Cross-scale mapping of above-ground biomass and shrub dominance by integrating UAV and satellite data in temperate grassland

Remote Sensing of Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 304, P. 114024 - 114024

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

Language: Английский

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Temperature-dependent variations in under-canopy herbaceous foliar diseases following shrub encroachment in grasslands

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Jan. 28, 2025

Shrub encroachment into grasslands poses a global concern, impacting species biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Yet, the effect of shrub on herbaceous diseases dependence that climatic factors remain ambiguous. This study spans over 4,000 km, examining significant variability in temperature precipitation. Our findings reveal plant richness diminishes pathogen load foliar fungal plants both grassland patches. Temperature emerges as primary driver variations biomass within communities. Disparities between patches elucidate changes load. In colder regions, Conversely, warmer shrubs either do not reduce or even amplify These discoveries underscore necessity for adaptive management strategies tailored to specific scenarios. affects functioning, but its impact role unclear. finds regions may increase it with being these variations.

Language: Английский

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Optimizing water conservation and utilization with a regulated deficit irrigation strategy in woody crops: A review

Agricultural Water Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 289, P. 108523 - 108523

Published: Sept. 22, 2023

This review emphasizes the significance of combining regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) with woody crops, as they have higher water productivity (WP) and are tolerant to mild deficits. After conducting analysis, it was found that for most reducing by 20.0–30.0% has a negligible impact on yield, typically within variation range 10.0%, leads an increase in WP 10.0–30.0%. When is reduced 40.0–50.0%, yield varies significantly depending species, but generally approaches its highest value; general, can 25.0% or more sometimes even exceed 50.0%. However, when further reduced, affects there limited decrease WP. Moreover, adjusting amounts during noncritical demand periods minimizes fruit size, enhancing water-saving effectiveness. Water-saving techniques trigger various plant responses, improving resistance deficits, promoting reproductive growth, protecting against drought-related damage. Despite potential reductions, ongoing research demonstrates positive outcomes WP, crop quality crops. offer economic benefits through cost savings pest reduction, while finding appropriate balance between use, vital agricultural success sustainable resource management. optimize nutrient uptake heavy metal absorption systems, addressing stress, soil salinization, emissions. Combining multiple methods, such partial root-zone drying (PRD), shows immense conservation fruits. Integrating PRD innovative techniques, precision sensor-based promises remarkable optimized yields, revolutionizing practices scarcity challenges

Language: Английский

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Grazing‐induced enhancement of shrub ‘multifunctional island’ effect is associated with altered soil bacterial β diversity in shrub‐encroached grasslands

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 7, 2025

Abstract The presence of shrubs improves ecosystem multifunctionality within their patches, an effect termed the ‘multifunctional island’ effect. However, mechanisms underlying and response to grazing are unclear. This study investigated how regulates these effects through a field experiment conducted on three paired grazed ungrazed sites shrub‐encroached grasslands in Inner Mongolia, China. analysis included 14 functional variables related plant productivity soil carbon, nitrogen phosphorus cycling. results indicated that significantly improved multifunctionality, thus creating pronounced varied with conditions was more under scenarios. Structural equation modelling directly increased shrub indirectly enhanced it changes bacterial β diversity, 51% variance being explained. Copiotrophic bacteria, notably Alphaproteobacteria , Gammaproteobacteria Actinobacteria known for accelerating nutrient cycling, played pivotal role mediating this Synthesis applications . Collectively, our provides robust evidence intensifies relative advantage advances understanding impact spatial variation biogeochemical cycling grasslands.

Language: Английский

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Woody encroachment: social–ecological impacts and sustainable management

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(6), P. 1909 - 1926

Published: July 3, 2024

Woody plants are encroaching across terrestrial ecosystems globally, and this has dramatic effects on how these systems function the livelihoods of producers who rely land to support livestock production. Consequently, removal woody is promoted widely in belief that it will reinstate former grasslands or open savanna. Despite popular management approach encroachment, we still have a relatively poor understanding society, alternative practices could balance competing needs pastoral production, biodiversity conservation cultural values. This information essential for maintaining both ecological societal benefits encroached under predicted future climate changes. In review, provide comprehensive synthesis social-ecological perspectives encroachment based recent studies global meta-analyses by assessing impacts its sustainable development goals (SDGs) when retained they removed. We propose working definition species- community-level characteristics; such needed evaluate accurately encroachment. show natural process succession rather than sign degradation, with resulting an overall 8% increase ecosystem multifunctionality. Removing can herbaceous plant richness, biomass cover, but at expense biocrust cover. The effectiveness depends identity, where, Under current practices, either retention induce trade-offs among services, no practice maximising all SDGs [e.g. SDG2 (end hunger), SDG13 (climate change), SDG 15 (combat desertification)]. Given likely hotter drier climates, options as carbon farming ecotourism be effective uses areas affected

Language: Английский

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Grazing effects on vegetation: Biodiversity, management, and restoration

Applied Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(3)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract In many regions, wild large herbivores have maintained open landscapes up to and including historic times, but, more recently, been largely replaced by domestic livestock. By employing extensive traditional grazing browsing regimes, conservation actions support biodiversity recovery in natural degraded areas. However, also plays other important ecological roles, for example, the maintenance and/or of ecosystem services, such as biomass production carbon sequestration. Understanding herbivore effects on plant composition functional diversity, functioning is essential informing theory practice. The current Special Issue highlights that vegetation are strongly context‐dependent. articles identify at least three major factors acting concert, which responsible contrasting diversity patterns subjected herbivores: (i) identity; (ii) intensity; (iii) type. Insights from this imply long‐term experiments across different habitat types underrepresented regions needed provide valuable information planning management. They demonstrate integrating indigenous knowledge, considering socio‐economic contexts, can opportunities improving sustainable

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic shrub encroachment has accelerated the degradation of desert steppe soil over the past four decades

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 946, P. 174487 - 174487

Published: July 3, 2024

Language: Английский

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Future Climate Change Shifts the Ranges of Major Encroaching Woody Plant Species in the Southern Great Plains, USA

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Woody Plant Encroachment (WPE) is a key driver of grassland collapse in the Southern Great Plain (SGP), resulting series adverse ecological and socioeconomic consequences. Climate change will interact with ongoing WPE as it likely shift potential ranges species. In this study, we employed an ensemble approach integrating results from multiple Species Distribution Models to project future distribution four major species (Ashe juniper, honey mesquite, post oak, eastern redcedar) SGP across 21st century. The findings highlighted noteworthy trend: under climate conditions, for these were projected northward eastward. Of particular concern mesquite significant expansion range, potentially covering up two‐thirds SGP's non‐agricultural area by end Conversely, other three expected experience contraction their ranges. Ashe juniper may decline its current habitats central Texas but gain new northern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas. suitable oak redcedar shrink eastward, primarily being restricted portions Oklahoma RCP4.5 smaller RCP8.5. provides scientific basis governments optimize allocation management resources implement timely practices control spread woody plants during early encroachment stage. Our study methodology applicable regions continents issues, including Africa, South America, Australia.

Language: Английский

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Global effects of livestock grazing on ecosystem functions vary with grazing management and environment

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 378, P. 109296 - 109296

Published: Sept. 13, 2024

Language: Английский

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How much to cut? Finding an optimal thinning intensity of encroaching woody species for the herbaceous community in an East African savanna

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Globally, bush encroachment poses a great threat to the conservation of biodiversity and rangeland productivity. However, control methods encroaching woody species have rarely been experimentally quantified. We assessed impact tree thinning intensities on mortality, herbaceous community in Borana rangelands, an Ethiopian savannah ecosystem. At two 1.4 ha areas mono-specific Vachellia drepanolobium stands, we set up 20 m x 10 experimental plots with four tree-thinning treatments (0%, 33%, 67%, 100% removal), three replications randomized complete block design (RCBD) across sites. The 0% plot was left uncleared used as control. Over growing periods, monitored resulting coppicing, seedling recruitment well layer attributes (diversity, biomass) conditions. Tree intensity significantly increased abundance dominant desirable grass species. Total richness, diversity biomass were improved under high (100%) moderate (67%) removal intensity. conclude that at most effective enhancing mortality encroached trees, improving diversity, biomass. stress requires post-thinning management repeated measures. Our findings contribute development recommendations controlling encroachment, restoration, productivity rangelands.

Language: Английский

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