BACKGROUND In the Anthropocene, there is a need to better understand the catastrophic
effects that climate and land-use change may have on ecosystems, Earth system …

There is growing interest in the application of alternative stable state (ASS) theory to explain
major vegetation patterns of the world. Here, we introduce the theory as applied to the …

This book explores the geography, ecology, and antiquity of'open ecosystems', which
include grasslands, savannas, and shrublands. They occur in climates that can support …

Woody encroachment is ubiquitous in grassy ecosystems worldwide, but its global impacts
on the diversity of herbaceous plants that characterise and define these ecosystems remain …

Exotic grasses are a widespread set of invasive species that are notable for their ability to
significantly alter key aspects of ecosystem function. Understanding the role and importance …

Ecology and evolutionary biology have focused on how organisms fit the environment. Less
attention has been given to the idea that organisms can also modify their environment, and …

A bstract Across the tropics, climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of
wildfires, exposing tropical forests to the risk of shifting into an open vegetation state. A …

Once dominant but now largely excluded from eastern North America, open forests of
savannas to woodlands occupy the ecosystem gradient between grasslands and closed …

Plant functional traits provide a valuable tool to improve our understanding of ecological
processes at a range of scales. Previous handbooks on plant functional traits have …

Biomes of the world have long been assumed to be determined by climate. Major disparities,
where open low biomass systems occurred in the same climate zone as closed forests have …