Grass and tree cover responses to intra-seasonal rainfall variability
vary along a rainfall gradient in African tropical grassy biomes

D'Onofrio, Donatella; Sweeney, Luke; von Hardenberg, Jost; Baudena, Mara

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-38933-9

Although it is well known that mean annual rainfall (MAR) and rainfall seasonality have a key role in influencing the distribution of tree and grass cover in African tropical grassy biomes (TGBs), the impact of intra-seasonal rainfall variability on these distributions is less agreed upon. Since the prevalent mechanisms determining biome occurrence and distribution change with MAR, this research investigates the role of intra-seasonal rainfall variability for three different MAR ranges, assessing satellite data on grass and tree cover, rainfall and fire intervals at a sub-continental scale in sub-Saharan Africa. For MAR below 630 mm y(-1), rainfall frequency had a positive relationship with grass cover; this relationship however became mostly negative at intermediate MAR (630-1200 mm y(-1)), where tree cover correspondingly mostly increased with rainfall frequency. In humid TGBs, tree cover decreased with rainfall intensity. Overall, intra-seasonal rainfall variability plays a role in determining vegetation cover, especially in mesic TGBs, where the relative dominance of trees and grasses has previously been largely unexplained. Importantly, the direction of the effect of intra-seasonal variability changes with MAR. Given the predicted increases in rainfall intensity in Africa as a consequence of climate change, the effects on TGBs are thus likely to vary depending on the MAR levels.

Grass and tree cover responses to intra-seasonal rainfall variability vary along a rainfall gradient in African tropical grassy biomes / D'Onofrio, Donatella; Sweeney, Luke; von Hardenberg, Jost; Baudena, Mara. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 9(2019).

Titolo:	Grass and tree cover responses to intra-seasonal rainfall variability vary along a rainfall gradient in African tropical grassy biomes
Autori:	D'Onofrio, Donatella Sweeney, Luke GRAF VON HARDENBERG, JOST-DIEDRICH Baudena, Mara mostra contributor esterni nascondi contributor esterni
Data di pubblicazione:	2019
Rivista:	SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-38933-9
Appare nelle tipologie:	1.1 Articolo in rivista

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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento:
http://hdl.handle.net/11583/2814868

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