1
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Hajek OL, Knapp AK. Signatures of autumn deluges revealed during spring drought in a semi-arid grassland. Oecologia 2024; 204:83-93. [PMID: 38108892 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05488-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Increases in extremely large precipitation events (deluges) and shifts in seasonal patterns of water availability with climate change will both have important consequences for ecosystem function, particularly in water-limited regions. While previous work in the semi-arid shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado has demonstrated this ecosystem's strong sensitivity to growing season deluges, our understanding of ecosystem responses to deluges during the dormant season is limited. Here, we imposed experimental 100 mm deluges (~ 30% of mean annual precipitation) in either September or October in a native C4-dominated shortgrass steppe ecosystem to evaluate the impact of this post-growing season shift in water availability during the autumn and the following growing season. Soil moisture for both deluge treatments remained elevated compared with ambient levels through April as spring precipitation was atypically low. Despite overall low levels of productivity with spring drought, these deluges from the previous autumn increased aboveground net primary production (ANPP), primarily due to increases with C4 grasses. C3 ANPP was also enhanced, largely due to an increase in the annual C3 grass, Vulpia octoflora, in the October deluge treatment. While spring precipitation has historically been the primary determinant of ecosystem function in this ecosystem, this combination of two climate extremes-an extremely wet autumn followed by a naturally-occurring spring drought-revealed the potential for meaningful carryover effects from autumn precipitation. With climate change increasing the likelihood of extremes during all seasons, experiments which create novel climatic conditions can provide new insight into the dynamics of ecosystem functioning in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia L Hajek
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology and Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
| | - Alan K Knapp
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology and Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
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2
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Liu L, Zhao Q, Zheng L, Zeng D. Responses of nutrient resorption to interannual precipitation variability and nitrogen addition in a pine plantation. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Qiong Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang China
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering Anhui University Hefei China
| | - Lin‐Lin Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - De‐Hui Zeng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang China
- Daqinggou Ecological Station Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang China
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3
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Zhuang W, Wang M, Xiao Y, Zhou X, Wu N. Differential uptake of nitrogen forms by two herbs in the Gurbantunggut desert, Central Asia. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2022; 24:758-765. [PMID: 35381112 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13424] [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: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how plants adjust their requirements for different N forms can help elucidate plant coexistence strategies in N-limited desert ecosystems. To understand the mechanisms involved, we investigated whether two desert herbs can directly absorb dissolved organic nitrogen (N) and tested whether the patterns changed over different growth stages. Two dominant herbaceous species, Astragalus arpilobus and Arnebia decumbens, from the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut desert, China, were selected. Short-term (24 h) 15 N-labelled tracer (15 N-NO3 , 15 N-NH4 , 2-13 C-15 N-Glycine) treatments were conducted at two soil depths (0-5 cm and 5-15 cm) in the season of rapid growth (June) and in the peak biomass season (July). Enrichment in 13 C and 15 N was assessed in the two species receiving glycine. The ratio 13 C:15 N was 0.21-1.39 at the 24-h harvest, suggesting that approximately 10.5-69.5% of glycine had been absorbed. The amount of absorbed 15 N was significantly affected by species, month, soil depth and N form. The two species absorbed most 15 N from the 0-5 cm soil layer, and the absorption rate in July was higher than that in June. The absorption of 15 N-NO3 and 15 N-NH4 was significantly higher than that of 2-13 C-15 N-Glycine. The results indicate that these herbs could use amino acids in the N-deficient desert ecosystem. The two co-existing species used different forms of inorganic N for their requirements and maintained a specific preference throughout various growth stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Zhuang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology in Arid Land, College of Life Science, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
| | - M Wang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology in Arid Land, College of Life Science, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
| | - Y Xiao
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology in Arid Land, College of Life Science, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
| | - X Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - N Wu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai, China
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4
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Impact of Growing Season Precipitation Regime on the Performance of Masson Pine Saplings. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13040627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The growth and physiological effects of either decreased precipitation (e.g., drought) or increased one (e.g., flooding) on trees have been extensively studied. However, less attention has been paid to the questions of whether and how trees respond to changes in precipitation regime with different rainfall amounts. To investigate the effects of water availability on sapling’s growth, tissue levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), and nutrients, we carried out a greenhouse experiment with Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) saplings grown in precipitation amounts of 300, 500, and 700 mm (3 levels) in combination with two levels of a watering regime (i.e., regular watering vs. pulsed watering, i.e., frequent low rainfall coupled with fewer instances of heavy rain) for a growing season in subtropical China. Pulsed watering caused higher soil pH (>7.5) but lower soil organic carbon and soil nutrients, and consequently led to smaller plant biomass and height of the saplings than regular watering, especially in the water amount treatment of 300 and 500 mm. Additionally, higher levels of NSCs in plant tissue concentrations were observed under pulsed watering than under regular watering, due to greater carbon consumption for supporting higher growth rate and a dilution effect by bigger plant size and biomass in the latter. Our results indicated that the growing season precipitation amount of 300 mm is sufficient for the drought-tolerant tree species P. massoniana. In such a case, the growing season precipitation regime rather than the precipitation amount will have a much stronger impact on the tree performance.
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5
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Ma X, Chao L, Li J, Ding Z, Wang S, Li F, Bao Y. The Distribution and Turnover of Bacterial Communities in the Root Zone of Seven Stipa Species Across an Arid and Semi-arid Steppe. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:782621. [PMID: 35003012 PMCID: PMC8741278 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.782621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial communities of the root-zone soil are capable of regulating vital biogeochemical cycles and the succession of plant growth. Stipa as grassland constructive species is restricted by the difference features of east–west humidity and north–south heat, which shows the population substituting distribution. The distribution, turnover, and potential driving factors and ecological significance of the root-zone bacterial community along broad spatial gradients of Stipa taxa transition remain unclear. This paper investigated seven Stipa species root-zone soils based on high-throughput sequencing combined with the measurements of multiple environmental parameters in arid and semi-arid steppe. The communities of soil bacteria in root zone had considerable turnover, and some regular variations in structure along the Stipa taxa transition are largely determined by climatic factors, vegetation coverage, and pH at a regional scale. Bacterial communities had a clear Stipa population specificity, but they were more strongly affected by the main annual precipitation, which resulted in a biogeographical distribution pattern along precipitation gradient, among which Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi were the phyla that were most abundant. During the transformation of Stipa taxa from east to west, the trend of diversity shown by bacterial community in the root zone decreased first, and then increased sharply at S. breviflora, which was followed by continuous decreasing toward northwest afterwards. However, the richness and evenness showed an opposite trend, and α diversity had close association with altitude and pH. There would be specific and different bacterial taxa interactions in different Stipa species, in which S. krylovii had the simplest and most stable interaction network with the strongest resistance to the environment and S. breviflora had most complex and erratic. Moreover, the bacterial community was mainly affected by dispersal limitation at a certain period. These results are conducive to the prediction of sustainable ecosystem services and protection of microbial resources in a semi-arid grassland ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulatory and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lumeng Chao
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulatory and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Jingpeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulatory and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Zhiying Ding
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulatory and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulatory and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Fansheng Li
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulatory and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yuying Bao
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulatory and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
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6
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Mahood AL, Jones RO, Board DI, Balch JK, Chambers JC. Interannual climate variability mediates changes in carbon and nitrogen pools caused by annual grass invasion in a semiarid shrubland. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:267-284. [PMID: 34614268 PMCID: PMC9291498 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Exotic plant invasions alter ecosystem properties and threaten ecosystem functions globally. Interannual climate variability (ICV) influences both plant community composition (PCC) and soil properties, and interactions between ICV and PCC may influence nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) pools. We asked how ICV and non-native annual grass invasion covary to influence soil and plant N and C in a semiarid shrubland undergoing widespread ecosystem transformation due to invasions and altered fire regimes. We sampled four progressive stages of annual grass invasion at 20 sites across a large (25,000 km2 ) landscape for plant community composition, plant tissue N and C, and soil total N and C in 2013 and 2016, which followed 2 years of dry and wet conditions, respectively. Multivariate analyses and ANOVAs showed that in invasion stages where native shrub and perennial grass and forb communities were replaced by annual grass-dominated communities, the ecosystem lost more soil N and C in wet years. Path analysis showed that high water availability led to higher herbaceous cover in all invasion stages. In stages with native shrubs and perennial grasses, higher perennial grass cover was associated with increased soil C and N, while in annual-dominated stages, higher annual grass cover was associated with losses of soil C and N. Also, soil total C and C:N ratios were more homogeneous in annual-dominated invasion stages as indicated by within-site standard deviations. Loss of native shrubs and perennial grasses and forbs coupled with annual grass invasion may lead to long-term declines in soil N and C and hamper restoration efforts. Restoration strategies that use innovative techniques and novel species to address increasing temperatures and ICV and emphasize maintaining plant community structure-shrubs, grasses, and forbs-will allow sagebrush ecosystems to maintain C sequestration, soil fertility, and soil heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L. Mahood
- Department of GeographyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Earth LabUniversity of ColoradoBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Rachel O. Jones
- Department of Biological & Ecological EngineeringOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - David I. Board
- US Forest ServiceRocky Mountain Research StationRenoNevadaUSA
| | - Jennifer K. Balch
- Department of GeographyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Earth LabUniversity of ColoradoBoulderColoradoUSA
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7
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Li X, Yan Y, Fu L. Effects of Rainfall Manipulation on Ecosystem Respiration and Soil Respiration in an Alpine Steppe in Northern Tibet Plateau. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.708761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The response mechanism of ecosystem respiration (Re) and soil respiration (Rs) to different water conditions is of great significance for understanding the carbon cycle under future changes in the precipitation patterns. We used seven precipitation treatments to investigate the effects of precipitation on Re and Rs on a typical alpine steppe in Northern Tibet. Precipitation was captured and relocated to simulate the precipitation rates of −25, −50, −75, 0 (CK), +25, +50, and +75%. The soil moisture was influenced by all the precipitation treatments. There was a positive linear relationship between the soil moisture and Re, Rs in the study area during the experiment (July–October). Soil volumetric water content (VWC), absolute water content (AWC), soil temperature (ST), aboveground biomass (AGB), bulk density, soil total nitrogen (TN), and alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (AHN) were the predictors of Re and Rs. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that ST and AWC could explain 90.6% of Rs, and ST, AWC, and AHN could explain 89.4% of Re. Ecosystem respiration was more sensitive to the increased precipitation (+29.5%) whereas Rs was more sensitive to the decreased precipitation (−23.8%). An appropriate increase in water (+25 and +50%) could improve the Re and Rs, but a greater increase (+75%) would not have a significant effect; it could have an effect even lower than those of the first two. Our study highlights the importance of increased precipitation and the disadvantage of decreased precipitation on Re and Rs in an arid region. The precipitation changes will lead to significant changes in the soil properties and AGB, and affect Re and Rs, to change the climate of the alpine steppe in Northern Tibet in the future. These findings contribute to our understanding of the regional patterns of environmental C exchange and soil C flux under the climate change scenarios and highlight the importance of water availability to the regulating ecosystem processes in semi-arid steppe ecosystems. In view of these findings, we urge future researchers to focus on manipulating the precipitation over longer time scales, seasonality, and incorporating more environmental factors to improve our ability to predict and model Re and Rs and feedback from climate change.
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8
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Ramzan S, Rasool T, Bhat RA, Ahmad P, Ashraf I, Rashid N, Ul Shafiq M, Mir IA. Agricultural soils a trigger to nitrous oxide: a persuasive greenhouse gas and its management. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 192:436. [PMID: 32548706 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08410-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural soils form the backbone of the country's economic development. The increased population has not only reduced this treasure but also has affected the global climate at an alarming rate. Among the GHGs, emission of N2O due to agricultural activities is nowadays a global concern. Agricultural industries have increased N2O and CH4 by 17% in the atmosphere since 1990, with an average emanation rate of around 60 MT CO2 equivalents per year. Crop production accounts for approximately 50% of N2O emissions stemming from the farming community and discharges of fertilizer-induced N2O, for the time being estimated by IPCC at 1.24% of the N used ranging from 0.76% (rice) to 2.77% (maize). The concentration of atmospheric N2O has increased (60 ppb) after the industrial revolution, at the pace of 0.73 ppb year-1. Besides, soil structure, temperature, moisture, denitrifying microbial population, pH, C:N ratio, and relief are the factors which significantly enhance the N2O levels into the atmosphere. N2O as a GHG has more potential towards global warming than CO2 and has a very long residence period (115 years) in the atmosphere. N2O emission is nowadays a core issue which needs to be mitigated so as to decline the levels of its production in agricultural soils. However, priority should be given to the organic farming, management of soil chemistry, and phytoremediation to reduce the addition of N2O into the ambient air. Furthermore, deployment of N2O reductase in agricultural soils increases the efficiency of converting N2O to inert N2 which is a valuable strategy to reduce N2O production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shazia Ramzan
- SMS, Soil science, KVK Anantnag, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Tabasum Rasool
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar Campus, Srinagar, India
| | - Rouf Ahmad Bhat
- Division of Environmental Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir Shalimar Campus, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
| | - Pervez Ahmad
- Department of Geography and Regional Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ifra Ashraf
- College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir Shalimar Campus, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Nowsheeba Rashid
- Amity Institute of Food Technology, Amity University Noida, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mifta Ul Shafiq
- Department of Geography and Regional, Development Climate and Cryosphere Group, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ikhlaq A Mir
- Division of Environmental Science Centre for climate Change, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir Shalimar Campus, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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9
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Morris KA, Nair RKF, Moreno G, Schrumpf M, Migliavacca M. Fate of N additions in a multiple resource‐limited Mediterranean oak savanna. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kendalynn A. Morris
- Department of Biogeochemical Integration Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Hans Knöll Straße 10 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Richard K. F. Nair
- Department of Biogeochemical Integration Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Hans Knöll Straße 10 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Gerardo Moreno
- Department of Forestry University of Extremadura Calle Virgen Puerto 2 10600 Plasencia Spain
| | - Marion Schrumpf
- Department of Biogeochemical Integration Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Hans Knöll Straße 10 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Mirco Migliavacca
- Department of Biogeochemical Integration Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Hans Knöll Straße 10 07745 Jena Germany
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10
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Wang Z, Mckenna TP, Schellenberg MP, Tang S, Zhang Y, Ta N, Na R, Wang H. Soil respiration response to alterations in precipitation and nitrogen addition in a desert steppe in northern China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 688:231-242. [PMID: 31229820 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change is expected to significantly influence soil respiration. When limited, rainfall and nitrogen (N) deposition strongly modify soil respiration in a broad range of biomes, but uncertainty remains with regards to the influence of the interactions of seasonal rainfall distribution and N deposition on soil respiration in an arid steppe. In the present study, we manipulated precipitation using V-shaped plexiglass gutters (minus 50%, control, and plus 50% treatments) and tested various N additions (control and plus 35 kg N ha-1 yr-1) to evaluate their impact on soil respiration, measured using a Li-Cor 8100, in a desert steppe in China. Increased precipitation stimulated soil respiration by 26.1%, while decreased precipitation significantly reduced soil respiration by 10.8%. There was a significant increase in soil respiration under N addition at 11.5%. Statistical assessment of their interactions demonstrated that N supplementation strengthened the stimulation of soil respiration under increased precipitation, whereas decreased precipitation offset the positive impact of N addition and led to a reduction in soil respiration. Contrasting interannual precipitation patterns strongly influenced the temporal changes in soil respiration as well as its response to N addition, indicating that the desert steppe plant community was co-limited by water and N. Net primary productivity (aboveground and belowground) predominantly drove soil respiration under altered precipitation and N addition. As grasses are better equipped for water deficit due to their previous exposure to long periods without water, there could be a shift from forb to grass communities under drier conditions. These findings highlight the importance of assessing the differential impacts of plant traits and soil physiochemical properties on soil respiration under altered precipitation and N addition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Thomas P Mckenna
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The Kansas Biological Survey University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, United States of America
| | - Michael P Schellenberg
- Swift Current Research and Development Centre (SCRDC), AAFC-AAC, Box 1030, Swift Current, Saskatchewan S9H 3X2, Canada
| | - Shiming Tang
- Department of Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, No. 235 West College Road, 010021 Hohhot, China
| | - Yujuan Zhang
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Na Ta
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Risu Na
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China.
| | - Hai Wang
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China.
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11
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Tian H, Yang J, Xu R, Lu C, Canadell JG, Davidson EA, Jackson RB, Arneth A, Chang J, Ciais P, Gerber S, Ito A, Joos F, Lienert S, Messina P, Olin S, Pan S, Peng C, Saikawa E, Thompson RL, Vuichard N, Winiwarter W, Zaehle S, Zhang B. Global soil nitrous oxide emissions since the preindustrial era estimated by an ensemble of terrestrial biosphere models: Magnitude, attribution, and uncertainty. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:640-659. [PMID: 30414347 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding and quantification of global soil nitrous oxide (N2 O) emissions and the underlying processes remain largely uncertain. Here, we assessed the effects of multiple anthropogenic and natural factors, including nitrogen fertilizer (N) application, atmospheric N deposition, manure N application, land cover change, climate change, and rising atmospheric CO2 concentration, on global soil N2 O emissions for the period 1861-2016 using a standard simulation protocol with seven process-based terrestrial biosphere models. Results suggest global soil N2 O emissions have increased from 6.3 ± 1.1 Tg N2 O-N/year in the preindustrial period (the 1860s) to 10.0 ± 2.0 Tg N2 O-N/year in the recent decade (2007-2016). Cropland soil emissions increased from 0.3 Tg N2 O-N/year to 3.3 Tg N2 O-N/year over the same period, accounting for 82% of the total increase. Regionally, China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia underwent rapid increases in cropland N2 O emissions since the 1970s. However, US cropland N2 O emissions had been relatively flat in magnitude since the 1980s, and EU cropland N2 O emissions appear to have decreased by 14%. Soil N2 O emissions from predominantly natural ecosystems accounted for 67% of the global soil emissions in the recent decade but showed only a relatively small increase of 0.7 ± 0.5 Tg N2 O-N/year (11%) since the 1860s. In the recent decade, N fertilizer application, N deposition, manure N application, and climate change contributed 54%, 26%, 15%, and 24%, respectively, to the total increase. Rising atmospheric CO2 concentration reduced soil N2 O emissions by 10% through the enhanced plant N uptake, while land cover change played a minor role. Our estimation here does not account for indirect emissions from soils and the directed emissions from excreta of grazing livestock. To address uncertainties in estimating regional and global soil N2 O emissions, this study recommends several critical strategies for improving the process-based simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanqin Tian
- International Center for Climate and Global Change Research, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Yang
- International Center for Climate and Global Change Research, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
- Department of Forestry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi
| | - Rongting Xu
- International Center for Climate and Global Change Research, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Chaoqun Lu
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Josep G Canadell
- Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Canberra, Australia
| | - Eric A Davidson
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Frostburg, Maryland
| | - Robert B Jackson
- Department of Earth System Science, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Precourt Institute for Energy, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Almut Arneth
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research/Atmospheric Environmental Research, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - Jinfeng Chang
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Philippe Ciais
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Stefan Gerber
- IFAS, Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Akihiko Ito
- Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Fortunat Joos
- Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Lienert
- Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Palmira Messina
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Stefan Olin
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Shufen Pan
- International Center for Climate and Global Change Research, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Changhui Peng
- Department of Biology Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Eri Saikawa
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Nicolas Vuichard
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Wilfried Winiwarter
- Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases (AIR), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
- The Institute of Environmental Engineering, University of Zielona Gora, Zielona Gora, Poland
| | - Sönke Zaehle
- Max Planck Institut für Biogeochemie, Jena, Germany
| | - Bowen Zhang
- International Center for Climate and Global Change Research, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
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12
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Taniguchi T, Kitajima K, Douhan GW, Yamanaka N, Allen MF. A pulse of summer precipitation after the dry season triggers changes in ectomycorrhizal formation, diversity, and community composition in a Mediterranean forest in California, USA. MYCORRHIZA 2018; 28:665-677. [PMID: 30105498 PMCID: PMC6182365 DOI: 10.1007/s00572-018-0859-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Rapid responses of microbial biomass and community composition following a precipitation event have been reported for soil bacteria and fungi, but measurements characterizing ectomycorrhizal fungi remain limited. The response of ectomycorrhizal fungi after a precipitation event is crucial to understanding biogeochemical cycles and plant nutrition. Here, we examined changes in ectomycorrhizal formation, diversity, and community composition at the end of a summer drought and following precipitation events in a conifer-oak mixed forest under a semiarid, Mediterranean-type climate in CA, USA. To study the effects of different amounts of precipitation, a water addition treatment was also undertaken. Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity and community composition changed within 6 days following precipitation, with increased simultaneous mortality and re-growth. Ectomycorrhizal diversity increased and community composition changed both in the natural rainfall (less than 10 mm) and water addition (50 mm) treatments, but larger decreases in ectomycorrhizal diversity were observed from 9 to 16 days after precipitation in the water addition treatment. The changes were primarily a shift in richness and abundance of Basidiomycota species, indicating higher drought sensitivity of Basidiomycota species compared with Ascomycota species. Our results indicate that ectomycorrhizal formation, diversity, and community composition rapidly respond to both precipitation events and to the amount of precipitation. These changes affect ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling, decomposition, and plant nutrient uptake, in semiarid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Taniguchi
- Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan.
| | - Kuni Kitajima
- Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Greg W Douhan
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- University of California Cooperative Extension, 4437-B S. Laspina St., Tulare, CA, 93274, USA
| | - Norikazu Yamanaka
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan
| | - Michael F Allen
- Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
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13
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Verlinden MS, Ven A, Verbruggen E, Janssens IA, Wallander H, Vicca S. Favorable effect of mycorrhizae on biomass production efficiency exceeds their carbon cost in a fertilization experiment. Ecology 2018; 99:2525-2534. [PMID: 30218450 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Biomass production efficiency (BPE), the ratio of biomass production to photosynthesis, varies greatly among ecosystems and typically increases with increasing nutrient availability. Reduced carbon partitioning to mycorrhizal fungi (i.e., per unit photosynthesis) is the hypothesized underlying mechanism, as mycorrhizal abundance and plant dependence on these symbionts typically decrease with increasing nutrient availability. In a mesocosm experiment with Zea mays, we investigated the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition and of mycorrhizal inoculation on BPE. Photosynthesis and respiration were measured at mesocosm scale and at leaf scale. The growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was assessed with ingrowth bags while also making use of the difference in δ13 C between C4 plants and C3 soil. Mesocosms without AMF, that is, with pasteurized soil, were used to further explore the role of AMF. Plant growth, photosynthesis, and BPE were positively affected by P, but not by N addition. AMF biomass also was slightly higher under P addition, but carbon partitioning to AMF was significantly lower than without P addition. Interestingly, in the absence of AMF, plants that did not receive P died prematurely. Our study confirmed the hypothesis that BPE increases with increasing nutrient availability, and that carbon partitioning to AMF plays a key role in this nutrient effect. The comparison of inoculated vs. pasteurized mesocosms further suggested a lower carbon cost of nutrient uptake via AMF than via other mechanisms under nutrient rich conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie S Verlinden
- Research Centre of Excellence Plants and Ecosystems, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, BE-2610, Belgium
| | - Arne Ven
- Research Centre of Excellence Plants and Ecosystems, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, BE-2610, Belgium
| | - Erik Verbruggen
- Research Centre of Excellence Plants and Ecosystems, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, BE-2610, Belgium
| | - Ivan A Janssens
- Research Centre of Excellence Plants and Ecosystems, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, BE-2610, Belgium
| | - Håkan Wallander
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Sara Vicca
- Research Centre of Excellence Plants and Ecosystems, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, BE-2610, Belgium
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14
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Shelton RE, Jacobsen KL, McCulley RL. Cover Crops and Fertilization Alter Nitrogen Loss in Organic and Conventional Conservation Agriculture Systems. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 8:2260. [PMID: 29403512 PMCID: PMC5786564 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Agroecosystem nitrogen (N) loss produces greenhouse gases, induces eutrophication, and is costly for farmers; therefore, conservation agricultural management practices aimed at reducing N loss are increasingly adopted. However, the ecosystem consequences of these practices have not been well-studied. We quantified N loss via leaching, NH3 volatilization, N2O emissions, and N retention in plant and soil pools of corn conservation agroecosystems in Kentucky, USA. Three systems were evaluated: (1) an unfertilized, organic system with cover crops hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), or a mix of the two (bi-culture); (2) an organic system with a hairy vetch cover crop employing three fertilization schemes (0 N, organic N, or a fertilizer N-credit approach); and (3) a conventional system with a winter wheat cover crop and three fertilization schemes (0 N, urea N, or organic N). In the unfertilized organic system, cover crop species affected NO3-N leaching (vetch > bi-culture > wheat) and N2O-N emissions and yield during corn growth (vetch, bi-culture > wheat). Fertilization increased soil inorganic N, gaseous N loss, N leaching, and yield in the organic vetch and conventional wheat systems. Fertilizer scheme affected the magnitude of growing season N2O-N loss in the organic vetch system (organic N > fertilizer N-credit) and the timing of loss (organic N delayed N2O-N loss vs. urea) and NO3-N leaching (urea >> organic N) in the conventional wheat system, but had no effect on yield. Cover crop selection and N fertilization techniques can reduce N leaching and greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing yield, thereby enhancing N conservation in both organic and conventional conservation agriculture systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E. Shelton
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Krista L. Jacobsen
- Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Rebecca L. McCulley
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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15
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Bowles TM, Jackson LE, Cavagnaro TR. Mycorrhizal fungi enhance plant nutrient acquisition and modulate nitrogen loss with variable water regimes. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:e171-e182. [PMID: 28862782 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Climate change will alter both the amount and pattern of precipitation and soil water availability, which will directly affect plant growth and nutrient acquisition, and potentially, ecosystem functions like nutrient cycling and losses as well. Given their role in facilitating plant nutrient acquisition and water stress resistance, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may modulate the effects of changing water availability on plants and ecosystem functions. The well-characterized mycorrhizal tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotype 76R (referred to as MYC+) and the mutant mycorrhiza-defective tomato genotype rmc were grown in microcosms in a glasshouse experiment manipulating both the pattern and amount of water supply in unsterilized field soil. Following 4 weeks of differing water regimes, we tested how AM fungi affected plant productivity and nutrient acquisition, short-term interception of a 15NH4+ pulse, and inorganic nitrogen (N) leaching from microcosms. AM fungi enhanced plant nutrient acquisition with both lower and more variable water availability, for instance increasing plant P uptake more with a pulsed water supply compared to a regular supply and increasing shoot N concentration more when lower water amounts were applied. Although uptake of the short-term 15NH4+ pulse was higher in rmc plants, possibly due to higher N demand, AM fungi subtly modulated NO3- leaching, decreasing losses by 54% at low and high water levels in the regular water regime, with small absolute amounts of NO3- leached (<1 kg N/ha). Since this study shows that AM fungi will likely be an important moderator of plant and ecosystem responses to adverse effects of more variable precipitation, management strategies that bolster AM fungal communities may in turn create systems that are more resilient to these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Bowles
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Louise E Jackson
- Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Timothy R Cavagnaro
- The School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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16
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Song X, Zhu J, He N, Huang J, Tian J, Zhao X, Liu Y, Wang C. Asynchronous pulse responses of soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization to rewetting events at a short-term: Regulation by microbes. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7492. [PMID: 28790341 PMCID: PMC5548802 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07744-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rewetting after precipitation events plays an important role in regulating soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) turnover processes in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Here, we conducted a 48-h rewetting simulation experiment with measurements of soil C and N mineralization rates (RC and RN, respectively) and microbial biomass N (MBN) at high temporal resolution to explore the pulse responses of RC and RN. RC and RN responded strongly and rapidly to rewetting over the short term. The maximum RC value (because of pulse effects) ranged from 16.53 to 19.33 µg C gsoil−1 h−1, observed 10 min after rewetting. The maximum RN varied from 22.86 to 40.87 µg N gsoil−1 h−1, appearing 5–6 h after rewetting. The responses of soil microbial growth to rewetting were rapid, and the maximum MBN was observed 2–3 h after rewetting. Unexpectedly, there was no correlation between RC, RN, and MBN during the process of rewetting, and RC and RN were uncoupled. In sum, the pulse responses of RC, RN, and microbial growth to simulated rewetting were rapid, strong, and asynchronous, which offers insights into the different responses of microbes to rewetting and mechanisms behind microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Song
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.,College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, 030801, China
| | - Jianxing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Nianpeng He
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jianhui Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Jing Tian
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiang Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, 030801, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Changhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
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17
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Delgado-Baquerizo M, Eldridge DJ, Maestre FT, Ochoa V, Gozalo B, Reich PB, Singh BK. Aridity Decouples C:N:P Stoichiometry Across Multiple Trophic Levels in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Ecosystems 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-017-0161-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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18
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Ren H, Xu Z, Isbell F, Huang J, Han X, Wan S, Chen S, Wang R, Zeng DH, Jiang Y, Fang Y. Exacerbated nitrogen limitation ends transient stimulation of grassland productivity by increased precipitation. ECOL MONOGR 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Ren
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management; Institute of Applied Ecology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenyang 110164 China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources, Ministry of Education; College of Grassland, Resources and Environment; Inner Mongolia Agricultural University; Hohhot 010018 China
| | - Zhuwen Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management; Institute of Applied Ecology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenyang 110164 China
| | - Forest Isbell
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; University of Minnesota; St. Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
| | - Jianhui Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change; Institute of Botany; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Xiangshan Beijing 100093 China
| | - Xingguo Han
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management; Institute of Applied Ecology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenyang 110164 China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change; Institute of Botany; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Xiangshan Beijing 100093 China
| | - Shiqiang Wan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology; College of Life Sciences; Henan University; Kaifeng Henan 475004 China
| | - Shiping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change; Institute of Botany; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Xiangshan Beijing 100093 China
| | - Ruzhen Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management; Institute of Applied Ecology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenyang 110164 China
| | - De-Hui Zeng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management; Institute of Applied Ecology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenyang 110164 China
| | - Yong Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management; Institute of Applied Ecology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenyang 110164 China
| | - Yunting Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management; Institute of Applied Ecology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenyang 110164 China
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19
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Densmore-McCulloch JA, Thompson DL, Fraser LH. Short-Term Effects of Changing Precipitation Patterns on Shrub-Steppe Grasslands: Seasonal Watering Is More Important than Frequency of Watering Events. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168663. [PMID: 27997611 PMCID: PMC5173370 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is expected to alter precipitation patterns. Droughts may become longer and more frequent, and the timing and intensity of precipitation may change. We tested how shifting precipitation patterns, both seasonally and by frequency of events, affects soil nitrogen availability, plant biomass and diversity in a shrub-steppe temperate grassland along a natural productivity gradient in Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area near Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. We manipulated seasonal watering patterns by either exclusively watering in the spring or the fall. To simulate spring precipitation we restricted precipitation inputs in the fall, then added 50% more water than the long term average in the spring, and vice-versa for the fall precipitation treatment. Overall, the amount of precipitation remained roughly the same. We manipulated the frequency of rainfall events by either applying water weekly (frequent) or monthly (intensive). After 2 years, changes in the seasonality of watering had greater effects on plant biomass and diversity than changes in the frequency of watering. Fall watering reduced biomass and increased species diversity, while spring watering had little effect. The reduction in biomass in fall watered treatments was due to a decline in grasses, but not forbs. Plant available N, measured by Plant Root Simulator (PRS)-probes, increased from spring to summer to fall, and was higher in fall watered treatments compared to spring watered treatments when measured in the fall. The only effect observed due to frequency of watering events was greater extractable soil N in monthly applied treatments compared to weekly watering treatments. Understanding the effects of changing precipitation patterns on grasslands will allow improved grassland conservation and management in the face of global climatic change, and here we show that if precipitation is more abundant in the fall, compared to the spring, grassland primary productivity will likely be negatively affected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lauchlan H. Fraser
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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20
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Didiano TJ, Johnson MTJ, Duval TP. Disentangling the Effects of Precipitation Amount and Frequency on the Performance of 14 Grassland Species. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162310. [PMID: 27622497 PMCID: PMC5021276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is causing shifts in the amount and frequency of precipitation in many regions, which is expected to have implications for plant performance. Most research has examined the impacts of the amount of precipitation on plants rather than the effects of both the amount and frequency of precipitation. To understand how climate-driven changes in precipitation can affect grassland plants, we asked: (i) How does the amount and frequency of precipitation affect plant performance? (ii) Do plant functional groups vary in their response to variable precipitation? To answer these questions we grew 14 monocot and eudicot grassland species and conducted a factorial manipulation of the amount (70 vs 90mm/month) and frequency (every 3, 15, or 30 days) of precipitation under rainout shelters. Our results show that both the amount and frequency of precipitation impact plant performance, with larger effects on eudicots than monocots. Above- and below-ground biomass were affected by the amount of precipitation and/or the interaction between the amount and frequency of precipitation. Above-ground biomass increased by 21-30% when the amount of precipitation was increased. When event frequency was decreased from 3 to 15 or 30 days, below-ground biomass generally decreased by 18-34% in the 70 mm treatment, but increased by 33-40% in the 90 mm treatment. Changes in stomatal conductance were largely driven by changes in event frequency. Our results show that it is important to consider changes in both the amount and frequency of precipitation when predicting how plant communities will respond to variable precipitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa J. Didiano
- Department of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Marc T. J. Johnson
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tim P. Duval
- Department of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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21
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Li H, Xu Z, Yang S, Li X, Top EM, Wang R, Zhang Y, Cai J, Yao F, Han X, Jiang Y. Responses of Soil Bacterial Communities to Nitrogen Deposition and Precipitation Increment Are Closely Linked with Aboveground Community Variation. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2016; 71:974-89. [PMID: 26838999 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-016-0730-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
It has been predicted that precipitation and atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition will increase in northern China; yet, ecosystem responses to the interactive effects of water and N remain largely unknown. In particular, responses of belowground microbial community to projected global change and their potential linkages to aboveground macro-organisms are rarely studied. In this study, we examined the responses of soil bacterial diversity and community composition to increased precipitation and multi-level N deposition in a temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia, China, and explored the diversity linkages between aboveground and belowground communities. It was observed that N addition caused the significant decrease in bacterial alpha-diversity and dramatic changes in community composition. In addition, we documented strong correlations of alpha- and beta-diversity between plant and bacterial communities in response to N addition. It was found that N enriched the so-called copiotrophic bacteria, but reduced the oligotrophic groups, primarily by increasing the soil inorganic N content and carbon availability and decreasing soil pH. We still highlighted that increased precipitation tended to alleviate the effects of N on bacterial diversity and dampen the plant-microbe connections induced by N. The counteractive effects of N addition and increased precipitation imply that even though the ecosystem diversity and function are predicted to be negatively affected by N deposition in the coming decades; the combination with increased precipitation may partially offset this detrimental effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Zhuwen Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Shan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
- College of Environmental Science, Shenyang University, Shenyang, 110044, China
| | - Xiaobin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Eva M Top
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | - Ruzhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yuge Zhang
- College of Environmental Science, Shenyang University, Shenyang, 110044, China
| | - Jiangping Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fei Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xingguo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China.
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22
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Nielsen UN, Ball BA. Impacts of altered precipitation regimes on soil communities and biogeochemistry in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2015; 21:1407-21. [PMID: 25363193 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/28/2014] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Altered precipitation patterns resulting from climate change will have particularly significant consequences in water-limited ecosystems, such as arid to semi-arid ecosystems, where discontinuous inputs of water control biological processes. Given that these ecosystems cover more than a third of Earth's terrestrial surface, it is important to understand how they respond to such alterations. Altered water availability may impact both aboveground and belowground communities and the interactions between these, with potential impacts on ecosystem functioning; however, most studies to date have focused exclusively on vegetation responses to altered precipitation regimes. To synthesize our understanding of potential climate change impacts on dryland ecosystems, we present here a review of current literature that reports the effects of precipitation events and altered precipitation regimes on belowground biota and biogeochemical cycling. Increased precipitation generally increases microbial biomass and fungal:bacterial ratio. Few studies report responses to reduced precipitation but the effects likely counter those of increased precipitation. Altered precipitation regimes have also been found to alter microbial community composition but broader generalizations are difficult to make. Changes in event size and frequency influences invertebrate activity and density with cascading impacts on the soil food web, which will likely impact carbon and nutrient pools. The long-term implications for biogeochemical cycling are inconclusive but several studies suggest that increased aridity may cause decoupling of carbon and nutrient cycling. We propose a new conceptual framework that incorporates hierarchical biotic responses to individual precipitation events more explicitly, including moderation of microbial activity and biomass by invertebrate grazing, and use this framework to make some predictions on impacts of altered precipitation regimes in terms of event size and frequency as well as mean annual precipitation. While our understanding of dryland ecosystems is improving, there is still a great need for longer term in situ manipulations of precipitation regime to test our model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uffe N Nielsen
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment and School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
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23
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Ladwig LM, Sinsabaugh RL, Collins SL, Thomey ML. Soil enzyme responses to varying rainfall regimes in Chihuahuan Desert soils. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es14-00258.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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24
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Unger S, Jongen M. Consequences of Changing Precipitation Patterns for Ecosystem Functioning in Grasslands: A Review. PROGRESS IN BOTANY 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-08807-5_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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25
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Collins S, Belnap J, Grimm N, Rudgers J, Dahm C, D'Odorico P, Litvak M, Natvig D, Peters D, Pockman W, Sinsabaugh R, Wolf B. A Multiscale, Hierarchical Model of Pulse Dynamics in Arid-Land Ecosystems. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2014. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S.L. Collins
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131;
| | - J. Belnap
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Moab, Utah 84532
| | - N.B. Grimm
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287
| | - J.A. Rudgers
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131;
| | - C.N. Dahm
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131;
| | - P. D'Odorico
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
| | - M. Litvak
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131;
| | - D.O. Natvig
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131;
| | - D.C. Peters
- USDA Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88012
| | - W.T. Pockman
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131;
| | - R.L. Sinsabaugh
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131;
| | - B.O. Wolf
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131;
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Aridity threshold in controlling ecosystem nitrogen cycling in arid and semi-arid grasslands. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4799. [PMID: 25185641 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher aridity and more extreme rainfall events in drylands are predicted due to climate change. Yet, it is unclear how changing precipitation regimes may affect nitrogen (N) cycling, especially in areas with extremely high aridity. Here we investigate soil N isotopic values (δ(15)N) along a 3,200 km aridity gradient and reveal a hump-shaped relationship between soil δ(15)N and aridity index (AI) with a threshold at AI=0.32. Variations of foliar δ(15)N, the abundance of nitrification and denitrification genes, and metabolic quotient along the gradient provide further evidence for the existence of this threshold. Data support the hypothesis that the increase of gaseous N loss is higher than the increase of net plant N accumulation with increasing AI below AI=0.32, while the opposite is favoured above this threshold. Our results highlight the importance of N-cycling microbes in extremely dry areas and suggest different controlling factors of N-cycling on either side of the threshold.
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Mauritz M, Cleland E, Merkley M, Lipson DA. The Influence of Altered Rainfall Regimes on Early Season N Partitioning Among Early Phenology Annual Plants, a Late Phenology Shrub, and Microbes in a Semi-arid Ecosystem. Ecosystems 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-014-9800-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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28
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Lü XT, Dijkstra FA, Kong DL, Wang ZW, Han XG. Plant nitrogen uptake drives responses of productivity to nitrogen and water addition in a grassland. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4817. [PMID: 24769508 PMCID: PMC4001094 DOI: 10.1038/srep04817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition and altered precipitation regimes have profound impacts on ecosystem functioning in semiarid grasslands. The interactions between those two factors remain largely unknown. A field experiment with N and water additions was conducted in a semiarid grassland in northern China. We examined the responses of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and plant N use during two contrasting hydrological growing seasons. Nitrogen addition had no impact on ANPP, which may be accounted for by the offset between enhanced plant N uptake and decreased plant nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Water addition significantly enhanced ANPP, which was largely due to enhanced plant aboveground N uptake. Nitrogen and water additions significantly interacted to affect ANPP, plant N uptake and N concentrations at the community level. Our observations highlight the important role of plant N uptake and use in mediating the effects of N and water addition on ANPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Tao Lü
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China
| | - Feike A Dijkstra
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, 2570, Australia
| | - De-Liang Kong
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Henan 475004, China
| | - Zheng-Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China
| | - Xing-Guo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China
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29
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Effects of experimental rainfall manipulations on Chihuahuan Desert grassland and shrubland plant communities. Oecologia 2012; 172:1117-27. [PMID: 23263528 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-012-2552-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2011] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Aridland ecosystems are predicted to be responsive to both increases and decreases in precipitation. In addition, chronic droughts may contribute to encroachment of native C3 shrubs into C4-dominated grasslands. We conducted a long-term rainfall manipulation experiment in native grassland, shrubland and the grass-shrub ecotone in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, USA. We evaluated the effects of 5 years of experimental drought and 4 years of water addition on plant community structure and dynamics. We assessed the effects of altered rainfall regimes on the abundance of dominant species as well as on species richness and subdominant grasses, forbs and shrubs. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and MANOVA were used to quantify changes in species composition in response to chronic addition or reduction of rainfall. We found that drought consistently and strongly decreased cover of Bouteloua eriopoda, the dominant C4 grass in this system, whereas water addition slightly increased cover, with little variation between years. In contrast, neither chronic drought nor increased rainfall had consistent effects on the cover of Larrea tridentata, the dominant C3 shrub. Species richness declined in shrub-dominated vegetation in response to drought whereas richness increased or was unaffected by water addition or drought in mixed- and grass-dominated vegetation. Cover of subdominant shrubs, grasses and forbs changed significantly over time, primarily in response to interannual rainfall variability more so than to our experimental rainfall treatments. Nevertheless, drought and water addition shifted the species composition of plant communities in all three vegetation types. Overall, we found that B. eriopoda responded strongly to drought and less so to irrigation, whereas L. tridentata showed limited response to either treatment. The strong decline in grass cover and the resistance of shrub cover to rainfall reduction suggest that chronic drought may be a key factor promoting shrub dominance during encroachment into desert grassland.
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30
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Evans SE, Burke IC. Carbon and Nitrogen Decoupling Under an 11-Year Drought in the Shortgrass Steppe. Ecosystems 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-012-9593-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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