Spatial variation of net radiation and its contribution to energy balance closures in grassland ecosystems

Shao, Changliang; Li, Linghao; Dong, Gang; Chen, Jiquan

doi:10.1186/2192-1709-3-7

Cited by 28 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Although increases in mowing intensity have economic benefits, they significantly alter the carbon flux and energy budgets by changing the photosynthetic activity and stimulating compensatory growth (Niu et al ., ; Shao et al . ). They also influence the microclimate (Shao et al, ) and associated plant traits, such as plant height and specific leaf area (Reisch & Poschlod, ), which in turn will affect plant reproductive phenology (Benot et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However, with the increasing settlement of herdsmen, mowing for hay has become a widely practised pasture management method in recent decades (Chen, John, Zhang, et al, 2015b). Although increases in mowing intensity have economic benefits, they significantly alter the carbon flux and energy budgets by changing the photosynthetic activity and stimulating compensatory growth (Niu et al, 2013;Shao et al 2014). They also influence the microclimate and associated plant traits, such as plant height and specific leaf area (Reisch & Poschlod, 2011), which in turn will affect plant reproductive phenology (Benot et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Joint forcing by heat waves and mowing poses a threat to grassland ecosystems: Evidence from a manipulative experiment

Dong

Boeck

et al. 2019

Land Degrad Dev

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The frequency and intensity of heat waves (HWs) have increased in recent years, but it remains unclear how grassland ecosystems respond to such extreme weather. A 3‐year manipulative field experiment was conducted to simulate HWs under different mowing intensities in a Stipa krylovii steppe on the Mongolian Plateau to examine their effects on plant morphology, phenology, and community. At the species level, the morphology and phenology of the three main herb species (S. krylovii, Melilotoides ruthenica, and Potentilla tanacetifolia) showed species‐specific responses to the HW and mowing treatments. The major dominant species S. krylovii shed ~50% of the tiller outer layer to protect the internal tiller from HW stress thereby directly decreasing the heat load and water loss from green plant tissue and indirectly increasing the litter biomass. HWs also caused increases of community index (richness, diversity, and evenness) but also associated with a 30% decrease in the importance value of S. krylovii, whereas mowing enhanced this value by 27%. When HWs were combined with mowing, the joint forcing of mechanical damage and low carbon accumulation aggravated negative effects of stress on plant health and growth, which further decreased community index. We constructed a framework to fully describe the effects of HWs and mowing and their interrelationship on different ecological levels and explain how short‐term effects, such as extreme climate, produce long‐term effects on ecosystems. In conclusion, we found that synergisms between climate extremes (HWs) and human activities (mowing) can reduce ecosystem stability posing a threat to the grasslands.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Joint forcing by heat waves and mowing poses a threat to grassland ecosystems: Evidence from a manipulative experiment

Dong

Boeck

et al. 2019

Land Degrad Dev

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“…, Shao et al. ). Direct effects from grazing on the magnitude, direction, and changes over time in energy fluxes are difficult to measure because of the varying grazing practices across sites (e.g., within the footprint of a flux tower) and lack of comparable sites (e.g., similar soil, microclimate; Owensby et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grazing effects on surface energy fluxes in a desert steppe on the Mongolian Plateau

Shao

Chen

et al. 2017

Ecological Applications

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Quantifying the surface energy fluxes of grazed and ungrazed steppes is essential to understand the roles of grasslands in local and global climate and in land use change. We used paired eddy-covariance towers to investigate the effects of grazing on energy balance (EB) components: net radiation (R ), latent heat (LE), sensible heat (H), and soil heat (G) fluxes on adjacent grazed and ungrazed areas in a desert steppe of the Mongolian Plateau for a two-year period (2010-2012). Near 95% of R was partitioned as LE and H, whereas the contributions of G and other components of the EB were 5% at an annual scale. H dominated the energy partitioning and shared ~50% of R . When comparing the grazed and the ungrazed desert steppe, there was remarkably lower R and a lower H, but higher G at the grazed site than at the ungrazed site. Both reduced available energy (R - G) and H indicated a "cooling effect" feedback onto the local climate through grazing. Grazing reduced the dry year LE but enhanced the wet year LE. Energy partitioning of LE/R was positively correlated with the canopy conductivity, leaf area index, and soil moisture. H/R was positively correlated with the vapor pressure deficit but negatively correlated with the soil moisture. Boosted regression tree results showed that LE/R was dominated by soil moisture in both years and at both sites, while grazing shifted the H/R domination from temperature to soil moisture in the wet year. Grazing not only caused an LE shift between the dry and the wet year, but also triggered a decrease in the H/R because of changes in vegetation and soil properties, indicating that the ungrazed area had a greater resistance while the grazed area had a greater sensitivity of EB components to the changing climate.

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“…Numerous studies have shown that moderate grazing intensity can not only produce livestock but also promote species diversity and the ecological integrity of grassland ecosystems. Therefore, an optimal balance could achieve both environmental conservation and livestock production (e.g., Shao et al 2014;Han et al 2016). 3.…”

Section: A Wef Nexus Framework For Sustainable Pathwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding livestock production and sustainability of grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt

Xin

John

et al. 2017

Ecol Process

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Background: Companioned by economic development, a dietary shift toward higher meat consumption is seen in developing countries and transitional economies, where the demand for livestock production has been increasing in response to such a dietary shift. In the Asian Dryland Belt, approaches to meet this demand have focused on grazing intensification, cropland conversion for animal feed, and supplemental feeding. With the scarcity of water, energy, and food in the region, a key question is whether or not the current approaches are sustainable. If not, what are the pathways to increase livestock production while protecting the region's environment for a sustainable future? We provide our reviews and discuss current approaches in response to these dietary shifts and assess their environmental resilience with a focus on the grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt. Results: While current approaches alleviate the urgent need for short-term livestock production, they lead to longterm vulnerability in food security. Trade-offs between short gains and long-term losses, between food for humans and for animals, and between agricultural intensification and environmental degradation need to be holistically examined for the sustainable development of the region. A grassland water, energy, and food nexus framework is proposed with specific recommendations to increase livestock production while considering other ecosystem services of the dryland grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt. Conclusions: Current practices to increase livestock production are likely to lead to long-term, large-scale ecological degradation of the grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt and are thus unsustainable. By considering the trade-offs in the nexus of water, land, food, and livelihoods, sustainable pathways were articulated and recommended. Future pilot studies are needed for validation and adoption.

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Spatial variation of net radiation and its contribution to energy balance closures in grassland ecosystems

Cited by 28 publications

References 45 publications

Joint forcing by heat waves and mowing poses a threat to grassland ecosystems: Evidence from a manipulative experiment

Joint forcing by heat waves and mowing poses a threat to grassland ecosystems: Evidence from a manipulative experiment

Grazing effects on surface energy fluxes in a desert steppe on the Mongolian Plateau

Understanding livestock production and sustainability of grassland ecosystems in the Asian Dryland Belt

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