期刊
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
卷 143, 期 10, 页码 2395-2404出版社
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.12.012
关键词
Savanna; Tropical grassland; C4 grass; Cerrado; Campos; Fire regime; Forest-grassland mosaic
资金
- Mellon Foundation
- National Research Foundation of South Africa
- Trapnell Fund
Forests and grassy vegetation (savannas and grasslands) are alternative ecosystem states in many tropical landscapes. Relative to forests the grassy ecosystems are poorly known and poorly conserved, partly because they were thought to be products of forest clearance. However many grasslands have proved to be ancient. Commensurate with their antiquity, grassy biomes have distinct suites of plant and animal species that contribute a large fraction of the diversity of forest-grassland mosaics. Grasslands differ strikingly from forests in their ecology and in the nature of threats to their future. Here we highlight the high biodiversity value of grassy biomes and, in contrast to tropical forests, we illustrate the importance of fire in maintaining these systems. We discuss the major threats to, and consequences for, biodiversity in these regions including land clearance and elevated CO2-driven forest expansion. Finally we focus on the difficulties of grassland restoration. A new approach to understanding and conserving grassy ecosystems, free from cultural prejudices of the past, is long overdue. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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