Tree cover and its heterogeneity in natural ecosystems is linked to large herbivore biomass globally

IF 15.1 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

One Earth Pub Date : 2023-11-01 DOI:10.1016/j.oneear.2023.10.007

Lanhui Wang, Joris P.G.M. Cromsigt, Robert Buitenwerf, Erick J. Lundgren, Wang Li, Elisabeth S. Bakker, Jens-Christian Svenning

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Abstract

Addressing intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss is a pressing global challenge, with trees playing pivotal roles in promoting carbon sequestration and habitat diversity. However, there is a distinct knowledge gap concerning the global drivers shaping tree cover and its heterogeneity, particularly the roles and relative importance of large herbivores and fire compared to climatic and topo-edaphic conditions. Here, we deploy satellite observations of strictly protected areas worldwide to reveal that in regions where vegetation may be in disequilibrium with climate, high biomass of large herbivores, especially browsers, is inversely related to tree cover but positively associated with its spatial heterogeneity. Conversely, fire reduces both tree cover and heterogeneity. These results suggest that top-down megafauna effects on landscape-scale vegetation openness and heterogeneity manifest worldwide. Our finding supports the need to consider megafauna, particularly large herbivores, in ecosystem effects on climate change mitigation and conservation and restoration efforts through trophic rewilding.

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在全球范围内，自然生态系统中的树木覆盖及其异质性与大型食草动物生物量有关

应对气候变化和生物多样性丧失交织在一起的危机是一项紧迫的全球挑战，而树木在促进碳固存和栖息地多样性方面发挥着关键作用。然而，关于形成树木覆盖及其异质性的全球驱动因素，特别是与气候和地形地形条件相比，大型食草动物和火灾的作用和相对重要性，存在明显的知识缺口。通过对全球严格保护区的卫星观测，我们发现在植被与气候不平衡的地区，大型食草动物(尤其是食草动物)的高生物量与树木覆盖度呈负相关，而与树木覆盖度的空间异质性呈正相关。相反，火减少了树木覆盖和异质性。这些结果表明，自上而下的巨型动物对景观尺度植被开放性和异质性的影响在世界范围内明显存在。我们的发现支持了考虑巨型动物，特别是大型食草动物，在生态系统中对气候变化减缓的影响，以及通过营养再野化保护和恢复工作的必要性。

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来源期刊

One Earth Environmental Science-Environmental Science (all)

CiteScore

18.90

自引率

1.90%

发文量

159

期刊介绍： One Earth, Cell Press' flagship sustainability journal, serves as a platform for high-quality research and perspectives that contribute to a deeper understanding and resolution of contemporary sustainability challenges. With monthly thematic issues, the journal aims to bridge gaps between natural, social, and applied sciences, along with the humanities. One Earth fosters the cross-pollination of ideas, inspiring transformative research to address the complexities of sustainability.