Premium
Fire in Australian savannas: from leaf to landscape
Author(s) -
Beringer Jason,
Hutley Lindsay B.,
Abramson David,
Arndt Stefan K.,
Briggs Peter,
Bristow Mila,
Canadell Josep G.,
Cernusak Lucas A.,
Eamus Derek,
Edwards Andrew C.,
Evans Bradley J.,
Fest Benedikt,
Goergen Klaus,
Grover Samantha P.,
Hacker Jorg,
Haverd Vanessa,
Kanniah Kasturi,
Livesley Stephen J.,
Lynch Amanda,
Maier Stefan,
Moore Caitlin,
Raupach Michael,
RussellSmith Jeremy,
Scheiter Simon,
Tapper Nigel J.,
Uotila Petteri
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.12686
Subject(s) - fire regime , environmental science , ecosystem , greenhouse gas , fire ecology , tropical savanna climate , climate change , biogeochemical cycle , biomass (ecology) , biodiversity , ecology , carbon cycle , agroforestry , geography , biology
Savanna ecosystems comprise 22% of the global terrestrial surface and 25% of Australia (almost 1.9 million km 2 ) and provide significant ecosystem services through carbon and water cycles and the maintenance of biodiversity. The current structure, composition and distribution of Australian savannas have coevolved with fire, yet remain driven by the dynamic constraints of their bioclimatic niche. Fire in Australian savannas influences both the biophysical and biogeochemical processes at multiple scales from leaf to landscape. Here, we present the latest emission estimates from Australian savanna biomass burning and their contribution to global greenhouse gas budgets. We then review our understanding of the impacts of fire on ecosystem function and local surface water and heat balances, which in turn influence regional climate. We show how savanna fires are coupled to the global climate through the carbon cycle and fire regimes. We present new research that climate change is likely to alter the structure and function of savannas through shifts in moisture availability and increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in turn altering fire regimes with further feedbacks to climate. We explore opportunities to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from savanna ecosystems through changes in savanna fire management.