aConfirmatory fit index.bRoot mean square error of approximation.cScaling correction factor provided by Mplus output for WLSM.dSatorra-Bentler chi-square difference test...

 =  precipitation, NDVI = normalized differential vegetation index, AET =  actual evapotranspiration, H50 =  herbaceous and shrub cover >50%, T25 =  tree cover >25%, Meat  =...

Appendix S1 for detailed description of GIS derived variables. We digitized the study area boundary for each study area and calculated the average for each index using a GIS....