Get reliable rangeland science

Process-based vegetation models are invaluable tools for understanding and predicting vegetation responses to changes in climate and land management. However, many existing models were developed decades ago and do not incorporate our latest knowledge of plant and ecosystem functioning. Here we present DAVE-Grass, a new dynamic and process-based model of herbaceous vegetation function with a focus on Australian grasslands. The model integrates our latest empirical and theoretical understanding of processes considered to be critical for predicting rangeland responses to changes in climate and management: photosynthesis, growth, carbon allocation, phenology, establishment, persistence, water and nutrient dynamics as well as fire behaviour. It represents C 3 and C 4 plants as well as annual and perennial growth forms which compete for resources such as light and water. The model has been evaluated against data from manipulative experiments, land-atmosphere fluxes, biomass, as well as phenology from phenocams and satellites. In this presentation, we showcase early applications of the model with a focus on the current and projected distribution of C 3 and C 4 vegetation across Australia under different climate change scenarios. The process-based nature of the DAVE-Grass model provides insights into the mechanisms underlying observed changes in vegetation cover and composition. By combining these features with its applicability from site to continental scales, the model promises to be a critical tool for guiding effective management and adaptation efforts in rangelands.