shifts to climate change are relatively straightforward, if human LULCC is minimal. However, other biomes, such as many grassland systems, are not in equilibrium with climate . In these systems, their evolutionary history , distribution, structure and function have been shaped by climate and natural disturbances, such as fire and herbivory . Disturbance variability is an inherent characteristic of grassland systems, and suitable 'control' conditions are seldom available in nature. Furthermore, due to the integral role of disturbance, these biomes have been widely affected by long-term and widespread shifts in grazing regimes, large-scale losses of mega-herbivores and fire suppression policies . It is necessary to conduct climate change attribution on a case-by-case basis for grasslands; such assessments are complex as direct climate change impacts from either inherent variation within disturbance regimes or directional changes in background disturbances are difficult to separate . Confidence in assessments is increased when the observed trends are supported by a mechanistic understanding of responses identified by physiological studies, manipulative field experiments, greenhouse studies and lab experiments .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report