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Accatino european conferenceoftropicalecology2
1. Spatial ecological processes allow
tree-grass coexistence in savanna
despite repeated fires
Francesco Accatino, Kerstin Wiegand,
Carlo De Michele, David Ward
3. 0 20001000 1500500
20
40
60
80
100
Above ~800 mm/yr tree cover is
bimodally distributed
Relative frequency
Mean annual rainfall [mm/yr]
A global view:
Data from Hirota et al. (2011) Science
Treecover[%]
4. 0 20001000 1500500
20
40
60
80
100
Mean annual rainfall [mm/yr]
Many of these points can be classified as moist
savannas or grasslands: potentially forests but tree
cover is kept low by recurrent fires.
Relative frequency
A global view:
Data from Hirota et al. (2011) Science
Treecover[%]
5. A look in detail:
Let’s now look at moist savannas more in detail
considering the dynamical interactions between
their components.
7. Moist savannas
Wet season Dry season
In the dry season grass dries out and becomes fuel for
fires. Fires usually kill juvenile trees.
8. Research question
Is fire alone able to stop the closure of the canopy
in moist savannas?
We explore with a simulation model some
ecological mechanisms related to:
• Space
• Tree life history traits
9. GRASSFIRE
TREES
Concepts
We model the dynamic interactions between these
elements:
In particular we include the role of space and tree life
history traits
12. GRASSFIRE
TREES
Trees grow or die differently according to:
- Whether they are reached or not by fire
- Their age and life history traits
Seedlings Juveniles Adults
Concepts
19. Scenarios & Results
Three scenarios with three types of trees,
distinguished according to:
• Speed of growth
• Vulnerability to fire
• Spatial competition
These types of trees are called:
• Resprouters
• Avoiders
• Resisters
25. Resprouters
Year 3 Year 22 Year 29
Burnt
Unburnt
Gullivers
Trees
Clusters enlarge and create areas
where fire cannot arrive
Gullivers are distributed in the parts of
the domain burnt by fire
31. Results: Netlogo screenshots avoiders
Year 1
+ 2 Years + 5 Years
Year with
no fire
Tree clusters
Some areas not occupied by trees
are protected from fires
32. Results: Netlogo screenshots avoiders
Year 1
+ 2 Years + 5 Years
Year with
no fire + 10 Years
At the end all the spatial domain is
occupied
37. Take-home messages
Trees can invade the grass stratum despite
repeated fires by:
• Collective strategy: clustering
• Individual strategy: resisting
38. Take-home messages
Once trees invade, fires disappear from the
ecosystem and the process is not reversible (with
the elements considered in the model)
39. Take-home messages
Tree-grass co-existence can be:
A transient state of the ecosystem
Due to strong spatial competition between trees
Due to other mechanisms not included in the model
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Mean annual rainfall [mm/yr]
Woodycover[%]