Grass-dominated vegetation, not species-diverse natural savanna, replaces degraded tropical forests on the southern edge of the Amazon Basin
Abstract
Changes in land-uses, fire regimes, and climate are expected to promote savanna expansion in the Amazon Basin, but most studies that come to this conclusion fail to define “savanna” clearly or imply that natural savannas of native species will spread at the expense of forest. Given their different conservation values, we sought to differentiate between species-diverse natural savannas and other types of fire-maintained grass-dominated vegetation that replaced tropical forests between 1986 and 2005 in 22,500km² of eastern lowland Bolivia. Analysis of Landsat TM and CBERS-2 satellite imagery revealed that, in addition to 1200km² (7.1%) of deforestation for agriculture and planted pastures, 1420km² (8.4%) of forest was replaced by derived savannas. Sampling in 2008 showed that natural savannas differed from forest-replacing derived savannas floristically, in soil fertility, and in fuel loads. Natural savannas typically occurred on sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soils whereas most derived savannas were on comparatively fertile soils. Fuel loads in derived savannas were twice those of natural savannas. Natural savannas supported a diversity of grass species, whereas derived savannas were usually dominated by Guadua paniculata (native bamboo), Urochloa spp. (exotic forages), Imperata brasiliensis (native invasive), Digitaria insularis (native ruderal), or the native fire-adapted herb Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae). Trees in derived savannas were forest species (e.g., Anadenanthera col…
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Estimates from the southern Amazon indicate that 5−6% of the landscape has already shifted into degraded open-canopy ecosystems due to deforestation and fires.
“Estimates from the southern Amazon indicate that 5−6% of the landscape has already shifted into degraded open-canopy ecosystems due to deforestation and fires45,96.”
From Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system (2024) · cites this paper as [96]
Today, invasion by alien flammable grasses is a novel stabilizing mechanism, but the long-term persistence of these grasses in the ecosystem is uncertain.
“Today, invasion by alien flammable grasses is a novel stabilizing mechanism96,97, but the long-term persistence of these grasses in the ecosystem is also uncertain.”
From Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system (2024) · cites this paper as [96]
In bistable regions of the Amazon forest with annual rainfall below 1,800 mm, shifts to degraded open-canopy ecosystems are relatively common after repeated disturbances by fire.
“In bistable regions of the Amazon forest with annual rainfall below 1,800 mm (Extended Data Fig. 1b), shifts to degraded open-canopy ecosystems are relatively common after repeated disturbances by fire45,96.”
From Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system (2024) · cites this paper as [96]
The ecosystem often becomes dominated by fire-tolerant tree and palm species, together with alien invasive grasses and opportunistic herbaceous plants such as vines and ferns.
“The ecosystem often becomes dominated by fire-tolerant tree and palm species, together with alien invasive grasses and opportunistic herbaceous plants96,97, such as vines and ferns.”
From Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system (2024) · cites this paper as [96]
Cites
What Limits Trees in C<sub>4</sub> Grasslands and Savannas?
Bond, W. J. (2008) · Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.39.110707.173411 · Cited by 909 · see citing works
Nepstad, D. C., Stickler, C. M., Filho, B. S., & Merry, F. (2008) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2007.0036 · Cited by 725 · see citing works
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Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system
Flores, B. M., Montoya, E., Sakschewski, B., Nascimento, N., Staal, A., Betts, R. A., Levis, C., Lapola, D. M., Esquível-Muelbert, A., Jakovac, C., et al. (2024) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06970-0 · Cited by 607 · see citing works
Tropical grassy biomes: misunderstood, neglected, and under threat
Parr, C. L., Lehmann, C. E. R., Bond, W. J., Hoffmann, W. A., & Andersen, A. N. (2014) · Trends in Ecology & Evolution · doi:10.1016/j.tree.2014.02.004 · Cited by 603 · see citing works
The biodiversity cost of carbon sequestration in tropical savanna
Abreu, R. C. R., Hoffmann, W. A., Vasconcelos, H. L., Pilon, N. A., Rossatto, D. R., & Durigan, G. (2017) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.1701284 · Cited by 417 · see citing works
- Authors
- Veldman, J. W., & Putz, F. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Veldman, Joseph W.
- Venue
- Biological Conservation
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-05
- Volume
- 144
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1419-1429
- ISSN
- 0006-3207 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2046728252
- Cited by
- 148
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 6.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Conservation (publishedVersion)
- Cross Connect (Southern Cross University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Fire effects on ecosystems
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Keywords
- savanna expansion, derived savanna, tropical forest degradation, forest-savanna transition, Amazon basin, soil fertility, fuel load, invasive species, Imperata brasiliensis, Hyptis suaveolens, novel ecosystems, land use change, fire regimes
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