What controls South African vegetation — climate or fire?

Bond, William J.; Midgley, Guy F.; Woodward, F. I.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6299(15)30362-8

Cited by 304 publications

(286 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The resulting vegetation is predicted in terms of six possible plant functional types (PFTs), namely C 3 and C 4 grasses, evergreen broad-and needle-leaf trees, and deciduous broad-and needle-leaf trees, as well as bare ground. SDGVM simulations compare adequately with alternate data sources at both local and global scales (Woodward et al, 1995;Cramer et al, 2001;Woodward and Lomas, 2004a) and the model has been deemed appropriate for applications in southern Africa (Bond et al, 2003;Woodward and Lomas, 2004b).…”

Section: Vegetation Data Two Representations Of Spatial Vegetation DImentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of vegetation map change in MM5 simulations of southern Africa's summer climate

MacKellar

Tadross

Hewitson

2008

Intl Journal of Climatology

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Section: Vegetation Data Two Representations Of Spatial Vegetation DImentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of vegetation map change in MM5 simulations of southern Africa's summer climate

MacKellar

Tadross

Hewitson

2008

Intl Journal of Climatology

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“…Comparing the transect C-D with the transect at f = 0 y -1 and 50 ≤ p ≤ 1800 mm y -1 (i.e., absence of fire disturbance), it is possible to observe a different -19-vegetation sequence. Thus fire determines the type of vegetation in this case and regions 4, 5, 6, 7 could be classified as fire-dependent ecosystems, according to Bond et al (2003).…”

Section: Vegetation Changes Along a Rainfall Gradient With Frequent Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The grassland in region 6 can be denoted as false grassland according to Acocks (1953) and Bond et al (2003), because in absence of fire the vegetation should be more wooded.…”

Section: Vegetation Changes Along a Rainfall Gradient With Frequent Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figure ( 0.8 ≤ f ≤ 1 y -1 , the system comes into regions 6 and 7 of bistability. Tolerance to the fire, especially in the juvenile life stages, has been noted by Bond et al (2003) as a key requirement for savanna trees. In panel (b), the system can stay in savanna (when the system is in region 7) and then pass into grassland (when the system is in region 6).…”

Section: Vegetation Changes Along Gradients Of Fire Frequencymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree–grass co-existence in savanna: Interactions of rain and fire

Accatino

Michele

Vezzoli

et al. 2010

Journal of Theoretical Biology

116

105

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The mechanisms permitting the co-existence of tree and grass in savannas have been a source of contention for many years. The two main classes of explanations involve either competition for resources, or differential sensitivity to disturbances. Published models focus principally on one or the other of these mechanisms. Here we introduce a simple ecohydrologic model of savanna vegetation involving both competition for water, and differential sensitivity of trees and grasses to fire disturbances. We show how the coexistence of trees and grasses in savannas can be simultaneously controlled by rainfall and fire, and how the relative importance of the two factors distinguishes between dry and moist savannas. The stability map allows to predict the changes in vegetation structure along gradients of rainfall and fire disturbances realistically, and to clarify the distinction between climate-and disturbance-dependent ecosystems.

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“…Despite this, a wide range of impacts assessments have been undertaken. 34,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] In order to develop insights beyond those of conservation interest, integrated assessment approaches are needed to enhance relevance for policy formulation and implementation related to land-use and infrastructure planning, and investment decision-making.The latest findings from South Africa's LTAS show that for the wettest and coolest climate scenarios for ∼2050, minor impacts on most biomes are indicated. The biome most under threat of significant structural change, independent of which climate scenario is used, the grassland biome, which could face significant encroachment by woody vegetation due to increased temperatures and rising atmospheric CO 2 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Climate change impacts and adaptation in South Africa

Ziervogel

New

Archer

et al. 2014

WIREs Climate Change

296

196

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In this paper we review current approaches and recent advances in research on climate impacts and adaptation in South Africa. South Africa has a well-developed earth system science research program that underpins the climate change scenarios developed for the southern African region. Established research on the biophysical impacts of climate change on key sectors (water, agriculture, and biodiversity) integrates the climate change scenarios but further research is needed in a number of areas, such as the climate impacts on cities and the built environment. National government has developed a National Climate Change Response White Paper, but this has yet to translate into policy that mainstreams adaptation in everyday practice and longer-term planning in all spheres and levels of government. A national process to scope long-term adaptation scenarios is underway, focusing on cross-sectoral linkages in adaptation responses at a national level. Adaptation responses are emerging in certain sectors. Some notable city-scale and project-based adaptation responses have been implemented, but institutional challenges persist. In addition, a number of knowledge gaps remain in relation to the biophysical and socio-economic impacts of climate change. A particular need is to develop South Africa's capacity to undertake integrated assessments of climate change that can support climate-resilient development planning. © 2014 The Authors. WIREs Climate Change published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. How to cite this article:WIREs Clim Change 2014Change , 5:605-620. doi: 10.1002 This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. 4 Responding to these scenarios, policies have been developed, including the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and more recently National Treasury consideration and planned implementation of carbon taxes. 5,6 Increasingly, however, the issue of climate adaptation is coming to the fore. In the context of South Africa's urgent socio-economic developmental needs and threatened ecosystem services, adaptive responses that reduce vulnerability to current as well as future climate variability and change are critical. Reducing the so-called 'adaptation deficit', that is exposure and sensitivity to the present-day climate variability and observed change, is an important dimension of long-term adaptation planning. 7 Responses at the national level have started to focus on integrated development trajectories more broadly. South Africa's new National Development Plan 2030 8 goes some way toward reframing climate change as a development challenge. Several government departments across all three spheres of government-national, provincial, and local-are now developing climate change strategies and/or plans.To develop a coherent national adaptation response, there is a need to integrate cli...

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What controls South African vegetation — climate or fire?

Cited by 304 publications

References 43 publications

Effects of vegetation map change in MM5 simulations of southern Africa's summer climate

Effects of vegetation map change in MM5 simulations of southern Africa's summer climate

Tree–grass co-existence in savanna: Interactions of rain and fire

Climate change impacts and adaptation in South Africa

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