Comment on "Global Resilience of Tropical Forest and Savanna to Critical Transitions"

TitleComment on "Global Resilience of Tropical Forest and Savanna to Critical Transitions"
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsRatajczak, Z, Nippert, JB
JournalScience
Volume336
Pagination541 -
Accession NumberKNZ001468
Abstract

Hirota et al. (Reports, 14 October 2011, p. 232) used spatial data to show that grasslands, savannas, and forests represent opposing stable states. Reanalyzing their data and drawing from temporal studies, we argue that spatial analyses underestimate the bistability of grasslands and savannas due to limitations of substituting space for time. We propose that temporal and spatial data are needed to predict critical transitions between grasslands and savannas.

URLhttp://science.sciencemag.org/content/336/6081/541.3
DOI10.1126/science.1219346