Ancient grasslands guide ambitious goals in grassland restoration

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(6606), P. 594 - 598

Published: Aug. 4, 2022

Grasslands, which constitute almost 40% of the terrestrial biosphere, provide habitat for a great diversity animals and plants contribute to livelihoods more than 1 billion people worldwide. Whereas destruction degradation grasslands can occur rapidly, recent work indicates that complete recovery biodiversity essential functions occurs slowly or not at all. Grassland restoration-interventions speed guide this recovery-has received less attention restoration forested ecosystems, often due prevailing assumption are recently formed habitats reassemble quickly. Viewing grassland as long-term assembly toward old-growth endpoints, with appreciation feedbacks threshold shifts, will be crucial recognizing when how globally important ecosystem.

Language: Английский

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And after fire, the Cerrado flowers: A review of post-fire flowering in a tropical savanna

Flora, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 280, P. 151849 - 151849

Published: May 14, 2021

Language: Английский

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Out of the shadows: ecology of open ecosystems

Plant Ecology & Diversity, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 14(5-6), P. 205 - 222

Published: Nov. 2, 2021

Biomes of the world have long been assumed to be determined by climate. Major disparities, where open low biomass systems occurred in same climate zone as closed forests dismissed products deforestation. Many these ecosystems world, shown ancient origins, stable alternatives forests, and typically maintained disturbance regimes. Open include some most biodiverse regions world. They are often consumer-controlled large mammal herbivores or fire. Mosaics forest interpreted alternative states with each state positive feedbacks environmental conditions that maintain state. For example, flammable grasses fires which consume woody plants, while exclude shading them out. Understanding may therefore require radical revision familiar ecological concepts, starting hypothesis largely determines vegetation patterns. function differently from an earth system context affecting hydrological cycle, rates rock weathering, presenting a different planetary surface solar radiation reaching earth's land surface. explicit attention conservation policy management.

Language: Английский

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A recruitment niche framework for improving seed‐based restoration

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 31(7)

Published: July 12, 2023

As larger tracts of land experience degradation, seed‐based restoration (SBR) will be a primary tool to reestablish vegetation and ecosystem function. SBR has advanced in terms technical technological approaches, yet plant recruitment remains major barrier some systems, notably drylands. There is an unmet opportunity test science‐based approaches seed mix design application, based not only on diversity or local provenance, but the unique strategies species. We lay out framework that uses quantitative representation species' niches match them targeted goals (e.g. drought invasion resistance) methods precision tools technologies) SBR. first describe how quantify niche with seedling traits tied observed responses environmental factors. then show quantified can serve as foundation address three challenges: (1) designing forward‐looking mixes increase resilience future climate disturbance, (2) accounting for natural recovery planning, (3) applying seeding practices maximize success. Finally, we demonstrate these ideas existing data discuss key challenges adoption practice. While this are ecological theory, they require substantial testing refinement by scientists engaged efforts. If integrated into research agendas, believe it potential unify advance diverse elements ecology improve outcomes.

Language: Английский

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Why incorporate plant architecture into trait-based ecology?

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(6), P. 524 - 536

Published: Jan. 11, 2024

Language: Английский

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Integrating functional traits into trophic rewilding science

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(5), P. 936 - 953

Published: April 6, 2024

Abstract Trophic rewilding is gaining rapid momentum as a means of restoration across the world. Advances in research are elucidating wide‐ranging effects trophic and megafauna re‐establishment on ecosystem properties processes including resilience, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, productivity plant richness. A substantial gap remains how affects frequency expression functional traits, key hypothesised avenue by which can affect biodiversity processes. Yet, there extensive literature examining mammal herbivory exclusion traits from we may infer potential reintroductions. Here, synthesise to show multifaceted ways that composition responds mammalian explore these responses modulated density identity herbivores well resource availability, historical contingency. We further interactions quantitative analysis European species. In addition, link broad patterns between invasions predict be able reduce invasive dominance, ecosystems around world transitioning towards novel states, occupied mix native introduced Expanding current herbivore (and their implications for rewilding) beyond species richness measurable help assess quantify were not previously possible. Trait approaches test mechanistic hypotheses top‐down impacts large communities reveal links properties. Synthesis . Given rapid, much‐needed expansion activities world, trait‐based ecology offers pathway generalisable predictions rewilding, particularly context both unique landscape associated with (e.g. scale spatiotemporal variability, dispersal) widely emerging ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Unveiling above‐ and below‐ground ecological strategies that underlie woody plant encroachment in grasslands

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

Published: Feb. 20, 2025

Abstract Forests and grasslands often occur side by in the landscape, forming a complex mosaic system with contrasting environmental conditions, maintained different fire‐vegetation stabilising feedbacks. Woody species that along this sharp gradient must adopt viable ecological strategies to deal environments of these ecosystems. For this, plants are challenged efficiently coordinate functioning strategy dimensions above‐ below‐ground. We tested hypotheses related structural changes vegetation associated shifts community‐level trait patterns during woody plant encroachment. surveyed 60 permanent plots forest‐grassland mosaics at two times (2012–2022) obtain data on structure, composition, abundance after 10 years without disturbance, capturing from open plant‐encroached closed forests. An integrated functional approach was used assess variation, including below‐ground traits, representing whole‐plant, leaf, stem root strategies. encroachment led substantial increase density former grasslands, transforming their structure resemble young Interestingly, we found clear trade‐offs between traits among species. On one hand, occurring grassland had conservative leaves, for protection against high solar incidence, physical damage drought, roots ‘do‐it‐yourself’ strategy, which ensures efficiency acquisition nutrients water nutrient‐limited soils, thick bark fire resistance. other forest were usually taller acquisitive indicating highly competitive ability light‐limited forests, whereas an ‘outsourcing’ resource uptake mycorrhizal fungi nutrient‐rich soils Synthesis: advanced current understanding showing underlying trait‐based enable transition through space time. Importantly, have shown how important explaining strategies, negative covariance Our integrative will be helpful better managing southern Brazil analogous patchy ecosystems around world.

Language: Английский

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A taxonomic snapshot of belowground organs in plants of Anatolian steppes

Folia Geobotanica, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 58(3-4), P. 231 - 243

Published: Feb. 15, 2024

Language: Английский

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Belowground morphology as a clue for plant response to disturbance and productivity in a temperate flora

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 242(1), P. 61 - 76

Published: Feb. 15, 2024

Summary Plants possess a large variety of nonacquisitive belowground organs, such as rhizomes, tubers, bulbs, and coarse roots. These organs determine whole set functions that are decisive in coping with climate, productivity, disturbance, biotic interactions, have been hypothesized to affect plant distribution along environmental gradients. We assembled data on organ morphology for 1712 species from Central Europe tested these hypotheses by quantifying relationships between morphologies optima ecological gradients related productivity disturbance. Furthermore, we linked co‐occurrence 30 115 vegetation plots the Czech Republic diversity The strongest determining were disturbance severity frequency, light, moisture. Nonclonal perennials annuals occupy much smaller parts total space than major types clonal plants. Forest habitats had highest co‐occurring morphologies; other habitats, was generally lower random expectation. Our work shows may be partly responsible niches. This adds new dimension trait spectrum, currently based acquisitive traits (leaves fine roots) only.

Language: Английский

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Variation in biomass allocation and root functional parameters in response to fire history in Brazilian savannas

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 109(12), P. 4143 - 4157

Published: Sept. 28, 2021

Abstract Fire is a fundamental ecological factor in savannas because it affects vegetation dynamics and ecosystem functioning. However, the effects of fire on below‐ground compartments, including biomass root traits, their regeneration remain poorly understood. In this study, we assess variation above‐ plant components along fire‐history gradients Brazilian open investigate whether changes soil properties are associated with responses traits. The study was conducted eight sampling areas savanna ( campo sujo , i.e. having low woody cover) within Cerrado (Brazilian savannas), located gradient time since last (1–34 years); number fires that occurred past 34 years (0–9 fires) varied by area. each area, measured biomass, depth distribution, functional parameters nutrient levels upper layers (0–10 cm). Rapid recovery above‐ground live after primarily due to resprouting graminoids. This an increase absorptive layer most recently burnt sites, whereas unaffected deeper layers. Root remained constant regardless history but responded variations structure properties. Specific length (SRL) decreased K, Mg 2+ Al 3+ N C increased P concentration. contrast, tissue density (RTD) proportion were negatively correlated P. RTD strongly Soil texture impacted system: roots fine sand content soil, inversely transport biomass. relationship between insignificant. Synthesis . savannas, stimulates response higher demand for resources. shoot regrowth fire. Variations morphological not directly history; instead, they reflect differences chemistry, especially graminoid changes.

Language: Английский

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