1
|
Tu Y, Yao Z, Guo J, Yang L, Zhu Y, Yang X, Shi Z, Indree T. Predicting the potential risk of Caragana shrub encroachment in the Eurasian steppe under anthropogenic climate change. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 944:173925. [PMID: 38866162 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Climate change and human activities drive widespread shrub encroachment in global grassland ecosystems, particularly in the Eurasian steppe. Caragana shrubs, the primary contributors to shrub encroachment in this region, play a crucial role in shaping the ecosystem's structure and function. Future changes in the suitable distribution range of Caragana species will directly affect the ecological security and sustainable socio-economic development of the Eurasian steppe ecosystem. We used an ensemble modeling approach to predict Caragana shrub-dominated plant communities' current and future distribution in three major steppe subregions: the Black Sea-Kazakhstan steppe, the Tibetan Plateau steppe, and the Central Asian steppe. We assessed the potential risk of Caragana shrub encroachment by predicting changes in the suitable distribution area of 19 Caragana shrub species under future climate changes. Our research findings suggest that the expansion of Caragana species in different subregions of the Eurasian steppe is influenced by the effects of climate change in various ways. The distribution of Caragana species is primarily influenced by precipitation and temperature, and the global human modification (ghm) has a significant impact on the Central Asian and Tibetan Plateau subregions. Minimal changes are expected in the Black Sea-Kazakhstan subregion, a slight increase on the Tibetan Plateau, and a substantial rise in the Central Asian subregion, which suggests a higher potential risk of Caragana species shrub encroachment in that area. Our research provides valuable insights into the response of Caragana shrub encroachment to changing climates and human activities. It also has implications for the sustainable management of different areas of the vast Eurasian steppe ecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ya Tu
- Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China; Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
| | - Zhenyu Yao
- Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Jianying Guo
- Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China.
| | - Liu Yang
- Inner Mongolia Geological Exploration Institute of China Chemical Geology and Mine Bureau, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Yuanjun Zhu
- Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
| | - Xiaohui Yang
- Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
| | - Zhongjie Shi
- Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Tuvshintogtokh Indree
- Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 13330, Mongolia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Trail S, Ward FA. Economically optimized forage utilization choices in drylands for adapting to economic, ecological, and climate stress. Heliyon 2024; 10:e35254. [PMID: 39170482 PMCID: PMC11336450 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Improving the economic performance of range forage in drylands internationally faces challenges from economic, ecological, and climate stress. Stakeholders in these drylands wish to protect range forage ecosystems while assuring economic viability of ranching. Despite several recent research achievements, little work to date has integrated relationships among precipitation, grazing pressure, animal performance, and forage production to protect ranching incomes faced with economic, ecological, and climate stress in dryland areas. This work addresses that gap by developing an empirical mathematical programming model for optimizing economic performance of livestock grazing on range forage ecosystems that adapt to several stressors. Its unique contribution is to formulate and apply a ranch income optimization model calibrated using positive mathematical programming. The model replicates observed economic, forage, and climate conditions while accounting for interacting relations among stocking rates, forage conditions, grazing pressure, animal performance, and ranch economic productivity. Results show ranch incomes ranging from about $5 to $88 per acre and marginal values of forage ranging from $0.01 to $0.12 per pound of forage, depending on economic, ecological, and climate conditions. Results reveal how all these stressors affect economically optimized choices of grazing levels, ranch income, and economic values of forage for a range of six biomes seen in the US west. Results help livestock ranchers to adjust stocking and forage choices as well as farm policymakers who seek flexible government programs to adapt to changes in economic, ecological, and climate conditions. The work's importance comes from applicability to forage management problems in dry regions internationally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanelle Trail
- New Mexico State University, Water Science and Management Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, USA
| | - Frank A. Ward
- New Mexico State University, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business, Water Science and Management Program, College of ACES, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu C, Jia X, Bai X, Shao M. Analysis of soil water use by exotic and native vegetation in a semi-arid area and their associated interspecific competition. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167066. [PMID: 37709068 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The exotic vegetation used in dryland vegetation restoration projects is characterized by its fast-growing and deep-rooted system, which enables it to expedite the restoration of ecosystem functions and enhance biodiversity. However, the interspecific relationship between exotic and native vegetation and soil water uptake in these restored ecosystems remains unclear, limiting our ability to evaluate the succession process and sustainability of restored ecosystems. In this study, stable isotope techniques and a proportional similarity index were used to investigate soil water use strategies and interspecific relationships between exotic and native vegetation. The results showed significant differences between the soil water use strategies of both exotic and native vegetation between seasons and species, where the proportions of deep soil water (30-100 cm) used by exotic shrubs (Caragana korshinskii) and exotic grass (Medicago sativa) were significantly higher than those used by the co-occurring native grass (Stipa bungeana) (p < 0.05). As soil water storage declined, exotic vegetation increased its utilization of deep soil water, whereas native grasses relied more on surface water (0-10 cm). This suggests that deep-rooted exotic vegetation has greater adaptability and access to water resources than shallow-rooted native vegetation. However, a prolonged decline in soil water storage led to increased competition for surface soil water (0-30 cm) between the exotic and native vegetation. This may increase the risk of degradation of exotic vegetation, particularly in situations with lower soil water content in the deep layers. Overall, this study highlights the variation in water-use strategies and interspecies relationships between exotic and native vegetation and their implications for ecosystem succession, which provides valuable insights for developing future vegetation restoration strategies and managing restored ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenggong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xiaoxu Jia
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; Yellow River Delta Modern Agricultural Engineering Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Xiao Bai
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Ming'an Shao
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Niu F, Pierce NA, Okin GS, Archer SR, Fischella MR, Nadoum S. Sandblasting promotes shrub encroachment in arid grasslands. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:1817-1829. [PMID: 37658674 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19238] [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: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Shrub encroachment is a common ecological state transition in global drylands and has myriad adverse effects on grasslands and the services they provide. This physiognomic shift is often ascribed to changes in climate (e.g. precipitation) and disturbance regimes (e.g. grazing and fire), but this remains debated. Aeolian processes are known to impact resource distribution in drylands, but their potential role in grassland-to-shrubland state changes has received little attention. We quantified the effects of 'sandblasting' (abrasive damage by wind-blown soil) on the ecophysiology of dryland grass vs shrub functional types using a portable wind tunnel to test the hypothesis that grasses would be more susceptible to sandblasting than shrubs and, thus, reinforce transitions to shrub dominance in wind-erodible grasslands when climate- or disturbance-induced reductions in ground cover occur. Grasses and shrubs responded differently to sandblasting, wherein water-use efficiency declined substantially in grasses, but only slightly in shrubs, owing to grasses having greater increases in day/nighttime leaf conductance and transpiration. The differential ecophysiological response to sandblasting exhibited by grass and shrub functional types could consequently alter the vegetation dynamics in dryland grasslands in favour of the xerophytic shrubs. Sandblasting could thus be an overlooked driver of shrub encroachment in wind-erodible grasslands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Furong Niu
- College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730070, China
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Nathan A Pierce
- USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Southwest Watershed Research Center, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Gregory S Okin
- Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Steven R Archer
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Michael R Fischella
- Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Shereen Nadoum
- Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ossanna LQR, Serrano K, Jennings LL, Dillon J, Maier RM, Neilson JW. Progressive belowground soil development associated with sustainable plant establishment during copper mine waste revegetation. APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY : A SECTION OF AGRICULTURE, ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 186:104813. [PMID: 36844191 PMCID: PMC9956965 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.104813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Critical to the environmental sustainability of hard rock mining is the reclamation of disturbed lands following mine closure through revegetation. Improved understanding of associations between above- and belowground processes that characterize successful plant establishment is critical to the implementation of more efficient revegetation strategies for nutrient-poor mine waste materials. The specific objective of this five-year temporal study was to identify progressive biotic and abiotic indicators of primary soil development on mine waste rock (WR) on a slope hydroseeded with native plant species and to quantify comparative effects of plant lifeform on soil development. Aboveground plant diversity and belowground substrate properties were measured annually at 67 m intervals along transects following the slope contour. Seeded WR was compared to unseeded WR and the adjacent native ecosystem. A temporal increase in WR microbial biomass was observed in seeded WR relative to unseeded areas. Microbial community analysis found the unseeded WR to be defined by oligotrophic microbes, whereas targeted grass and shrub root zones samples demonstrated significant increases in specific cellulose and lignin degrading and N-cycling phylotypes. More extensive chemical and biological fertility development was observed in shrub root zones relative to grass. Ten chemical and biological indicators increased significantly in shrub WR relative to unseeded WR, whereas grass WR was only enriched in bacterial 16S rRNA gene copy number/g substrate and bacterial/archaeal and fungal diversity. In addition, the shrub root zone had significantly higher nitrogen-cycling potential than grass root zones or unseeded WR. Thus, both grasses and shrubs improve belowground WR development; however, shrub establishment had greater fertility outcomes. Concurrent belowground fertility development is critical to sustainable plant establishment. Coupled evaluation of above- and belowground metrics provides an improved quantitative assessment of revegetation progress and a valuable tool to guide management decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lia Q. R. Ossanna
- Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Karen Serrano
- Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Lydia L. Jennings
- Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jesse Dillon
- Cedar Creek Associates, Inc., Fort Collins, CO, 80527, USA
| | - Raina M. Maier
- Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Julia W. Neilson
- Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Christensen EM, James D, Randall RM, Bestelmeyer B. Abrupt transitions in a southwest U.S. desert grassland related to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. Ecology 2023:e4065. [PMID: 37186307 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Prediction of abrupt ecosystem transitions resulting from climatic change will be an essential element of adaptation strategies in the coming decades. In the arid southwest United States, the collapse and recovery of long-lived perennial grasses have important effects on ecosystem services, but the causes of these variations have been poorly understood. Here we use a quality-controlled vegetation monitoring dataset initiated in 1915 to show that grass cover dynamics during the 20th century were closely correlated to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) index. The relationship out-performed models correlating grasses to yearly precipitation and drought indices, suggesting that ecosystem transitions attributed only to local disturbances were instead influenced by climate teleconnections. Shifts in PDO phase over time were associated with the persistent loss of core grass species and recovery of transient species, so recovery of grasses in aggregate concealed significant changes in species composition. However, the relationship between PDO and grass cover broke down after 1995; grass cover is consistently lower than PDO would predict. The decoupling of grass cover from the PDO suggests that a threshold had been crossed in which warming or land degradation overwhelmed the ability of any grass species to recover during favorable periods. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erica M Christensen
- USDA-ARS-Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Darren James
- USDA-ARS-Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Robb M Randall
- DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, White Sands Missile Range, NM, USA
| | - Brandon Bestelmeyer
- USDA-ARS-Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu M, Li Y, Sun L, Du Z, Li W, Zhang L, Wang J, Chen J. Divergent coupling mechanism of precipitation on plant community multifunction across alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1122140. [PMID: 36743555 PMCID: PMC9895794 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1122140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION It is essential to understand plant adaptive strategies on plant stoichiometric traits at the species level rather than at the community level under various environmental conditions across the Tibetan Plateau (TP). METHODS Here, plant community function and edaphic and meteorological factors were collected at 111 sites along an extensive water-heat gradient during the peak growing season in 2015. Community-weighted mean trait (CWM) was introduced to illuminating dynamics of the functional trait at the community level. RESULTS Our results indicated that plant functional traits, including CWM-leaf total carbon (CWM_LTC), CWM-leaf total nitrogen (CWM_LTN), and CWM-leaf total phosphorus (CWM_LTP), showed similar and comparatively marked increases from alpine meadow (AM) to alpine steppe (AS). Moreover, since the tightly coordinated variation among each plant functional trait of AM was higher than that of AS, a more stable coupling mechanism of these plant functional traits could be observed in AM under a long-term evolutionary habit. Specifically, there was higher annual mean precipitation (AMP) in AM than that in AS significantly (P < 0.01), and AMP was significantly correlated with soil moisture and soil total phosphorus in AM. Generally, our findings suggest that precipitation determines divergent coupling plant community function in both AS and AM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miao Liu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Le Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyin Du
- School of Geographical Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, China
| | - Wencheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Tibet Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinniu Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Ji Chen
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
- Aarhus University Centre for Circular Bioeconomy, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
- Climate Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lee J, Eom T, Lee D, Ko H, Rhim S. Effects of multiple ecological factors on the body mass of small rodents in a forest ecosystem. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/wlb3.01078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jae‐Kang Lee
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
- Dept of Animal Science and Technology, School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung‐Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
| | - Tae‐Kyung Eom
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
- Dept of Animal Science and Technology, School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung‐Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
| | - Dong‐Ho Lee
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
- Dept of Animal Science and Technology, School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung‐Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
| | - Hyeongyu Ko
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
- Dept of Animal Science and Technology, School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung‐Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
| | - Shin‐Jae Rhim
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
- Dept of Animal Science and Technology, School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung‐Ang Univ. Ansung South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li J, Ravi S, Wang G, Van Pelt RS, Gill TE, Sankey JB. Woody plant encroachment of grassland and the reversibility of shrub dominance: Erosion, fire, and feedback processes. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Junran Li
- Department of Geosciences The University of Tulsa Tulsa Oklahoma USA
| | - Sujith Ravi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science Temple University Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Guan Wang
- Department of Geosciences The University of Tulsa Tulsa Oklahoma USA
| | - R. Scott Van Pelt
- Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research USDA‐ARS Big Spring Texas USA
| | - Thomas E. Gill
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences and Environmental Science & Engineering Program University of Texas at El Paso El Paso Texas USA
| | - Joel B. Sankey
- Southwestern Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center U.S. Geological Survey Flagstaff Arizona USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lee JK, Eom TK, Bae HK, Lee DH, Rhim SJ. Responsive strategies of three sympatric small rodents to the altitudinal effects on microhabitats. ANIM BIOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-bja10068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of altitudinal gradients on small-rodent populations and microhabitat conditions. We selected three altitudinal bands: lowland, mid-land, and highland. We captured three small-rodent species, the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), the Korean field mouse (A. peninsulae), and the red-backed vole (Myodes regulus). A. agrarius preferred microhabitats with dense ground vegetation and sparse mid-story vegetation, basal area, downed trees, and stone coverage. A. peninsulae utilized ground vegetation, overstory vegetation, and downed trees. M. regulus occupied microhabitats with abundant stone coverage and little ground vegetation coverage. Ground vegetation coverage was higher in the mid-land. The lowland was characterized by high understory vegetation, bulky downed trees, and high stone coverage. A. agrarius mostly occupied the mid-land, whereas A. peninsulae and M. regulus mainly inhabited the lowland. Our results show that each small-rodent species had its own strategy for utilizing the key habitat factors in altitudinally affected microhabitats and for reducing competition among the populations. This finding contributes to improving knowledge of the ecological altitudinal features of microhabitat conditions, as well as the altitudinal distributions and abundances of three small-rodent species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Kang Lee
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang University, Ansung 17546, South Korea
| | - Tae-Kyung Eom
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang University, Ansung 17546, South Korea
| | - Ho-Kyoung Bae
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang University, Ansung 17546, South Korea
| | - Dong-Ho Lee
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang University, Ansung 17546, South Korea
| | - Shin-Jae Rhim
- School of Bioresource and Bioscience, Chung-Ang University, Ansung 17546, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mndela M, Madakadze IC, Tjelele JT, Mangwane M, Nherera-Chokuda F, Dube S, Ramoelo A, Letsoalo NL. Responses of grass productivity traits to bush clearing in semi-arid rangelands in North-West Province of South Africa. RANGELAND JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/rj21053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
12
|
Plant Species Richness in Multiyear Wet and Dry Periods in the Chihuahuan Desert. CLIMATE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cli9080130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In drylands, most studies of extreme precipitation events examine effects of individual years or short-term events, yet multiyear periods (>3 y) are expected to have larger impacts on ecosystem dynamics. Our goal was to take advantage of a sequence of multiple long-term (4-y) periods (dry, wet, average) that occurred naturally within a 26-y time frame to examine responses of plant species richness to extreme rainfall in grasslands and shrublands of the Chihuahuan Desert. Our hypothesis was that richness would be related to rainfall amount, and similar in periods with similar amounts of rainfall. Breakpoint analyses of water-year precipitation showed five sequential periods (1993–2018): AVG1 (mean = 22 cm/y), DRY1 (mean = 18 cm/y), WET (mean = 30 cm/y), DRY2 (mean = 18 cm/y), and AVG2 (mean = 24 cm/y). Detailed analyses revealed changes in daily and seasonal metrics of precipitation over the course of the study: the amount of nongrowing season precipitation decreased since 1993, and summer growing season precipitation increased through time with a corresponding increase in frequency of extreme rainfall events. This increase in summer rainfall could explain the general loss in C3 species after the wet period at most locations through time. Total species richness in the wet period was among the highest in the five periods, with the deepest average storm depth in the summer and the fewest long duration (>45 day) dry intervals across all seasons. For other species-ecosystem combinations, two richness patterns were observed. Compared to AVG2, AVG1 had lower water-year precipitation yet more C3 species in upland grasslands, creosotebush, and mesquite shrublands, and more C4 perennial grasses in tarbush shrublands. AVG1 also had larger amounts of rainfall and more large storms in fall and spring with higher mean depths of storm and lower mean dry-day interval compared with AVG2. While DRY1 and DRY2 had the same amount of precipitation, DRY2 had more C4 species than DRY1 in creosote bush shrublands, and DRY1 had more C3 species than DRY2 in upland grasslands. Most differences in rainfall between these periods occurred in the summer. Legacy effects were observed for C3 species in upland grasslands where no significant change in richness occurred from DRY1 to WET compared with a 41% loss of species from the WET to DRY2 period. The opposite asymmetry pattern was found for C4 subdominant species in creosote bush and mesquite shrublands, where an increase in richness occurred from DRY1 to WET followed by no change in richness from WET to DRY2. Our results show that understanding plant biodiversity of Chihuahuan Desert landscapes as precipitation continues to change will require daily and seasonal metrics of rainfall within a wet-dry period paradigm, as well as a consideration of species traits (photosynthetic pathways, lifespan, morphologies). Understanding these relationships can provide insights into predicting species-level dynamics in drylands under a changing climate.
Collapse
|
13
|
Zuo X, Zhao S, Cheng H, Hu Y, Wang S, Yue P, Liu R, Knapp AK, Smith MD, Yu Q, Koerner SE. Functional diversity response to geographic and experimental precipitation gradients varies with plant community type. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoan Zuo
- Urat Desert‐grassland Research StationNorthwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and ResourcesChinese Academy of Science Lanzhou China
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology Gansu ProvinceLanzhou China
- Naiman Desertification Research Station Northwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and ResourcesChinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou China
| | - Shenglong Zhao
- Urat Desert‐grassland Research StationNorthwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and ResourcesChinese Academy of Science Lanzhou China
| | - Huan Cheng
- College of forestry Sichuan Agricultural University Chengdu China
| | - Ya Hu
- Urat Desert‐grassland Research StationNorthwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and ResourcesChinese Academy of Science Lanzhou China
| | - Shaokun Wang
- Urat Desert‐grassland Research StationNorthwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and ResourcesChinese Academy of Science Lanzhou China
| | - Ping Yue
- Urat Desert‐grassland Research StationNorthwest Institute of Eco‐Environment and ResourcesChinese Academy of Science Lanzhou China
| | - Rentao Liu
- Key Laboratory for Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education Ningxia University Yinchuan China
| | - Alan K. Knapp
- Department of Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USA
| | - Melinda D. Smith
- Department of Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USA
| | - Qiang Yu
- National Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Beijing China
| | - Sally E. Koerner
- Department of Biology University of North Carolina Greensboro Greensboro NC USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Farrell HL, Fehmi JS, Gornish ES. The effects of site preparation equal those of seeding at a dryland restoration site: 6 years of plant community development. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L. Farrell
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona PO Box 210137, Tucson AZ 85721 USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Fehmi
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona PO Box 210137, Tucson AZ 85721 USA
| | - Elise S. Gornish
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona PO Box 210137, Tucson AZ 85721 USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Teman SJ, Stevens N, Monadjem A, Fletcher RJ, Austin JD, McCleery R. Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass Biomass. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.676572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In savannas across the planet, encroaching woody plants are altering ecosystem functions and reshaping communities. Seed predation by rodents may serve to slow the encroachment of woody plants in grasslands and savannas. Our goals for this study were to determine if rodents in an African savanna selectively removed seeds of an encroaching plant and if foraging activity was influenced by the local vegetation structure or by the landscape context. From trials with two species of seeds (encroacher = Dichrostachys cinerea, non-encroaching overstory tree = Senegalia nigrescens) at 64 seed stations, we recorded 1,065 foraging events by seven species of granivorous rodents. We found a strong positive relationship between rodent activity and the number of seeds removed during trials. Foraging events were dominated by rodent seed predators, with <10.6% of events involving a rodent with the potential for secondary dispersal. Rodents selectively removed the seeds of the encroaching species, removing 32.6% more D. cinerea seeds compared to S. nigrescens. Additionally, rodent activity and the number of seeds removed increased at sites with more grass biomass. Our results suggest a potential mechanistic role for rodents in mitigating the spread of woody plants in grass dominated savannas.
Collapse
|
16
|
Collins SL, Nippert JB, Blair JM, Briggs JM, Blackmore P, Ratajczak Z. Fire frequency, state change and hysteresis in tallgrass prairie. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:636-647. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott L. Collins
- Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM87131USA
| | - Jesse B. Nippert
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan KS66506USA
| | - John M. Blair
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan KS66506USA
| | - John M. Briggs
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan KS66506USA
| | - Pamela Blackmore
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan KS66506USA
| | - Zak Ratajczak
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan KS66506USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
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.
Collapse
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
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Observational and experimental evidence for the effect of altered precipitation on desert and steppe communities. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
|
19
|
Lucero JE, Noble T, Haas S, Westphal M, Butterfield H, Lortie CJ. The dark side of facilitation: native shrubs facilitate exotic annuals more strongly than native annuals. NEOBIOTA 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.44.33771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Positive interactions enhance biodiversity and ecosystem function, but can also exacerbate biological invasions. Facilitation of exotic invaders by exotic foundation species (invasional meltdown) has been studied extensively, but facilitation of exotic invaders by native foundation species has attracted less attention. Specifically, very few studies have examined the extent that native foundation species facilitate native and exotic competitors. Understanding the processes that mediate interactions between native and exotic species can help explain, predict, and improve management of biological invasions. Here, we examined the effects of native foundation shrubs on the relative abundance of the annual plant community – including native and exotic taxa – from 2015–2018 in a desert ecosystem at Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, USA (elevation: 723 m). Shrub effects varied by year and by the identity of annual species, but shrubs consistently enhanced the abundance of the annual plant community and facilitated both native (n=17 species) and exotic (n=4 species) taxa. However, at the provenance level, exotic annuals were facilitated 2.75 times stronger in abundance than native annuals, and exotic annuals were always more abundant than natives both near and away from shrubs. Our study reaffirms facilitation as an important process in the organisation of plant communities and confirms that both native and exotic species can form positive associations with native foundation species. However, facilitation by native foundation species can exacerbate biological invasions by increasing the local abundance of exotic invaders. Thus, the force of facilitation can have a dark side relevant to ecosystem function and management.
Collapse
|