Indirect interactions between climate and cropland distribution shape fire size in West African grasslands

Climate and land use changes interact to shape fire size in West African grasslands, with proximity to cropland limiting fire spread despite higher wet season grass production driven by rainfall. The study used remotely sensed data on burned area, rainfall, cropland distribution, and vegetation dynamics to test hypotheses about these interactions. Findings reveal that while climate factors like rainfall influence fire size, this effect diminishes near croplands due to fuel breaks created by agricultural land use. This suggests that the spatial distribution of stressors is crucial for predicting their combined impacts on ecosystem functioning.

Schulte to Bühne, H., Tobias, J. A., Durant, S. M., & Pettorelli, N. (2022). Indirect interactions between climate and cropland distribution shape fire size in West African grasslands. Landscape Ecology, 38(2), 517–532. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-022-01571-0