Climate Change Impacts on the Distribution of Stipa Tenacissima L. Ecosystems in North African Arid Zone ‒ A Case Study in Tunisia

Abstract

Abstract. Stipa tenacissima L. (Alfa grass) is an important perennial grass species in Tunisia andNorthern Africa which dominates wide arid ecosystems offering multiple services. The focus of this study is to explore how the distribution of suitable habitat for Stipa tenacissima, might shift under climate change. To investigate the potential effects of climate change on the target species we used Maxent modeling algorithm for two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) lower emission scenario (RCP 2.6) and higher emission (RCP 8.5) climate forcing scenarios in 2050 and 2070. Results of the analysis showed a negative impact of climate change on the S. tenacissima ecosystem. There is a decrease in suitable habitat for alfa through time and across space with an increase in greenhouse gas. Suitable habitat was projected to decline through time from 64% to 70% by 2050 for RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 respectively and from 86% to 92% by 2070 for RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 comparatively to the current state. Across space, when projecting model into the future, the area of predicted suitable habitat of Tunisian alfa grass would dramatically reduce in the central area, and disappear from the Southern area. Therefore, global warming associated with climate change by the years 2050 and 2070 might affect the suitable bioclimatic habitat of S. tenacissima with a severe loss of habitat suitability.

Revival of traditional best practices for rangeland restoration under climate change in the dry areas

“…In addition to human pressures on the species, it is known to be highly vulnerable to climate variability. Ben Mariem and Chaieb (2017) have emphasized a negative impact of climate change on Stipa ecosystems for the next 50 years, with a severe loss of suitable habitats. Plantago albicans was negatively affected by the protection and presented a higher density in the disturbed area (control). It is a very good pastoral species, which grows naturally in arid habitats.…”

Characteristics of Collapsing Ecosystems and Main Factors of Collapses

“…Seasonal changes in precipitation and temperature affect several ecosystems all around the world. Both grasslands and forests are suffering experiencing biodiversity and/ or biomass loss and collapses [91]. Hidden failures, which are revealed only during significant changes in environmental conditions, will enhance collapses.…”

Active Nanointerfaces Based on Enzyme Carbonic Anhydrase and Metal–Organic Framework for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

“…Self-sustainable carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) atmospheric removal strategies that have high efficiency and feasibility for large-scale implementation as well as good environmental compatibility [ 1 , 2 ] are needed to circumvent ecological [ 3 , 4 ] and human [ 5 , 6 ] effects and to reduce or prevent dangerous anthropogenic interferences [ 7 ]. Current technologies for CO 2 mitigation rely on postcombustion and CO 2 sequestration, or amine-based scrubbing [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

“…Current technologies for CO 2 mitigation rely on postcombustion and CO 2 sequestration, or amine-based scrubbing [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. However, the drawbacks of such technologies are the high energy requirements needed for CO 2 desorption, reduced regeneration of the adsorbent [ 3 , 4 ] or, for amine-based strategies, the loss of amine functionality [ 12 , 13 ]. Attempts to use alternative strategies based on ionic liquids [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], piperazine [ 17 , 18 ], and organic solvents [ 19 , 20 ] were considered; however, the high corrosiveness [ 21 , 22 ], volatility [ 18 , 23 ], and parasitic energy consumption of such processes [ 1 , 24 ] precluded their large-scale implementation.…”