homogenisation fauna scale.

Language: Английский

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Tree community dynamics in the cerradão (2002-2016): A case of biome shift

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 555, P. 121698 - 121698

Published: Jan. 23, 2024

Language: Английский

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Bark production of generalist and specialist species across savannas and forests in the Cerrado

Annals of Botany, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 131(4), P. 613 - 621

Published: Jan. 18, 2023

Abstract Background and Aims Bark allows species to survive fire, protecting their inner tissues allowing new branches resprout from aerial buds. Thus, bark production is likely be selected with bud protection in fire-prone ecosystems. By considering the coexistence of fire-free ecosystems, addition different impacts flames on growth forms, this study we tested whether: (1) areas higher fire frequencies have a faster production; (2) rate differs between trees shrubs; (3) generalists adjust according environment (fire-prone or ecosystems); (4) fast results better protection. Methods We sampled two types forests savannas Cerrado registered every woody individual height 1.5 3 m tall (directly exposed flames). For 123 registered, three individuals each vegetation type where occurred assess then checked, for species, preferred habitat (savanna forest specialists generalists) predominant form. Key Results A minimal threshold 0.13 mm per unit differentiated communities forests. Shrubs did not differ terms rate, despite being manner. Generalist were able produce above threshold. However, when these they produced below Finally, accounted Conclusions are capable displaying plasticity production, which could important success contrasting The relationship suggests that plays an role dormant buds,

Language: Английский

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Not all trees can make a forest: Tree species composition and competition control forest encroachment in a tropical savanna

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 110(2), P. 301 - 312

Published: Dec. 3, 2021

Abstract Forest encroachment into savannas is a widespread phenomenon, the rate of which may depend on soil conditions, species composition or changes in stand structure. As savanna specialist trees are replaced by generalist species, rates development increase. Because generalists can persist forests, they likely to grow more quickly and survive longer dense stands, compared specialists. Furthermore, faster growth allow them overtop outcompete specialists, causing rapid turnover. We measured survival 6,147 individuals 112 tree over period 10 years an ecological reserve Assis, São Paulo State, Brazil. modelled mortality as function texture nutrients, size, competitive neighbourhood, membership (species forests savannas) functional groups. Tree was strongly influenced competition, estimated basal area taller than focal tree. At level, unable contribute closed while continue increase even at high area. This phenomenon driven differences mortality. Generalists grew both height diameter. difference led becoming suppressed rapidly generalists. When suppressed, were twice die Soils had inconsistent mostly weak effects difficult separate from gradients Synthesis . demonstrate that presence accelerates accumulation due their greater tolerance shading. growing open overtopping Due slow shade, form closed‐canopy stands. Accounting for among types vegetation structure critical modelling forest encroachment.

Language: Английский

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