1
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Young KE, Sala O, Darrouzet-Nardi A, Tucker C, Finger-Higgens R, Starbuck M, Reed SC. Biocrust Mosses and Cyanobacteria Exhibit Distinct Carbon Uptake Responses to Variations in Precipitation Amount and Frequency. Ecol Lett 2025; 28:e70125. [PMID: 40372065 DOI: 10.1111/ele.70125] [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: 10/21/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2025] [Accepted: 04/02/2025] [Indexed: 05/16/2025]
Abstract
Dryland organisms exhibit varied responses to changes in precipitation, including event size, frequency, and soil moisture duration, influencing carbon uptake and reserve management strategies. This principle, central to the pulse-reserve paradigm, has not been thoroughly evaluated in biological soil crusts (biocrusts), essential primary producers on dryland surfaces. We conducted two experiments to investigate carbon uptake in biocrusts under different precipitation regimes. In the first, we applied a gradient of watering amounts to biocrusts dominated by moss or cyanobacteria, hypothesising distinct pulse-response strategies. The second experiment extended watering treatments over three months, varying pulse size and frequency. Our results revealed distinct carbon uptake patterns: moss crusts exhibited increased CO2 uptake with larger, less frequent watering events, whereas cyanobacteria crusts maintained similar carbon uptake across all event sizes. These findings suggest divergent pulse-response strategies across biocrust types, with implications for modelling dryland carbon dynamics and informing land management under changing precipitation regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina E Young
- USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
| | - Osvaldo Sala
- Global Drylands Center, School of Life Sciences, and School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Colin Tucker
- USDA Forest Service, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Monticello, Utah, USA
| | | | - Megan Starbuck
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Sasha C Reed
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Moab, Utah, USA
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2
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Donnelly JP, Collins DP, Knetter JM, Gammonley JH, Boggie MA, Grisham BA, Nowak MC, Naugle DE. Flood-irrigated agriculture mediates climate-induced wetland scarcity for summering sandhill cranes in western North America. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10998. [PMID: 38450315 PMCID: PMC10915483 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Information about species distributions is lacking in many regions of the world, forcing resource managers to answer complex ecological questions with incomplete data. Information gaps are compounded by climate change, driving ecological bottlenecks that can act as new demographic constraints on fauna. Here, we construct greater sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis tabida) summering range in western North America using movement data from 120 GPS-tagged individuals to determine how landscape composition shaped their distributions. Landscape variables developed from remotely sensed data were combined with bird locations to model distribution probabilities. Additionally, land-use and ownership were summarized within summer range as a measure of general bird use. Wetland variables identified as important predictors of bird distributions were evaluated in a post hoc analysis to measure long-term (1984-2022) effects of climate-driven surface water drying. Wetlands and associated agricultural practices accounted for 1.2% of summer range but were key predictors of occurrence. Bird distributions were structured by riparian floodplains that concentrated wetlands, and flood-irrigated agriculture in otherwise arid and semi-arid landscapes. Findings highlighted the role of private lands in greater sandhill crane ecology as they accounted for 78% of predicted distributions. Wetland drying observed in portions of the range from 1984 to 2022 represented an emerging ecological bottleneck that could limit future greater sandhill crane summer range. Study outcomes provide novel insight into the significance of ecosystem services provided by flood-irrigated agriculture that supported nearly 60% of wetland resources used by birds. Findings suggest greater sandhill cranes function as a surrogate species for agroecology and climate change adaptation strategies seeking to reduce agricultural water use through improved efficiency while also maintaining distinct flood-irrigation practices supporting greater sandhill cranes and other wetland-dependent wildlife. We make our wetland and sandhill crane summering distributions available as interactive web-based mapping tools to inform conservation design.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Patrick Donnelly
- Intermountain West Joint Venture—U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird ProgramMissoulaMontanaUSA
| | - Daniel P. Collins
- W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontanaUSA
| | | | | | - Matthew A. Boggie
- Intermountain West Joint Venture—U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird ProgramMissoulaMontanaUSA
| | - Blake A. Grisham
- Department of Natural Resources ManagementTexas Tech UniversityLubbockTexasUSA
| | - M. Cathy Nowak
- Oregon Department of Fish and WildlifeLadd Marsh Wildlife AreaLa GrandeOregonUSA
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceSouthwest Region Migratory Bird ProgramAlbuquerqueNew MexicoUSA
| | - David E. Naugle
- W.A. Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontanaUSA
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3
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Tan Q, A S, Lang W. Assessing local people's perceptions of ecosystem services to support land management plans in arid desert regions, northwest China. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25302. [PMID: 38322842 PMCID: PMC10844273 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Deserts play a significant role in terrestrial ecosystems, but their importance is often underestimated in research due to the undervaluation of ecosystem services (ES), particularly the absence of environmental stakeholder perspectives. This study utilized the social science research methodology to investigate the identification and perceptions of desert ES, and the perceived changes in the significance and accessibility of these services following land use alteration among two groups with distinct livelihood strategies in the arid desert region of Northwest China. The study identified 28 ES; with water being the top priority for all; herbs, water and fodder were considered significantly reduced by 78.69 %, 55.74 % and 50.82 % of the PPG, while 62.69 %, 37.31 % and 32.84 % of the APG considered herbs, sense of belonging and link to ancestors to be significantly decreased. The research also explored the potential of social science research methods for assessing ES and contributing to understanding environmental stakeholders' needs and perceptions. It is recommended that future ecological conservation and land project development prioritizes the livelihoods, emotional well-being, and cultural needs of residents. This approach will contribute to the long-term sustainability of both the environment and the project, while also safeguarding the well-being of residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Tan
- Center for Studies of Ethnic Minorities in Northwest China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu,China
- College of Tourism and Geographical Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan 614006, Sichuan, China
| | - Siru A
- Center for Studies of Ethnic Minorities in Northwest China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu,China
| | - Wenying Lang
- Center for Studies of Ethnic Minorities in Northwest China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu,China
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4
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Chambers JC, Brown JL, Bradford JB, Board DI, Campbell SB, Clause KJ, Hanberry B, Schlaepfer DR, Urza AK. New indicators of ecological resilience and invasion resistance to support prioritization and management in the sagebrush biome, United States. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1009268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem transformations to altered or novel ecological states are accelerating across the globe. Indicators of ecological resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasion can aid in assessing risks and prioritizing areas for conservation and restoration. The sagebrush biome encompasses parts of 11 western states and is experiencing rapid transformations due to human population growth, invasive species, altered disturbance regimes, and climate change. We built on prior use of static soil moisture and temperature regimes to develop new, ecologically relevant and climate responsive indicators of both resilience and resistance. Our new indicators were based on climate and soil water availability variables derived from process-based ecohydrological models that allow predictions of future conditions. We asked: (1) Which variables best indicate resilience and resistance? (2) What are the relationships among the indicator variables and resilience and resistance categories? (3) How do patterns of resilience and resistance vary across the area? We assembled a large database (n = 24,045) of vegetation sample plots from regional monitoring programs and derived multiple climate and soil water availability variables for each plot from ecohydrological simulations. We used USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service National Soils Survey Information, Ecological Site Descriptions, and expert knowledge to develop and assign ecological types and resilience and resistance categories to each plot. We used random forest models to derive a set of 19 climate and water availability variables that best predicted resilience and resistance categories. Our models had relatively high multiclass accuracy (80% for resilience; 75% for resistance). Top indicator variables for both resilience and resistance included mean temperature, coldest month temperature, climatic water deficit, and summer and driest month precipitation. Variable relationships and patterns differed among ecoregions but reflected environmental gradients; low resilience and resistance were indicated by warm and dry conditions with high climatic water deficits, and moderately high to high resilience and resistance were characterized by cooler and moister conditions with low climatic water deficits. The new, ecologically-relevant indicators provide information on the vulnerability of resources and likely success of management actions, and can be used to develop new approaches and tools for prioritizing areas for conservation and restoration actions.
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5
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Mueller KE, Ocheltree TW, Kray JA, Bushey JA, Blumenthal DM, Williams DG, Pendall E. Trading water for carbon in the future: Effects of elevated CO 2 and warming on leaf hydraulic traits in a semiarid grassland. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:5991-6001. [PMID: 35751572 PMCID: PMC9544398 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The effects of climate change on plants and ecosystems are mediated by plant hydraulic traits, including interspecific and intraspecific variability of trait phenotypes. Yet, integrative and realistic studies of hydraulic traits and climate change are rare. In a semiarid grassland, we assessed the response of several plant hydraulic traits to elevated CO2 (+200 ppm) and warming (+1.5 to 3°C; day to night). For leaves of five dominant species (three graminoids and two forbs), and in replicated plots exposed to 7 years of elevated CO2 , warming, or ambient climate, we measured: stomatal density and size, xylem vessel size, turgor loss point, and water potential (pre-dawn). Interspecific differences in hydraulic traits were larger than intraspecific shifts induced by elevated CO2 and/or warming. Effects of elevated CO2 were greater than effects of warming, and interactions between treatments were weak or not detected. The forbs showed little phenotypic plasticity. The graminoids had leaf water potentials and turgor loss points that were 10% to 50% less negative under elevated CO2 ; thus, climate change might cause these species to adjust their drought resistance strategy away from tolerance and toward avoidance. The C4 grass also reduced allocation of leaf area to stomata under elevated CO2 , which helps explain observations of higher soil moisture. The shifts in hydraulic traits under elevated CO2 were not, however, simply due to higher soil moisture. Integration of our results with others' indicates that common species in this grassland are more likely to adjust stomatal aperture in response to near-term climate change, rather than anatomical traits; this contrasts with apparent effects of changing CO2 on plant anatomy over evolutionary time. Future studies should assess how plant responses to drought may be constrained by the apparent shift from tolerance (via low turgor loss point) to avoidance (via stomatal regulation and/or access to deeper soil moisture).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin E. Mueller
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesCleveland State UniversityClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Troy W. Ocheltree
- Department of Forest and Rangeland StewardshipColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Julie A. Kray
- Rangeland Resources & Systems Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of AgricultureFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Julie A. Bushey
- Water Management Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of AgricultureFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Dana M. Blumenthal
- Rangeland Resources & Systems Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of AgricultureFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | | | - Elise Pendall
- Hawkesbury Institute for the EnvironmentWestern Sydney UniversityPenrithNew South WalesAustralia
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6
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Hoover DL, Hajek OL, Smith MD, Wilkins K, Slette IJ, Knapp AK. Compound hydroclimatic extremes in a semi-arid grassland: Drought, deluge, and the carbon cycle. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:2611-2621. [PMID: 35076159 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme events including droughts and large precipitation events or "deluges." While many studies have focused on the ecological impacts of individual events (e.g., a heat wave), there is growing recognition that when extreme events co-occur as compound extremes, (e.g., a heatwave during a drought), the additive effects on ecosystems are often greater than either extreme alone. In this study, we assessed a unique type of extreme-a contrasting compound extreme-where the extremes may have offsetting, rather than additive ecological effects, by examining how a deluge during a drought impacts productivity and carbon cycling in a semi-arid grassland. The experiment consisted of four treatments: a control (average precipitation), an extreme drought (<5th percentile), an extreme drought interrupted by a single deluge (>95th percentile), or an extreme drought interrupted by the equivalent amount of precipitation added in several smaller events. We highlight three key results. First, extreme drought resulted in early senescence, reduced carbon uptake, and a decline in net primary productivity relative to the control treatment. Second, the deluge imposed during extreme drought stimulated carbon fluxes and plant growth well above the levels of both the control and the drought treatment with several additional smaller rainfall events, emphasizing the importance of precipitation amount, event size, and timing. Third, while the deluge's positive effects on carbon fluxes and plant growth persisted for 1 month, the deluge did not completely offset the negative effects of extreme drought on end-of-season productivity. Thus, in the case of these contrasting hydroclimatic extremes, a deluge during a drought can stimulate temporally dynamic ecosystem processes (e.g., net ecosystem exchange) while only partially compensating for reductions in ecosystem functions over longer time scales (e.g., aboveground net primary productivity).
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Hoover
- USDA-ARS Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit, Crops Research Laboratory, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Olivia L Hajek
- Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Melinda D Smith
- Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Kate Wilkins
- Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Ingrid J Slette
- Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Alan K Knapp
- Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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7
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Palmquist KA, Schlaepfer DR, Renne RR, Torbit SC, Doherty KE, Remington TE, Watson G, Bradford JB, Lauenroth WK. Divergent climate change effects on widespread dryland plant communities driven by climatic and ecohydrological gradients. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:5169-5185. [PMID: 34189797 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plant community response to climate change will be influenced by individual plant responses that emerge from competition for limiting resources that fluctuate through time and vary across space. Projecting these responses requires an approach that integrates environmental conditions and species interactions that result from future climatic variability. Dryland plant communities are being substantially affected by climate change because their structure and function are closely tied to precipitation and temperature, yet impacts vary substantially due to environmental heterogeneity, especially in topographically complex regions. Here, we quantified the effects of climate change on big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) plant communities that span 76 million ha in the western United States. We used an individual-based plant simulation model that represents intra- and inter-specific competition for water availability, which is represented by a process-based soil water balance model. For dominant plant functional types, we quantified changes in biomass and characterized agreement among 52 future climate scenarios. We then used a multivariate matching algorithm to generate fine-scale interpolated surfaces of functional type biomass for our study area. Results suggest geographically divergent responses of big sagebrush to climate change (changes in biomass of -20% to +27%), declines in perennial C3 grass and perennial forb biomass in most sites, and widespread, consistent, and sometimes large increases in perennial C4 grasses. The largest declines in big sagebrush, perennial C3 grass and perennial forb biomass were simulated in warm, dry sites. In contrast, we simulated no change or increases in functional type biomass in cold, moist sites. There was high agreement among climate scenarios on climate change impacts to functional type biomass, except for big sagebrush. Collectively, these results suggest divergent responses to warming in moisture-limited versus temperature-limited sites and potential shifts in the relative importance of some of the dominant functional types that result from competition for limiting resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Palmquist
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Daniel R Schlaepfer
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rachel R Renne
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephen C Torbit
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - Kevin E Doherty
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | | | - Greg Watson
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - John B Bradford
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - William K Lauenroth
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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8
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Felton AJ, Shriver RK, Bradford JB, Suding KN, Allred BW, Adler PB. Biotic vs abiotic controls on temporal sensitivity of primary production to precipitation across North American drylands. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:2150-2161. [PMID: 34105783 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Dryland net primary productivity (NPP) is sensitive to temporal variation in precipitation (PPT), but the magnitude of this 'temporal sensitivity' varies spatially. Hypotheses for spatial variation in temporal sensitivity have often emphasized abiotic factors, such as moisture limitation, while overlooking biotic factors, such as vegetation structure. We tested these hypotheses using spatiotemporal models fit to remote-sensing data sets to assess how vegetation structure and climate influence temporal sensitivity across five dryland ecoregions of the western USA. Temporal sensitivity was higher in locations and ecoregions dominated by herbaceous vegetation. By contrast, much less spatial variation in temporal sensitivity was explained by mean annual PPT. In fact, ecoregion-specific models showed inconsistent associations of sensitivity and PPT; whereas sensitivity decreased with increasing mean annual PPT in most ecoregions, it increased with mean annual PPT in the most arid ecoregion, the hot deserts. The strong, positive influence of herbaceous vegetation on temporal sensitivity indicates that herbaceous-dominated drylands will be particularly sensitive to future increases in precipitation variability and that dramatic changes in cover type caused by invasions or shrub encroachment will lead to changes in dryland NPP dynamics, perhaps independent of changes in precipitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Felton
- Department of Wildland Resources and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Robert K Shriver
- Department of Wildland Resources and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, USA
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - John B Bradford
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, USA
| | - Katharine N Suding
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Brady W Allred
- W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Peter B Adler
- Department of Wildland Resources and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
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9
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Schlaepfer DR, Bradford JB, Lauenroth WK, Shriver RK. Understanding the future of big sagebrush regeneration: challenges of projecting complex ecological processes. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Schlaepfer
- Southwest Biological Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Flagstaff Arizona 86001 USA
- Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona 86011 USA
- Yale School of the Environment Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511 USA
| | - John B. Bradford
- Southwest Biological Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Flagstaff Arizona 86001 USA
| | - William K. Lauenroth
- Yale School of the Environment Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511 USA
- Department of Botany University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
| | - Robert K. Shriver
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science University of Nevada‐Reno Reno Nevada 89557 USA
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10
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Roundy BA, Chambers JC. Effects of elevation and selective disturbance on soil climate and vegetation in big sagebrush communities. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce A. Roundy
- Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences Brigham Young University Provo Utah84602USA
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11
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McMahon DE, Urza AK, Brown JL, Phelan C, Chambers JC. Modelling species distributions and environmental suitability highlights risk of plant invasions in western United States. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Devin E. McMahon
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Reno NV USA
- USDA Forest Service Six Rivers National Forest Eureka CA USA
| | | | | | - Conor Phelan
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science University of Nevada Reno NV USA
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12
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Ogura T, Goeschl C, Filiault D, Mirea M, Slovak R, Wolhrab B, Satbhai SB, Busch W. Root System Depth in Arabidopsis Is Shaped by EXOCYST70A3 via the Dynamic Modulation of Auxin Transport. Cell 2020; 178:400-412.e16. [PMID: 31299202 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Root system architecture (RSA), the distribution of roots in soil, plays a major role in plant survival. RSA is shaped by multiple developmental processes that are largely governed by the phytohormone auxin, suggesting that auxin regulates responses of roots that are important for local adaptation. However, auxin has a central role in numerous processes, and it is unclear which molecular mechanisms contribute to the variation in RSA for environmental adaptation. Using natural variation in Arabidopsis, we identify EXOCYST70A3 as a modulator of the auxin system that causes variation in RSA by acting on PIN4 protein distribution. Allelic variation and genetic perturbation of EXOCYST70A3 lead to alteration of root gravitropic responses, resulting in a different RSA depth profile and drought resistance. Overall our findings suggest that the local modulation of the pleiotropic auxin pathway can gives rise to distinct RSAs that can be adaptive in specific environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takehiko Ogura
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, and Integrative Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Goeschl
- Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniele Filiault
- Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Madalina Mirea
- Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Radka Slovak
- Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bonnie Wolhrab
- Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Santosh B Satbhai
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, and Integrative Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Busch
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, and Integrative Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
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13
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Xiao G, Zhang Y. Adaptive Growth: Shaping Auxin-Mediated Root System Architecture. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 25:121-123. [PMID: 31843370 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Root system architecture (RSA), governed by the phytohormone auxin, endows plants with an adaptive advantage in particular environments. Using geographically representative arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) accessions as a resource for GWA mapping, Waidmann et al. and Ogura et al. recently identified two novel components involved in modulating auxin-mediated RSA and conferring plant fitness in particular habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanghui Xiao
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Medicinal Plant Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in the Northwest of China, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China; Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Yuzhou Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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14
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Renne RR, Bradford JB, Burke IC, Lauenroth WK. Soil texture and precipitation seasonality influence plant community structure in North American temperate shrub steppe. Ecology 2019; 100:e02824. [PMID: 31314928 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In drylands, the coexistence of grasses and woody plants has been attributed to soil-water resource partitioning. Soil texture and precipitation seasonality can influence the amount and distribution of water in the soil, and their interaction may play an important role in determining the relative importance of grasses and woody plants. We investigated the influence of this interaction on plant functional types across a broad range of precipitation regimes and soil textures in western North America by analyzing plant-cover data collected at 2,084 plots that included the widespread shrub big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.). We characterized how the significance of the inverse-texture effect varies across soil conditions by quantifying relationships between precipitation and foliar cover on finer- vs. coarser-textured soils across a range of potential texture divisions represented by sand content. We found evidence of the inverse-texture effect for every plant functional type (except for cheatgrass) that we examined with at least one component of precipitation (annual, warm, or cold season), and provide the first evidence for this effect in locations with cold-season-dominated precipitation regimes. The texture and precipitation combinations that exhibited the inverse-texture effect varied with plant functional type, presumably because of effects of soil texture on water availability at different soil depths with season. Furthermore, we found an inverse-texture effect that was remarkably similar for shrub cover with cold-season precipitation and grass cover with warm-season precipitation. These results provide new insight into how the inverse-texture effect interacts with precipitation seasonality to influence plant functional type composition in drylands, and further suggest that quantifying the soil-texture division at which the inverse-texture effect is relevant under a given set of environmental conditions may provide support for the effect across dryland plant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R Renne
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, USA
| | - John B Bradford
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86011, USA
| | - Ingrid C Burke
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, USA
| | - William K Lauenroth
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, USA
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15
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Lindquist LW, Palmquist KA, Jordan SE, Lauenroth WK. Impacts of Climate Change on Groundwater Recharge in Wyoming Big Sagebrush Ecosystems are Contingent on Elevation. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2019. [DOI: 10.3398/064.079.0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas W. Lindquist
- Department of Geology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82070
| | - Kyle A. Palmquist
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82070
| | - Samuel E. Jordan
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - William K. Lauenroth
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82070
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16
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Gu Q, Wei J, Luo S, Ma M, Tang X. Potential and environmental control of carbon sequestration in major ecosystems across arid and semi-arid regions in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 645:796-805. [PMID: 30031338 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
With the continuous expansion of drylands in the context of global climate change, governments have implemented a series of greening policies such as afforestation, to reduce ecological degradation. However, owing to historical conditions and technical constraints, few attempts have been made to quantitatively assess the differences in carbon sequestration capacity and the associated environmental controls among major ecosystems in the arid and semi-arid areas. Based on six flux towers located in northwestern China measuring the carbon fluxes in a maize (Zea mays L.) cropland, alpine meadow, wetland, swamp meadow, Tamarix, and gobi desert, this work revealed that all ecosystems sequestered CO2 at various magnitudes. The cropland had the highest carbon uptake, followed by the alpine meadow, swamp meadow, wetland and Tamarix, respectively. Distinct seasonal dynamics in carbon sequestration were observed across these ecosystems with the peak values in summertime, whereas the gobi desert exhibited as a weak carbon sink with considerable fluctuations around the year. In this water-limited region, soil water content instead of rainfall, is expected to be the primary environmental control on the land-atmosphere carbon fluxes, and regarded as a key linkage between hydrologic and ecologic processes. Therefore, not only the appropriate vegetation types, but also the water availability controlled by the local climatic constraints and soil characteristics, should be addressed in order to identify management strategies for ecological restoration in the dry areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Gu
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Remote Sensing Big Data Application, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jin Wei
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Remote Sensing Big Data Application, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Shuchang Luo
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Remote Sensing Big Data Application, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Mingguo Ma
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Remote Sensing Big Data Application, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xuguang Tang
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Remote Sensing Big Data Application, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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17
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Donnelly JP, Allred BW, Perret D, Silverman NL, Tack JD, Dreitz VJ, Maestas JD, Naugle DE. Seasonal drought in North America's sagebrush biome structures dynamic mesic resources for sage-grouse. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:12492-12505. [PMID: 30619560 PMCID: PMC6308899 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The North American semi-arid sagebrush, Artemisia spp., biome exhibits considerable climatic complexity driving dynamic spatiotemporal shifts in primary productivity. Greater and Gunnison sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus and C. minimus, are adapted to patterns of resource intermittence and rely on stable adult survival supplemented by occasional recruitment pulses when climatic conditions are favorable. Predictions of intensifying water scarcity raise concerns over new demographic bottlenecks impacting sage-grouse populations in drought-sensitive landscapes. We estimate biome-wide mesic resource productivity from 1984 to 2016 using remote sensing to identify patterns of food availability influencing selective pressures on sage-grouse. We linked productivity to abiotic factors to examine effects of seasonal drought across time, space, and land tenure, with findings partitioned along gradients of ecosystem water balance within Great Basin, Rocky Mountains and Great Plains regions. Precipitation was the driver of mesic resource abundance explaining ≥70% of variance in drought-limited vegetative productivity. Spatiotemporal shifts in mesic abundance were apparent given biome-wide climatic trends that reduced precipitation below three-quarters of normal in 20% of years. Drought sensitivity structured grouse populations wherein landscapes with the greatest uncertainty in mesic abundance and distribution supported the fewest grouse. Privately owned lands encompassed 40% of sage-grouse range, but contained a disproportional 68% of mesic resources. Regional drought sensitivity identified herein acted as ecological minimums to influence differences in landscape carrying capacity across sage-grouse range. Our model depictions likely reflect a new normal in water scarcity that could compound impacts of demographic bottlenecks in Great Basin and Great Plains. We conclude that long-term population maintenance depends on a diversity of drought resistant mesic resources that offset climate driven variability in vegetative productivity. We recommend a holistic public-private lands approach to mesic restoration to offset a deepening risk of water scarcity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Patrick Donnelly
- Intermountain West Joint VentureMissoulaMontana
- United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceMissoulaMontana
| | - Brady W. Allred
- WA Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana
| | - Daniel Perret
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode Island
| | | | - Jason D. Tack
- United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceMissoulaMontana
| | - Victoria J. Dreitz
- Avian Science Center and Wildlife Biology ProgramUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana
| | | | - David E. Naugle
- WA Franke College of Forestry and ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontana
- Natural Resources Conservation Service—Sage Grouse InitiativeMissoulaMontana
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18
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Palmquist KA, Bradford JB, Martyn TE, Schlaepfer DR, Lauenroth WK. STEPWAT
2: an individual‐based model for exploring the impact of climate and disturbance on dryland plant communities. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Palmquist
- Department of Botany University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
| | - John B. Bradford
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center Flagstaff Arizona 86001 USA
| | - Trace E. Martyn
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Daniel R. Schlaepfer
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511 USA
| | - William K. Lauenroth
- Department of Botany University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Yale University New Haven Connecticut 06511 USA
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19
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Future soil moisture and temperature extremes imply expanding suitability for rainfed agriculture in temperate drylands. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12923. [PMID: 29018258 PMCID: PMC5635027 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13165-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The distribution of rainfed agriculture, which accounts for approximately ¾ of global croplands, is expected to respond to climate change and human population growth and these responses may be especially pronounced in water limited areas. Because the environmental conditions that support rainfed agriculture are determined by climate, weather, and soil conditions that affect overall and transient water availability, predicting this response has proven difficult, especially in temperate regions that support much of the world’s agriculture. Here, we show that suitability to support rainfed agriculture in temperate dryland climates can be effectively represented by just two daily environmental variables: moist soils with warm conditions increase suitability while extreme high temperatures decrease suitability. 21st century projections based on daily ecohydrological modeling of downscaled climate forecasts indicate overall increases in the area suitable for rainfed agriculture in temperate dryland regions, especially at high latitudes. The regional exception to this trend was Europe, where suitability in temperate dryland portions will decline substantially. These results clarify how rising temperatures interact with other key drivers of moisture availability to determine the sustainability of rainfed agriculture and help policymakers, resource managers, and the agriculture industry anticipate shifts in areas suitable for rainfed cultivation.
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20
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Rottler CM, Burke IC, Palmquist KA, Bradford JB, Lauenroth WK. Current reclamation practices after oil and gas development do not speed up succession or plant community recovery in big sagebrush ecosystems in Wyoming. Restor Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M. Rottler
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources; University of Wyoming; Laramie WY 82071 U.S.A
- Program in Ecology; University of Wyoming; Laramie WY 82071 U.S.A
- Department of Botany; University of Wyoming; Laramie WY 82071 U.S.A
| | - Ingrid C. Burke
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources; University of Wyoming; Laramie WY 82071 U.S.A
- Program in Ecology; University of Wyoming; Laramie WY 82071 U.S.A
- Department of Botany; University of Wyoming; Laramie WY 82071 U.S.A
| | | | - John B. Bradford
- Southwest Biological Science Center; US Geological Survey; Flagstaff AZ 86001 U.S.A
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21
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Hydrology of a Water‐Limited Forest under Climate Change Scenarios: The Case of the Caatinga Biome, Brazil. FORESTS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/f8030062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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22
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Climate change reduces extent of temperate drylands and intensifies drought in deep soils. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14196. [PMID: 28139649 PMCID: PMC5290328 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Drylands cover 40% of the global terrestrial surface and provide important ecosystem services. While drylands as a whole are expected to increase in extent and aridity in coming decades, temperature and precipitation forecasts vary by latitude and geographic region suggesting different trajectories for tropical, subtropical, and temperate drylands. Uncertainty in the future of tropical and subtropical drylands is well constrained, whereas soil moisture and ecological droughts, which drive vegetation productivity and composition, remain poorly understood in temperate drylands. Here we show that, over the twenty first century, temperate drylands may contract by a third, primarily converting to subtropical drylands, and that deep soil layers could be increasingly dry during the growing season. These changes imply major shifts in vegetation and ecosystem service delivery. Our results illustrate the importance of appropriate drought measures and, as a global study that focuses on temperate drylands, highlight a distinct fate for these highly populated areas.
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23
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Witwicki DL, Munson SM, Thoma DP. Effects of climate and water balance across grasslands of varying C
3
and C
4
grass cover. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dana L. Witwicki
- National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program P.O. Box 848 Moab Utah 84532 USA
| | - Seth M. Munson
- U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center 2255 N. Gemini Drive Flagstaff Arizona 86001 USA
| | - David P. Thoma
- National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program 2327 University Way Bozeman Montana 59715 USA
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24
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Cleverly J, Eamus D, Restrepo Coupe N, Chen C, Maes W, Li L, Faux R, Santini NS, Rumman R, Yu Q, Huete A. Soil moisture controls on phenology and productivity in a semi-arid critical zone. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:1227-1237. [PMID: 27241203 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2015] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The Earth's Critical Zone, where physical, chemical and biological systems interact, extends from the top of the canopy to the underlying bedrock. In this study, we investigated soil moisture controls on phenology and productivity of an Acacia woodland in semi-arid central Australia. Situated on an extensive sand plain with negligible runoff and drainage, the carry-over of soil moisture content (θ) in the rhizosphere enabled the delay of phenology and productivity across seasons, until conditions were favourable for transpiration of that water to prevent overheating in the canopy. Storage of soil moisture near the surface (in the top few metres) was promoted by a siliceous hardpan. Pulsed recharge of θ above the hardpan was rapid and depended upon precipitation amount: 150mm storm(-1) resulted in saturation of θ above the hardpan (i.e., formation of a temporary, discontinuous perched aquifer above the hardpan in unconsolidated soil) and immediate carbon uptake by the vegetation. During dry and inter-storm periods, we inferred the presence of hydraulic lift from soil storage above the hardpan to the surface due to (i) regular daily drawdown of θ in the reservoir that accumulates above the hardpan in the absence of drainage and evapotranspiration; (ii) the dimorphic root distribution wherein most roots were found in dry soil near the surface, but with significant root just above the hardpan; and (iii) synchronisation of phenology amongst trees and grasses in the dry season. We propose that hydraulic redistribution provides a small amount of moisture that maintains functioning of the shallow roots during long periods when the surface soil layer was dry, thereby enabling Mulga to maintain physiological activity without diminishing phenological and physiological responses to precipitation when conditions were favourable to promote canopy cooling.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Cleverly
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; Australian SuperSite Network, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NS 2007, Australia.
| | - Derek Eamus
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; Australian SuperSite Network, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NS 2007, Australia
| | - Natalia Restrepo Coupe
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Chao Chen
- CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, PMB 5, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia
| | - Wouter Maes
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Longhui Li
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Ralph Faux
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Nadia S Santini
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Rizwana Rumman
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Qiang Yu
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Alfredo Huete
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
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25
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Palmquist KA, Schlaepfer DR, Bradford JB, Lauenroth WK. Mid-latitude shrub steppe plant communities: climate change consequences for soil water resources. Ecology 2016; 97:2342-2354. [PMID: 27859085 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Palmquist
- Department of Botany; University of Wyoming; 1000 E. University Avenue Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
| | - Daniel R. Schlaepfer
- Department of Botany; University of Wyoming; 1000 E. University Avenue Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
- Section of Conservation Biology; University of Basel; St. Johanns-Vorstadt 10 4056 Basel Switzerland
| | - John B. Bradford
- U.S. Geological Survey; Southwest Biological Science Center; 2255 N. Gemini Dr. Flagstaff Arizona 86001 USA
| | - William K. Lauenroth
- Department of Botany; University of Wyoming; 1000 E. University Avenue Laramie Wyoming 82071 USA
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26
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Gremer JR, Bradford JB, Munson SM, Duniway MC. Desert grassland responses to climate and soil moisture suggest divergent vulnerabilities across the southwestern United States. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2015; 21:4049-4062. [PMID: 26183431 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Climate change predictions include warming and drying trends, which are expected to be particularly pronounced in the southwestern United States. In this region, grassland dynamics are tightly linked to available moisture, yet it has proven difficult to resolve what aspects of climate drive vegetation change. In part, this is because it is unclear how heterogeneity in soils affects plant responses to climate. Here, we combine climate and soil properties with a mechanistic soil water model to explain temporal fluctuations in perennial grass cover, quantify where and the degree to which incorporating soil water dynamics enhances our ability to understand temporal patterns, and explore the potential consequences of climate change by assessing future trajectories of important climate and soil water variables. Our analyses focused on long-term (20-56 years) perennial grass dynamics across the Colorado Plateau, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan Desert regions. Our results suggest that climate variability has negative effects on grass cover, and that precipitation subsidies that extend growing seasons are beneficial. Soil water metrics, including the number of dry days and availability of water from deeper (>30 cm) soil layers, explained additional grass cover variability. While individual climate variables were ranked as more important in explaining grass cover, collectively soil water accounted for 40-60% of the total explained variance. Soil water conditions were more useful for understanding the responses of C3 than C4 grass species. Projections of water balance variables under climate change indicate that conditions that currently support perennial grasses will be less common in the future, and these altered conditions will be more pronounced in the Chihuahuan Desert and Colorado Plateau. We conclude that incorporating multiple aspects of climate and accounting for soil variability can improve our ability to understand patterns, identify areas of vulnerability, and predict the future of desert grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Gremer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, USA
| | - John B Bradford
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, USA
| | - Seth M Munson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, USA
| | - Michael C Duniway
- U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Moab, UT, 84532, USA
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