TY - JOUR AU - Beringer, Jason AU - Hutley, Lindsay B. AU - Abramson, David AU - Arndt, Stefan K. AU - Briggs, Peter AU - Bristow, Mila AU - Canadell, Josep G. AU - Cernusak, Lucas A. AU - Eamus, Derek AU - Edwards, Andrew C. AU - Evans, Bradley J. AU - Fest, Benedikt AU - Görgen, Klaus AU - Grover, Samantha P. AU - Hacker, Jorg AU - Haverd, Vanessa AU - Kanniah, Kasturi AU - Livesley, Stephen J. AU - Lynch, Amanda AU - Maier, Stefan AU - Moore, Caitlin AU - Raupach, Michael AU - Russell-Smith, Jeremy AU - Scheiter, Simon AU - Tapper, Nigel J. AU - Uotila, Petteri TI - Fire in Australian savannas: from leaf to landscape JO - Global change biology VL - 21 IS - 1 SN - 1354-1013 CY - Oxford [u.a.] PB - Wiley-Blackwell M1 - FZJ-2016-00026 SP - 62 - 81 PY - 2015 AB - Savanna ecosystems comprise 22% of the global terrestrial surface and 25% of Australia (almost 1.9 million km2) and provide significant ecosystem services through carbon and water cycles and the maintenance of biodiversity. The current structure, composition and distribution of Australian savannas have coevolved with fire, yet remain driven by the dynamic constraints of their bioclimatic niche. Fire in Australian savannas influences both the biophysical and biogeochemical processes at multiple scales from leaf to landscape. Here, we present the latest emission estimates from Australian savanna biomass burning and their contribution to global greenhouse gas budgets. We then review our understanding of the impacts of fire on ecosystem function and local surface water and heat balances, which in turn influence regional climate. We show how savanna fires are coupled to the global climate through the carbon cycle and fire regimes. We present new research that climate change is likely to alter the structure and function of savannas through shifts in moisture availability and increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in turn altering fire regimes with further feedbacks to climate. We explore opportunities to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from savanna ecosystems through changes in savanna fire management. LB - PUB:(DE-HGF)16 UR - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000346698100009 C6 - pmid:25044767 DO - DOI:10.1111/gcb.12686 UR - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/280218 ER -