Large parts of the world are brown or black: A different view on the ‘Green World’hypothesis

Abstract. Climate sets the limits to plant growth but does climate determine the global distribution of major biomes? I suggest methods for evaluating whether vegetation is largely climate or consumer‐controlled, focusing on large mammal herbivores and fire as influential consumers. Large parts of the world appear not to be at equilibrium with climate. Consumer‐controlled ecosystems are ancient and diverse. Their distinctive ecology warrants special attention.