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Wigley BJ, Coetsee C, February EC, Dobelmann S, Higgins SI. Will trees or grasses profit from changing rainfall regimes in savannas? THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:2379-2394. [PMID: 38245858 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Increasing rainfall variability is widely expected under future climate change scenarios. How will savanna trees and grasses be affected by growing season dry spells and altered seasonality and how tightly coupled are tree-grass phenologies with rainfall? We measured tree and grass responses to growing season dry spells and dry season rainfall. We also tested whether the phenologies of 17 deciduous woody species and the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index of grasses were related to rainfall between 2019 and 2023. Tree and grass growth was significantly reduced during growing season dry spells. Tree growth was strongly related to growing season soil water potentials and limited to the wet season. Grasses can rapidly recover after growing season dry spells and grass evapotranspiration was significantly related to soil water potentials in both the wet and dry seasons. Tree leaf flushing commenced before the rainfall onset date with little subsequent leaf flushing. Grasses grew when moisture became available regardless of season. Our findings suggest that increased dry spell length and frequency in the growing season may slow down tree growth in some savannas, which together with longer growing seasons may allow grasses an advantage over C3 plants that are advantaged by rising CO2 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Wigley
- Plant Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
- School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela University, George Campus, George, 6530, South Africa
- Savanna Node, Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
| | - Corli Coetsee
- School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela University, George Campus, George, 6530, South Africa
- Savanna Node, Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
| | - Edmund C February
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, HW Pearson Building, University Ave N, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Svenja Dobelmann
- Department of Remote Sensing, Institute of Geography, Julius-Maximilians-Universitaet Wuerzburg, 97074, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Steven I Higgins
- Plant Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstrasse 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany
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2
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Mu X, Zheng X, Huang G, Tang L, Li Y. Responses of Ephemeral Plants to Precipitation Changes and Their Effects on Community in Central Asia Cold Desert. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2841. [PMID: 37570995 PMCID: PMC10421208 DOI: 10.3390/plants12152841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
In the context of global climate change, changes in precipitation patterns will have profound effects on desert plants, particularly on shallow-rooted plants, such as ephemeral plants. Therefore, we conducted an experiment on artificial control of precipitation for four dominant ephemeral plants, Erodium oxyrhinchum, Alyssum linifolium, Malcolmia scorpioides, and Hyalea pulchella, in the southern edge of Gurbantunggut Desert. We measured the importance value and some growth parameters of the four species under increased or decreased precipitation and constructed trait correlation networks for each of the four species. We also compared the response of increased or decreased precipitation to vegetation coverage. The results show that drought significantly reduced the survival rate, seed production and weight, and aboveground biomass accumulation of ephemeral plants. The four ephemeral plants showed different tolerance and response strategies to precipitation changes. E. oxyrhinchum and M. scorpioides can avoid drought by accelerating life history, and E. oxyrhinchum, A. linifolium, and H. pulchella can alleviate the negative effects of drought by adjusting leaf traits. However, the response of different species to the wet treatment was not consistent. Based on the results of the trait correlation network, we consider A. linifolium belongs to the ruderal plant, E. oxyrhinchum and M. scorpioides belong to the competitive plants, and H. pulchella belongs to the stress-tolerant plant. The outstanding trait coordination ability of E. oxyrhinchum makes it show absolute dominance in the community. This indicate that ephemeral plants can adapt to precipitation changes to a certain extent, and that distinct competitive advantages in growth or reproduction enabled species coexistence in the same ecological niche. Nevertheless, drought significantly reduces their community cover and the ecological value of ephemeral plants. These findings established the basis to predict vegetation dynamics in arid areas under precipitation changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology/Fukang Station of Desert Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (X.M.)
| | - Xinjun Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology/Fukang Station of Desert Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (X.M.)
| | - Gang Huang
- School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
| | - Lisong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology/Fukang Station of Desert Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (X.M.)
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology/Fukang Station of Desert Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; (X.M.)
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3
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D'Amelio PB, Ferreira AC, Fortuna R, Paquet M, Silva LR, Theron F, Doutrelant C, Covas R. Disentangling climatic and nest predator impact on reproductive output reveals adverse high-temperature effects regardless of helper number in an arid-region cooperative bird. Ecol Lett 2021; 25:151-162. [PMID: 34787354 PMCID: PMC9299450 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Climate exerts a major influence on reproductive processes, and an understanding of the mechanisms involved and which factors might mitigate adverse weather is fundamental under the ongoing climate change. Here, we study how weather and nest predation influence reproductive output in a social species, and examine whether larger group sizes can mitigate the adverse effects of these factors. We used a 7‐year nest predator‐exclusion experiment on an arid‐region cooperatively breeding bird, the sociable weaver. We found that dry and, especially, hot weather were major drivers of nestling mortality through their influence on nest predation. However, when we experimentally excluded nest predators, these conditions were still strongly associated with nestling mortality. Group size was unimportant against nest predation and, although positively associated with reproductive success, it did not mitigate the effects of adverse weather. Hence, cooperative breeding might have a limited capacity to mitigate extreme weather effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro B D'Amelio
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.,Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - André C Ferreira
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, 34293, France.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.,CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Rita Fortuna
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.,CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal
| | - Matthieu Paquet
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SE-75007, Sweden
| | - Liliana R Silva
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.,CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Franck Theron
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, 34293, France.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.,CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Claire Doutrelant
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.,Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, 34293, France
| | - Rita Covas
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal.,CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
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4
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Hou E, Litvak ME, Rudgers JA, Jiang L, Collins SL, Pockman WT, Hui D, Niu S, Luo Y. Divergent responses of primary production to increasing precipitation variability in global drylands. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:5225-5237. [PMID: 34260799 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Interannual variability in precipitation has increased globally as climate warming intensifies. The increased variability impacts both terrestrial plant production and carbon (C) sequestration. However, mechanisms driving these changes are largely unknown. Here, we examined mechanisms underlying the response of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) to interannual precipitation variability in global drylands with mean annual precipitation (MAP) <500 mm year-1 , using a combined approach of data synthesis and process-based modeling. We found a hump-shaped response of ANPP to precipitation variability along the MAP gradient. The response was positive when MAP < ~300 mm year-1 and negative when MAP was higher than this threshold, with a positive peak at 140 mm year-1 . Transpiration and subsoil water content mirrored the response of ANPP to precipitation variability; evaporation responded negatively and water loss through runoff and drainage responded positively to precipitation variability. Mean annual temperature, soil type, and plant physiological traits all altered the magnitude but not the pattern of the response of ANPP to precipitation variability along the MAP gradient. By extrapolating to global drylands (<500 mm year-1 MAP), we estimated that ANPP would increase by 15.2 ± 6.0 Tg C year-1 in arid and hyper-arid lands and decrease by 2.1 ± 0.5 Tg C year-1 in dry sub-humid lands under future changes in interannual precipitation variability. Thus, increases in precipitation variability will enhance primary production in many drylands in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enqing Hou
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Marcy E Litvak
- Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Jennifer A Rudgers
- Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Lifen Jiang
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Scott L Collins
- Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - William T Pockman
- Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Dafeng Hui
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Shuli Niu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiqi Luo
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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5
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Abraham AJ, Webster AB, Prys‐Jones TO, Roux E, Smith D, McFayden D, Jager PC, Clauss M, Doughty CE. Large predators can mitigate nutrient losses associated with off‐site removal of animals from a wildlife reserve. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Abraham
- School of Informatics Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA
- School of Geography and the Environment Environmental Change InstituteUniversity of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Andrea B. Webster
- Mammal Research Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - Tomos O. Prys‐Jones
- School of Informatics Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA
| | - Elizabeth Roux
- School of Geography and the Environment Environmental Change InstituteUniversity of Oxford Oxford UK
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE) Section of Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity Department of Biology Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark
| | - Dylan Smith
- Tswalu Kalahari Reserve Tswalu Northern Cape South Africa
| | | | - Pieter C. Jager
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals Exotic Pets and Wildlife Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Christopher E. Doughty
- School of Informatics Computing and Cyber Systems Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA
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6
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Kulmatiski A, Beard KH, Holdrege MC, February EC. Small differences in root distributions allow resource niche partitioning. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:9776-9787. [PMID: 33005344 PMCID: PMC7520225 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep roots have long been thought to allow trees to coexist with shallow-rooted grasses. However, data demonstrating how root distributions affect water uptake and niche partitioning are uncommon.We describe tree and grass root distributions using a depth-specific tracer experiment six times over two years in a subtropical savanna, Kruger National Park, South Africa. These point-in-time measurements were then used in a soil water flow model to simulate continuous water uptake by depth and plant growth form (trees and grasses) across two growing seasons. This allowed estimates of the total amount of water a root distribution could absorb as well as the amount of water a root distribution could absorb in excess of the other rooting distribution (i.e., unique hydrological niche).Most active tree and grass roots were in shallow soils: The mean depth of water uptake was 22 cm for trees and 17 cm for grasses. Slightly deeper rooting distributions provided trees with 5% more soil water than the grasses in a drier season, but 13% less water in a wetter season. Small differences also provided each rooting distribution (tree or grass) with unique hydrological niches of 4 to 13 mm water.The effect of rooting distributions has long been inferred. By quantifying the depth and timing of water uptake, we demonstrated how even small differences in rooting distributions can provide plants with resource niches that can contribute to species coexistence. Differences in total water uptake and unique hydrological niche sizes were small in this system, but they indicated that tradeoffs in rooting strategies can be expected to contribute to tree and grass coexistence because 1) competitive advantages change over time and 2) plant growth forms always have access to a soil resource pool that is not available to the other plant growth form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Kulmatiski
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology CenterUtah State UniversityLoganUTUSA
| | - Karen H. Beard
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology CenterUtah State UniversityLoganUTUSA
| | - Martin C. Holdrege
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology CenterUtah State UniversityLoganUTUSA
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7
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Yang L, Zhou J, Lai L, Sun Q, Yi S, Jiang L, Zheng Y. Evaluating physiological changes of grass and semishrub species with seasonality for understanding the process of shrub encroachment in semiarid grasslands. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2020; 47:628-638. [PMID: 32408943 DOI: 10.1071/fp19194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Shrub encroachment occurs worldwide, especially in arid and semiarid grasslands. Changes in soil water in different layers affect the process of shrub encroachment. Understanding the biological and physiological responses of plant species to shrub encroachment is essential for explaining shrub encroachment. The dominant species in six typical plant communities changed from Stipa bungeana Trin. to Artemisia ordosica Krasch., representing different shrub-encroached grasslands. The gravimetric soil water content (SWC) and enzyme and osmotic adjustment compounds of the dominant species across shrub encroachment stages and growing seasons were measured to explain the shrub encroachment. Results showed that SWC decreased and then increased during the growing seasons. With the process of shrub encroachment, SWC first increased, then decreased. With increasing soil depth, SWC increased or decreased. Across seasons with decreasing SWC, enzyme activity decreased and then increased, and malondialdehyde content and osmotic adjustment compounds increased. With the process of shrub encroachment, enzyme activity, malondialdehyde content and osmotic adjustment compounds increased or decreased. The two dominant species (S. bungeana and A. ordosica) enhanced their drought resistance abilities by regulating their antioxidant systems and osmotic adjustment compounds when soil water in a specific layer was not over the threshold. We recommend increasing the clay content to increase the water holding capacity in the surface soil layer to restore the zonal vegetation of S. bungeana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plants, West China Subalpine Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, China; and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jihua Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plants, West China Subalpine Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, China
| | - Liming Lai
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plants, West China Subalpine Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, China
| | - Qinglin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plants, West China Subalpine Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, China; and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sangui Yi
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plants, West China Subalpine Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, China; and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lianhe Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plants, West China Subalpine Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanrun Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plants, West China Subalpine Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, China; and Corresponding author.
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8
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Wood LK, Hays S, Zinnert JC. Decreased temperature variance associated with biotic composition enhances coastal shrub encroachment. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8210. [PMID: 32427910 PMCID: PMC7237465 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65161-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Regime shift from grasslands to shrub-dominated landscapes occur worldwide driven by altered land-use and climate change, affecting landscape function, biodiversity, and productivity. Warming winter temperatures are a main driver of expansion of the native, evergreen shrub, Morella cerifera, in coastal landscapes. Shrub establishment in these habitats alters microclimate, but little is known about seasonal differences and microclimate variance. We assessed influence of shrubs on microclimate variance, community composition, and community physiological functioning across three vegetation zones: grass, transitional, and shrub in a coastal grassland. Using a novel application of a time-series analysis, we interpret microclimatic variance modification and elucidate mechanisms of shrub encroachment at the Virginia Coast Reserve, Long-Term Ecological Research site. As shrub thickets form, diversity is reduced with little grass/forb cover, while transpiration and annual productivity increase. Shrub thickets significantly reduced temperature variance with a positive influence of one day on the next in maximum air, minimum air, and maximum ground temperature. We also show that microclimatic temperature moderation reduces summer extreme temperatures in transition areas, even before coalescence into full thickets. Encroachment of Morella cerifera on the Virginia barrier islands is driven by reduced local exposure to cold temperatures and enhanced by abiotic microclimatic modification and biotic physiological functioning. This shift in plant community composition from grassland to shrub thicket alters the role of barrier islands in productivity and can have impacts on the natural resilience of the islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K Wood
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 West Cary St, Richmond, VA, 23225, USA.,Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 West Cary St, Richmond, VA, 23225, USA
| | - Spencer Hays
- Department of Statistics, Indiana University, 919 E. 10th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, USA
| | - Julie C Zinnert
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 West Cary St, Richmond, VA, 23225, USA.
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9
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Yang X, Huang Z, Dong M, Ye X, Liu G, Hu D, Tuvshintogtokh I, Tumenjargal T, Cornelissen JHC. Responses of community structure and diversity to nitrogen deposition and rainfall addition in contrasting steppes are ecosystem-dependent and dwarfed by year-to-year community dynamics. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2019; 124:461-469. [PMID: 31161191 PMCID: PMC6798833 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Long-term studies to disentangle the multiple, simultaneous effects of global change on community dynamics are a high research priority to forecast future distribution of diversity. Seldom are such multiple effects of global change studied across different ecosystems. METHODS Here we manipulated nitrogen deposition and rainfall at levels realistic for future environmental scenarios in three contrasting steppe types in Mongolia and followed community dynamics for 7 years. KEY RESULTS Redundancy analyses showed that community composition varied significantly among years. Rainfall and nitrogen manipulations did have some significant effects, but these effects were dependent on the type of response and varied between ecosystems. Community compositions of desert and meadow steppes, but not that of typical steppe, responded significantly to rainfall addition. Only community composition of meadow steppe responded significantly to nitrogen deposition. Species richness in desert steppe responded significantly to rainfall addition, but the other two steppes did not. Typical steppe showed significant negative response of species richness to nitrogen deposition, but the other two steppes did not. There were significant interactions between year and nitrogen deposition in desert steppe and between year and rainfall addition in typical steppe, suggesting that the effect of the treatments depends on the particular year considered. CONCLUSIONS Our multi-year experiment thus suggests that responses of community structure and diversity to global change drivers are ecosystem-dependent and that their responses to experimental treatments are dwarfed by the year-to-year community dynamics. Therefore, our results point to the importance of taking annual environmental variability into account for understanding and predicting the specific responses of different ecosystems to multiple global change drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenying Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuehua Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guofang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dandan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Indree Tuvshintogtokh
- Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Tsogtsaikhan Tumenjargal
- Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - J Hans C Cornelissen
- Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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10
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Yu K, D'Odorico P, Collins SL, Carr D, Porporato A, Anderegg WRL, Gilhooly WP, Wang L, Bhattachan A, Bartlett M, Hartzell S, Yin J, He Y, Li W, Tatlhego M, Fuentes JD. The competitive advantage of a constitutive CAM species over a C
4
grass species under drought and CO
2
enrichment. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kailiang Yu
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia 22904 USA
| | - Paolo D'Odorico
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia 22904 USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California Berkeley California 94710 USA
| | - Scott L. Collins
- Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 USA
| | - David Carr
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia 22904 USA
| | - Amilcare Porporato
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Duke University Durham North Carolina 27708 USA
| | | | - William P. Gilhooly
- Department of Earth Sciences Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Indianapolis Indiana 46202 USA
| | - Lixin Wang
- Department of Earth Sciences Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Indianapolis Indiana 46202 USA
| | - Abinash Bhattachan
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina 27607 USA
| | - Mark Bartlett
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Duke University Durham North Carolina 27708 USA
| | - Samantha Hartzell
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Duke University Durham North Carolina 27708 USA
| | - Jun Yin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Duke University Durham North Carolina 27708 USA
| | - Yongli He
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia 22904 USA
- Key Laboratory for Semi‐Arid Climate Change of the Ministry of Education College of Atmospheric Sciences Lanzhou University Lanzhou 730000 China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia 22904 USA
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau Northwest A&F University Yangling 712100 China
| | - Mokganedi Tatlhego
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia 22904 USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management University of California Berkeley California 94710 USA
| | - Jose D. Fuentes
- Department of Meteorology Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania 16802 USA
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11
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Mayor AG, Bautista S, Rodriguez F, Kéfi S. Connectivity-Mediated Ecohydrological Feedbacks and Regime Shifts in Drylands. Ecosystems 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-019-00366-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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12
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Chen N, Ratajczak Z, Yu K. A dryland re‐vegetation in northern China: Success or failure? Quick transitions or long lags? Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ning Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystems School of Life Sciences Lanzhou University No. 222, Tianshui South Road Lanzhou Gansu 730000 China
- Yuzhong Mountain Ecosystem Field Observation and Research Station Lanzhou University No. 222, Tianshui South Road Lanzhou Gansu 730000 China
- Shapotou Desert Research and Environment Station Northwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and Resources Chinese Academy of Sciences No. 320, Donggang West Road Lanzhou Gansu 730000 China
| | - Zak Ratajczak
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin 53703 USA
| | - Kailiang Yu
- School of Biological Sciences University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah 84112 USA
- Institute of Integrative Biology ETH Zürich Zürich 8006 Switzerland
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Wang P, Li XY, Wang L, Wu X, Hu X, Fan Y, Tong Y. Divergent evapotranspiration partition dynamics between shrubs and grasses in a shrub-encroached steppe ecosystem. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 219:1325-1337. [PMID: 29862515 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Previous evapotranspiration (ET) partitioning studies have usually neglected competitions and interactions between antagonistic plant functional types. This study investigated whether shrubs and grasses have divergent ET partition dynamics impacted by different water-use patterns, canopy structures, and physiological properties in a shrub-encroached steppe ecosystem in Inner Mongolia, China. The soil water-use patterns of shrubs and grasses have been quantified by an isotopic tracing approach and coupled into an improved multisource energy balance model to partition ET fluxes into soil evaporation, grass transpiration, and shrub transpiration. The mean fractional contributions to total ET were 24 ± 13%, 20 ± 4%, and 56 ± 16% for shrub transpiration, grass transpiration, and soil evaporation respectively during the growing season. Difference in ecohydrological connectivity and leaf development both contributed to divergent transpiration partitioning between shrubs and grasses. Shrub-encroachment processes result in larger changes in the ET components than in total ET flux, which could be well explained by changes in canopy resistance, an ecosystem function dominated by the interaction of soil water-use patterns and ecosystem structure. The analyses presented here highlight the crucial effects of vegetation structural changes on the processes of land-atmosphere interaction and climate feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Lixin Wang
- Department of Earth Sciences, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Xiuchen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xia Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Ying Fan
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yaqin Tong
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
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14
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Rudgers JA, Chung YA, Maurer GE, Moore DI, Muldavin EH, Litvak ME, Collins SL. Climate sensitivity functions and net primary production: A framework for incorporating climate mean and variability. Ecology 2018; 99:576-582. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Rudgers
- Department of Biology; MSC03-2020; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 USA
| | - Y. Anny Chung
- Department of Biology; MSC03-2020; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 USA
| | - Gregory E. Maurer
- Department of Biology; MSC03-2020; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 USA
| | - Douglas I. Moore
- Department of Biology; MSC03-2020; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 USA
| | - Esteban H. Muldavin
- Department of Biology; MSC03-2020; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 USA
| | - Marcy E. Litvak
- Department of Biology; MSC03-2020; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 USA
| | - Scott L. Collins
- Department of Biology; MSC03-2020; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 USA
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Holdo RM, Nippert JB, Mack MC. Rooting depth varies differentially in trees and grasses as a function of mean annual rainfall in an African savanna. Oecologia 2017; 186:269-280. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-4011-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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