@article{fdi:010057165,
  title = {{R}elationships between fire history, edaphic factors and woody vegetation structure and composition in a semi-arid savanna landscape ({N}iger, {W}est {A}frica)},
  author = {{D}iouf, {A}. and {B}arbier, {N}icolas and {L}ykke, {A}. {M}. and {C}outeron, {P}ierre and {D}eblauwe, {V}incent and {M}ahamane, {A}. and {S}aadou, {M}. and {B}ogaert, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{Q}uestion {W}hat are the relationships between edaphic factors, fire regime and woody vegetation structure and composition in savannas at landscape to regional scales? {L}ocation {T}he {T}ransboundary {W} {R}egional {P}ark, {N}iger, {W}est {A}frica. {M}ethods {W}e focused on a protected savanna ecosystem with rainfall of 700 mm yr-1, where rainfall is not expected to be a strong limiting factor for tree cover, and with historically low grazer and browser densities. {A} burned area history map was created over 7 yr using the high temporal resolution {A}qua {MODIS} space-borne sensor. {I}n the field, the composition and structural parameters of the woody layer, as well as soil samples, were acquired in 137 plots of 0.09 ha each, based on a stratified random sampling approach to sampling the fire regime (seasonality and frequency). {U}sing classical multivariate methods, we analysed the correlations between woody cover characteristics, fire regime and soil and geomorphological factors. {R}esults {I}n spite of management practices aimed at generalizing early fire every year, the fire regime created a diverse spatial structure, with some vegetation less prone to burning (fire-free) and other types that burned very frequently. {T}hese diverse fire histories showed correlations with gradients of both structure and composition of the woody layer. {S}oil variables had a higher explanatory power for vegetation structure and composition than fire. {C}onclusions {A}mong the plausible causal chains between fire regime, soil factors and woody vegetation structure and composition, our results showed better agreement with a model in which fire regime is more a consequence than a cause of the other factors. {T}his contrasts with bottleneck/perturbation theories as well as management practices, but meets the common sense opinions of field practitioners. {A}lthough our regional approach should be complemented by controlled experiments at a local scale, it does appear that investments in annual efforts to organize early fire campaigns in many protected areas may need to be reassessed.},
  keywords = {{MODIS} ; {M}ultivariate analyses ; {N}iger ; {P}rescribed fire ; {R}emote sensing ; {S}avanna woody vegetation ; {W} {R}egional {P}ark},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}pplied {V}egetation {S}cience},
  volume = {15},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {488--500},
  ISSN = {1402-2001},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1111/j.1654-109{X}.2012.01187.x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010057165},
}