The effects of precipitation timing on sagebrush steppe vegetation

Bates, Jon D.; Svejcar, Tony J.; Miller, Richard F.; Angell, Raymond F.

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2005.06.026

Cited by 182 publications

(174 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…These findings are consistent with the experimental evidence suggesting that an increment in the number of large precipitation events would favor shrub growth while small precipitation events would tend to promote grass development (Bates et al 2006;Fay et al 2002;Gao and Reynolds 2003;Knapp et al 2002;Sala et al 1982). Despite that C. avellanedae did not produce new growth during the period of study, this species has xerophitic leaf attributes (Campanella and Bertiller 2011) that contribute to overcome extending hot and dry periods (Wright et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Leaf growth dynamics in four plant species of the Patagonian Monte, Argentina

Campanella

Bertiller

2012

J Plant Res

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Studying plant responses to environmental variables is an elemental key to understand the functioning of arid ecosystems. We selected four dominant species of the two main life forms. The species selected were two evergreen shrubs: Larrea divaricata and Chuquiraga avellanedae and two perennial grasses: Nassella tenuis and Pappostipa speciosa. We registered leaf/shoot growth, leaf production and environmental variables (precipitation, air temperature, and volumetric soil water content at two depths) during summer-autumn and winter-spring periods. Multiple regressions were used to test the predictive power of the environmental variables. During the summer-autumn period, the strongest predictors of leaf/shoot growth and leaf production were the soil water content of the upper layer and air temperature while during the winter-spring period, the strongest predictor was air temperature. In conclusion, we found that the leaf/shoot growth and leaf production were associated with current environmental conditions, specially to soil water content and air temperature.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Leaf growth dynamics in four plant species of the Patagonian Monte, Argentina

Campanella

Bertiller

2012

J Plant Res

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“…Here, we focus on seasonal changes in precipitation and extreme precipitation. Altered seasonality of precipitation may be implemented, for example, by delivering 80 % of annual precipitation in spring or winter, while retaining the same annual volume (Bates et al, 2006) (Table 1). Alternatively, extreme precipitation regimes have been imposed Table 1.…”

Section: Results Of Precipitation Timing Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, many of the biomass reductions did not occur until the fourth year of treatment. Apparently in spring, increased evaporation offset the increased amount of water, such that SWC did not increase enough to stimulate growth (Bates et al, 2006). Similarly, in a limestone grassland in England, 20 % increases in summer precipitation increased summer growth, whereas increased autumn and winter precipitation had no effect on growth .…”

Section: Seasonal Changes In Grasslandsmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Impacts of extreme precipitation and seasonal changes in precipitation on plants

2014

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Abstract. The global hydrological cycle is predicted to become more intense in future climates, with both larger precipitation events and longer times between events in some regions. Redistribution of precipitation may occur both within and across seasons, and the resulting wide fluctuations in soil water content (SWC) may dramatically affect plants. Though these responses remain poorly understood, recent research in this emerging field suggests the effects of redistributed precipitation may differ from predictions based on previous drought studies. We review available studies on both extreme precipitation (redistribution within seasons) and seasonal changes in precipitation (redistribution across seasons) on grasslands and forests.Extreme precipitation differentially affected above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP), depending on whether extreme precipitation led to increased or decreased SWC, which differed based on the current precipitation and aridity index of the site. Specifically, studies to date reported that extreme precipitation decreased ANPP in mesic sites, but, conversely, increased ANPP in xeric sites, suggesting that plant-available water is a key factor driving responses to extreme precipitation. Similarly, the effects of seasonal changes in precipitation on ANPP, phenology, and leaf and fruit development varied with the effect on SWC. Reductions in spring or summer generally had negative effects on plants, associated with reduced SWC, while subsequent reductions in autumn or winter had little effect on SWC or plants. Similarly, increased summer precipitation had a more dramatic impact on plants than winter increases in precipitation.The patterns of response suggest xeric biomes may respond positively to extreme precipitation, while comparatively mesic biomes may be more likely to be negatively affected. Moreover, seasonal changes in precipitation during warm or dry seasons may have larger effects than changes during cool or wet seasons. Accordingly, responses to redistributed precipitation will involve a complex interplay between plant-available water, plant functional type and resultant influences on plant phenology, growth and water relations. These results highlight the need for experiments across a range of soil types and plant functional types, critical for predicting future vegetation responses to future climates.

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“…The regional and seasonal difference of precipitation, to a certain extent, determines the vegetation pattern. Since the 1980s, a number of researchers have examined the correlations between vegetation characteristics and precipitation at regional or national scales (e.g., Roerink et al 2003;Nezlin et al 2005;Bates et al 2006;Piao et al 2006;Suzuki et al 2007;Méndez-Barroso et al 2009;García-Romero et al 2010;Zhong et al 2010;Meng et al 2011). However, few studies have documented their relationships at fine temporal and spatial scales.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interannual variability and correlation of vegetation cover and precipitation in Eastern China

Jiang

Zhang

et al. 2013

Theor Appl Climatol

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Based on the SPOT/VEGETATION Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data and daily precipitation data of 357 meteorological stations, the spatial and temporal variability of vegetation cover, measured by NDVI, and precipitation as well as their relationships are investigated in Eastern China, which is portioned into three subregions (regions I, II, and III), for the period 1998-2010. The results show that high NDVI values appear mainly in Northeastern China and in August while high precipitation (PRETOT) occurs in Southeastern China and in July (June for Southern China). Extreme precipitation days (RD95p) and amount (EPRETOT) coincide well with PRETOT. Extreme precipitation intensity (RINTEN) has a similar spatial variability to PRETOT but with a smaller seasonal variation than PRETOT. Growing season NDVI is positively correlated with PRETOT in 11.7 % of the study area (mostly in arid to subhumid regions of Northern China), where precipitation is a limiting factor for vegetation growth. In contrast, a negative correlation between growing season NDVI and PRETOT is found in 4.8 % of the study area, mostly in areas around the Yangtze River and deep Northeastern China. No significant correlations between these two variables are found for the other regions because vegetation response to precipitation is affected by other factors such as temperature, radiation, and human disturbance. On a monthly scale, there is a positive correlation between NDVI and PRETOT in May (for region II) and September (all subregions except region I). NDVI variations lag 1 month behind PRETOT in June (for region I) and October. Correlations between NDVI and RD95p, EPRETOT are similar to that with PRETOT, but the relationships between NDVI and RINTEN are relatively weaker than with PRETOT. This study provides the technical basis for agriculture development and ecological construction in Eastern China.

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The effects of precipitation timing on sagebrush steppe vegetation

Cited by 182 publications

References 33 publications

Leaf growth dynamics in four plant species of the Patagonian Monte, Argentina

Leaf growth dynamics in four plant species of the Patagonian Monte, Argentina

Impacts of extreme precipitation and seasonal changes in precipitation on plants

Interannual variability and correlation of vegetation cover and precipitation in Eastern China

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