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Yang T, Ala M, Zhang Y, Wu J, Wang A, Guan D. Characteristics of soil moisture under different vegetation coverage in Horqin Sandy Land, northern China. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198805. [PMID: 29927951 PMCID: PMC6013216 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Vegetation restoration as an effective sand fixation measure has made great achievements in China. However, soil water conditions deteriorate with the development and maturity of sand-fixing vegetation. In this study, we investigated the relationship between soil water content (SWC) and vegetation coverage (VC) at different portion (top, middle and bottom) on ten sand dunes during the growing season (April to October) in Horqin Sandy Land, northern China. We analyzed the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of SWC under different VC. The results indicate that VC and soil water storage were negatively correlated. The effect of vegetation on soil water storage on the sand dunes was greater in the dry season than the wet season. The VC and coefficient of coefficient of SWC were positively correlated at the 20 to 140 cm soil depth. As VC increased, the effect of drought stress increased at the 20 to 200 cm soil depths. The VC and SWC were negatively correlated at all the three portions of the sand dunes. According to soil water conditions and the concept of wilting humidity at different VC, we found that the suitable VC values were less than 0.46, 0.52, and 0.71 at the top, middle and bottom of the sand dunes, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Musa Ala
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yushu Zhang
- Institute of Atmospheric Environment, China Meteorological Administration, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiabing Wu
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Anzhi Wang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Dexin Guan
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Meloni F, Granzotti CRF, Bautista S, Martinez AS. Scale dependence and patch size distribution: clarifying patch patterns in Mediterranean drylands. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Meloni
- Department of Physics; FFCLRP; University of São Paulo; Ribeirão Preto SP 14040-901 Brazil
- Department of Ecology and IMEM; University of Alicante; San Vicente del Raspeig Alicante 03690 Spain
| | | | - Susana Bautista
- Department of Ecology and IMEM; University of Alicante; San Vicente del Raspeig Alicante 03690 Spain
| | - Alexandre Souto Martinez
- Department of Physics; FFCLRP; University of São Paulo; Ribeirão Preto SP 14040-901 Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Sistemas Complexos (INCTSC/CNPq); Rio de Janeiro RJ 22290-180 Brazil
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Plant spatial patterns identify alternative ecosystem multifunctionality states in global drylands. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:3. [PMID: 28812618 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-016-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The response of drylands to environmental gradients can be abrupt rather than gradual. These shifts largely occur unannounced and are difficult to reverse once they happen; their prompt detection is of crucial importance. The distribution of vegetation patch sizes may indicate the proximity to these shifts, but the use of this metric is hampered by a lack of large-scale studies relating these distributions to the provision of multiple ecosystem functions (multifunctionality) and comparing them to other ecosystem attributes, such as total plant cover. Here we sampled 115 dryland ecosystems across the globe and related their vegetation attributes (cover and patch size distributions) to multifunctionality. Multifunctionality followed a bimodal distribution across our sites, suggesting alternative states in the functioning of drylands. Although plant cover was the strongest predictor of multifunctionality when linear analyses were used, only patch size distributions reflected the bimodal distribution of multifunctionality observed. Differences in the coupling between nutrient cycles and in the importance of self-organizing biotic processes characterized the two multifunctionality states observed. Our findings support the use of vegetation patterns as indicators of ecosystem functioning in drylands and pave the way for developing effective strategies to monitor desertification processes.
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Maestre FT, Eldridge DJ, Soliveres S, Kéfi S, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Bowker MA, García-Palacios P, Gaitán J, Gallardo A, Lázaro R, Berdugo M. Structure and functioning of dryland ecosystems in a changing world. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS 2016; 47:215-237. [PMID: 28239303 PMCID: PMC5321561 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-121415-032311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how drylands respond to ongoing environmental change is extremely important for global sustainability. Here we review how biotic attributes, climate, grazing pressure, land cover change and nitrogen deposition affect the functioning of drylands at multiple spatial scales. Our synthesis highlights the importance of biotic attributes (e.g. species richness) in maintaining fundamental ecosystem processes such as primary productivity, illustrate how N deposition and grazing pressure are impacting ecosystem functioning in drylands worldwide, and highlight the importance of the traits of woody species as drivers of their expansion in former grasslands. We also emphasize the role of attributes such as species richness and abundance in controlling the responses of ecosystem functioning to climate change. This knowledge is essential to guide conservation and restoration efforts in drylands, as biotic attributes can be actively managed at the local scale to increase ecosystem resilience to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando T Maestre
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
| | - David J Eldridge
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Santiago Soliveres
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Alternbengrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sonia Kéfi
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, CC 065, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, 2751, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew A Bowker
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, AZ 86011, Flagstaff, USA
| | - Pablo García-Palacios
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
| | - Juan Gaitán
- Instituto de Suelos, CIRN, INTA, Nicolas Repetto y de los Reseros Sin Número, 1686 Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonio Gallardo
- Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera kilómetro 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Roberto Lázaro
- Departamento de Desertificación y Geoecología. Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, CSIC, Almería, Spain
| | - Miguel Berdugo
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
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van den Berg J, Björnberg J, Heydenreich M. Sharpness versus robustness of the percolation transition in 2d contact processes. Stoch Process Their Appl 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.spa.2014.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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6
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Modeling the dynamics of soil erosion and vegetative control — catastrophe and hysteresis. THEOR ECOL-NETH 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s12080-014-0233-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Leu S, Mussery AM, Budovsky A. The effects of long time conservation of heavily grazed shrubland: a case study in the Northern Negev, Israel. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2014; 54:309-319. [PMID: 24838412 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-014-0286-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
One of the major reasons for desertification is unrestricted grazing leading to vegetation depletion, soil erosion and degradation, phenomena often considered irreversible in the short term. Here, we compare soil and biological parameters of degraded and conserved, recently rehabilitated arid shrubland in the Northern Negev, Israel. The study area was restored by conservation efforts including a strictly controlled grazing regime initiated in 1992. The visually recognizable improvement in the ecology of the restored shrubland is reflected in significant improvement in all examined biotic (herbaceous biomass, shrub patch density, and insect activity), and soil parameters (nutrients, organic matter content, moisture, and water infiltration). The difference is created predominantly by restoration of large biological patches composed of shrubs and other perennial plants often associated with ant or termite nests, where the most significant increases in productivity and soil quality were observed. In the conserved shrubland such patches covered 35 or 25 % of the area (in a normal and a drought year, respectively). In the degraded shrubland 5 % or less of the area was occupied by such patches that were much smaller and of lower biological complexity. With respect to plant biodiversity, six plant species were found only-and 18 others became significantly more common-in the rehabilitated area. The results of this article indicate that functional arid drylands can be restored within <16 years relying on strict conservation management with reduced grazing intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Leu
- Judea Center for Research and Development, Carmel, Israel
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Kéfi S, Guttal V, Brock WA, Carpenter SR, Ellison AM, Livina VN, Seekell DA, Scheffer M, van Nes EH, Dakos V. Early warning signals of ecological transitions: methods for spatial patterns. PLoS One 2014; 9:e92097. [PMID: 24658137 PMCID: PMC3962379 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of ecosystems can exhibit abrupt shifts between alternative stable states. Because of their important ecological and economic consequences, recent research has focused on devising early warning signals for anticipating such abrupt ecological transitions. In particular, theoretical studies show that changes in spatial characteristics of the system could provide early warnings of approaching transitions. However, the empirical validation of these indicators lag behind their theoretical developments. Here, we summarize a range of currently available spatial early warning signals, suggest potential null models to interpret their trends, and apply them to three simulated spatial data sets of systems undergoing an abrupt transition. In addition to providing a step-by-step methodology for applying these signals to spatial data sets, we propose a statistical toolbox that may be used to help detect approaching transitions in a wide range of spatial data. We hope that our methodology together with the computer codes will stimulate the application and testing of spatial early warning signals on real spatial data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Kéfi
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, CNRS, Université de Montpellier II, Montpellier, France
| | - Vishwesha Guttal
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - William A. Brock
- Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Economics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Stephen R. Carpenter
- Department of Economics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Aaron M. Ellison
- Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Petersham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Valerie N. Livina
- National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Seekell
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Marten Scheffer
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert H. van Nes
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vasilis Dakos
- Integrative Ecology Group, Estacion Biologica de Donana, Sevilla, Spain
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Pueyo Y, Moret-Fernández D, Saiz H, Bueno CG, Alados CL. Relationships Between Plant Spatial Patterns, Water Infiltration Capacity, and Plant Community Composition in Semi-arid Mediterranean Ecosystems Along Stress Gradients. Ecosystems 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-012-9620-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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10
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Verwijmeren M, Rietkerk M, Wassen MJ, Smit C. Interspecific facilitation and critical transitions in arid ecosystems. OIKOS 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.00111.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Weerman EJ, Van Belzen J, Rietkerk M, Temmerman S, Kéfi S, Herman PMJ, Van de Koppel J. Changes in diatom patch-size distribution and degradation in a spatially self-organized intertidal mudflat ecosystem. Ecology 2012; 93:608-18. [PMID: 22624215 DOI: 10.1890/11-0625.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Self-organized spatial patterns have been proposed as possible indicators for regime shifts in ecosystems. Until now, this hypothesis has only been tested in drylands. Here, we focus on intertidal mudflats where regular spatial patterns develop in early spring from the interaction between diatom growth and sedimentation but disappear when benthic herbivore abundance increases in early summer, accompanied by a dramatic shift to a bare mudflat. We followed the patch-size distributions of diatom biofilms during this degradation process. As time progressed, we found a temporal change in the spatial configuration occurring simultaneously with the loss of the diatom-sediment feedback. This indicates a gradual failure in time of the self-organization process that underlies regular patterning in this ecosystem. The path to degradation co-occurred with the loss of the larger patches in the ecosystem, which resulted in a decrease of the truncation in the patch-size distribution. Hence, our study in mudflat ecosystems confirms the general hypothesis that spatial patterns can provide important clues about the level of degradation. Nevertheless, our study highlights the need for thorough study about the type of spatial patterns and the nature of the underlying feedbacks before a reliable assessment of ecosystem status can be made, as changes in patch-size distribution differed markedly with those observed in other ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Weerman
- Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 40, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands.
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Bowker MA, Maestre FT. Inferring local competition intensity from patch size distributions: a test using biological soil crusts. OIKOS 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20192.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Maestre FT, Escudero A. Is the patch size distribution of vegetation a suitable indicator of desertification processes? Reply. Ecology 2010. [DOI: 10.1890/10-0391.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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14
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Kéfi S, Rietkerk M, Roy M, Franc A, de Ruiter PC, Pascual M. Robust scaling in ecosystems and the meltdown of patch size distributions before extinction. Ecol Lett 2010; 14:29-35. [PMID: 21070563 DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01553.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Kéfi
- Georg-August-University Goettingen, J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Berliner Str. 28, 37073 Goettingen, Germany.
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