The role of landscape heterogeneity in regulating plant functional diversity under different precipitation and grazing regimes in semi-arid savannas

Guo, Tong; Weise, Hanna; Fiedler, Sebastian; Lohmann, Dirk; Tietjen, Britta

doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.04.009

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Ecohydrological models can be very effective at predicting water flow and ecosystem-level plant growth, but a fundamental problem for these models is simulating fine-scale processes over large areas (Ratajczak et al, 2017;Wang et al, 2018;Fan et al, 2019). Recent efforts are improving fine-scale simulations of soil water availability and predictions of vegetation water stress on the landscape (Schlaepfer et al, 2017;Guo et al, 2018;Tai et al, 2018). In a recent example, Schwantes et al (2018) used a non-linear stochastic model of soil moisture that incorporated information on topography and soil type to predict water stress in Juniper across a watershed in Texas, USA (Fig.…”

Section: New Phytologistmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forecasting semi‐arid biome shifts in the Anthropocene

Kulmatiski

Mackay

et al. 2020

New Phytologist

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Summary Shrub encroachment, forest decline and wildfires have caused large‐scale changes in semi‐arid vegetation over the past 50 years. Climate is a primary determinant of plant growth in semi‐arid ecosystems, yet it remains difficult to forecast large‐scale vegetation shifts (i.e. biome shifts) in response to climate change. We highlight recent advances from four conceptual perspectives that are improving forecasts of semi‐arid biome shifts. Moving from small to large scales, first, tree‐level models that simulate the carbon costs of drought‐induced plant hydraulic failure are improving predictions of delayed‐mortality responses to drought. Second, tracer‐informed water flow models are improving predictions of species coexistence as a function of climate. Third, new applications of ecohydrological models are beginning to simulate small‐scale water movement processes at large scales. Fourth, remotely‐sensed measurements of plant traits such as relative canopy moisture are providing early‐warning signals that predict forest mortality more than a year in advance. We suggest that a community of researchers using modeling approaches (e.g. machine learning) that can integrate these perspectives will rapidly improve forecasts of semi‐arid biome shifts. Better forecasts can be expected to help prevent catastrophic changes in vegetation states by identifying improved monitoring approaches and by prioritizing high‐risk areas for management.

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Section: New Phytologistmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forecasting semi‐arid biome shifts in the Anthropocene

Kulmatiski

Mackay

et al. 2020

New Phytologist

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“…In addition, effects of snow cover on the vegetation dynamic were largely ignored in most vegetation models. We localize the dynamic vegetation model adapted to Qinghai-Tibetan alpine grasslands by calculating all relevant ecosystem processes with a reference to a process-based dynamic vegetation model (Tietjen et al, 2009(Tietjen et al, , 2010Guo et al, 2016Guo et al, , 2018. The model is characterized by explicit ecosystem processes and spatio-temporal scales.…”

Section: Localizing a Dynamic Vegetation Model In Qinghai-tibetan Alpine Grasslandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The simulated soil depth is not more than 1 m as we do not consider the ecosystem dynamic in permafrost layers. Each layer is depicted by a combination of soil parameters (Guo et al, 2018). These parameters are calibrated by measured soil physic-chemical and hydraulic indices.…”

Section: Model Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Considering Effects of Climate Extremes on Plant Functional Traits Benefits the Prediction of Ecosystem Functioning

Guo¹

2019

Appl. Ecol. Env. Res.

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Climate extremes are recognized as main drivers of ecosystem functioning in terrestrial biomes. So far impacts and underlying mechanisms of which climate extremes shape ecosystem processes are poorly understood. This gap impedes an understanding of how climatic extremes modulate long-term and large landscape provisions of ecosystem functions. Trait-based studies render a feasible avenue that links climate extremes and ecosystem functioning. Plant functional traits are considered as a sensitive probe in terms of the response to changes in climatic conditions. Approaches that account for effects of climate extremes on plant functional traits may close this gap. We develop a stepwise framework that relates the response of functional traits to climate extremes and resolves relationships between patterns of functional traits and ecosystem functioning by a process-based dynamic vegetation model. We introduce an ongoing case study to demonstrate how this framework permits an accurate evaluation of ecosystem functioning under various scenarios of climate extremes. Our proposed framework may benefit functioning programs by providing key functional traits sensitive to climate extremes or determinants of ecosystem functions. The practice will in turn improve the parameterization and the validation of the vegetation model, especially in regions paucity of field data.

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“…Even low levels of novel N availability can trigger a dramatic loss of species diversity (Clark & Tilman, 2008). Declines in diversity can then degrade the system's ecological services as higher levels of heterogeneity have been tied to increased ecosystem functioning in savannas (Guo, Weise, Fiedler, Lohmann, & Tietjen, 2018). Because C3 plants are less nutrient use efficient (NUE), they uptake N more rapidly and may outcompete NUE C4 grasses (Christie, 1981;Reich et al, 2001;Sage, Pearcy, & Seemann, 1987;Wedin & Tilman, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semi‐arid savanna herbaceous production and diversity responses to interactive effects of drought, nitrogen deposition, and fire

Hannusch

Rogers

Lodge

et al. 2020

J Vegetation Science

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Question Savannas are globally widespread and furnish a variety of ecological services through their structural heterogeneity. Unfortunately, those essential ecosystem services are threatened by climate changes including expected increases in duration of drought and nitrogen deposition. The objective of this study was to determine how overall herbaceous production, functional group production and diversity respond in the short‐term to interactions between forecasted environmental conditions and prescribed fires. Location Western Edwards Plateau, Texas (latitude 31°N, longitude 100°W). Methods We randomly assigned full‐factorial treatment combinations of rainout shelters, simulated nitrogen deposition and prescribed fires to field plots in an herbaceous‐dominated area of a semi‐arid savanna. Aboveground net primary productivity (assessed via destructive harvest) and diversity (using Shannon’s index) were assessed as indicators of ecosystem functioning. Results Total aboveground net primary production was reduced by fire in the short‐term (4 months), and reduced by drought at 8 months, but drought reductions were later overridden by lagged responses to large precipitation events (12 months). Forb production increased in response to nitrogen addition (8 months) and drought (12 months), but decreased as a result of fire (12 months). Live grass production was consistently reduced by drought. Plant species diversity was positively responsive to nitrogen addition, particularly in the absence of drought. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the concentrated precipitation events that are forecasted to follow extended droughts may aid rapid recovery of drought‐induced production decreases. In addition, the small‐scale diversity of this semi‐arid savanna may be driven more by resource availability than light‐competition in the short‐term. Managers and ecologists can use these results to help disentangle the ecosystem functioning that may be observed in the presence of future droughts, nitrogen deposition and prescribed fire. Understanding these processes will be key to protecting the integrity of savannas.

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The role of landscape heterogeneity in regulating plant functional diversity under different precipitation and grazing regimes in semi-arid savannas

Cited by 15 publications

References 70 publications

Forecasting semi‐arid biome shifts in the Anthropocene

Forecasting semi‐arid biome shifts in the Anthropocene

Considering Effects of Climate Extremes on Plant Functional Traits Benefits the Prediction of Ecosystem Functioning

Semi‐arid savanna herbaceous production and diversity responses to interactive effects of drought, nitrogen deposition, and fire

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