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Abstract

The upper bound of tree cover in southern African savannas is correlated with mean annual rainfall (MAP), suggesting a water-based explanation for the amount of tree cover in savannas. We aim to answer three questions for savanna tree and grass species in relation to water availability: 1) How does whole-plant transpiration vary, 2) how do these species perform in situ and 3) how is carbon assimilation affected? We found that although grasses are inherently capable of using more water at all soil moisture levels, they do not maintain this pattern when measured in the field. We found evidence that grasses take a more conservative approach than previously thought from both a plant hydraulics and carbon uptake perspective. This has potentially important implications for our ability to predict tree-grass interactions in savanna ecosystems given future climate change. It would appear even in the absence of secondary drivers, there is evidence that trees can outcompete grasses when water is plentiful.

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