Implications of land use/land cover dynamics and Prosopis invasion on ecosystem service values in Afar Region, Ethiopia

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 675, P. 354 - 366

Published: April 17, 2019

Land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics and the resulting changes in ecosystems, as well services they provide, are a consequence of human activities environmental drivers, such invasive alien plant species. This study assessed LULC ecosystem service values (ESVs) Afar National Regional State, Ethiopia, which experiences rapid invasion by tree Prosopis juliflora (Swartz DC). Landsat satellite data 1986, 2000 2017 were used Random Forest algorithm to assess last 31 years, calculate net for different types associated ESVs. Kappa accuracies 88% higher obtained three classifications. Post-classification change analyses period between 1986 revealed positive invaded areas, cropland, salt flats, settlements waterbodies. The rate was estimated at 31,127 ha per year. Negative found grassland, bareland, bush-shrub-woodland, natural forests. According local community representatives, four most important drivers climate change, frequent droughts, species weak traditional law. Based on two ESVs estimations, caused resulted an average loss area about US$ 602 million (range 112 1091 million) over years. With increase 965,000 ha, Prosopis-invaded land highest during period, followed grassland (-599,000 ha), bareland (-329,000 ha) bush-shrub-woodland (-327,000 ha). Our provides evidence that Region have led significant ESVs, with serious consequences livelihoods rural people.

Language: Английский

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Alternative Biome States in Terrestrial Ecosystems

Trends in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 25(3), P. 250 - 263

Published: Jan. 6, 2020

Language: Английский

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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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The diversity of post‐fire regeneration strategies in the cerrado ground layer

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 109(1), P. 154 - 166

Published: June 25, 2020

Abstract Disentangling species strategies that confer resilience to natural disturbances is key conserving and restoring savanna ecosystems. Fire a recurrent disturbance in savannas, vegetation highly adapted often dependent on fire. However, although the woody component of tropical savannas well studied, we still do not understand how ground‐layer plant communities respond fire, limiting conservation management actions. We investigated effects prescribed fire community structure composition, evaluated which traits are involved regeneration after cerrado ground layer. assessed related persistence colonization capacity including resprouter type, underground structure, fire‐induced flowering, strategy growth form. searched for functional groups response shed light main post‐fire recovery among changed composition short term, leading greater richness, population densities increasing bare soil, compared with unburned communities. Eight months abundance did differ from pre‐disturbance values 86% species, demonstrating this layer Only one ruderal was disadvantaged by 13% benefited. Rapid soil cover native burned areas driven high resprout spread vegetatively. Recovery community, as whole, resulted combination different traits. summarized these into five large groups, encompassing Synthesis . dramatically changes but system resilient, quickly recovering pre‐fire state. involves strategies, categorized species: grasses , seeders bloomers undergrounders resprouters Knowledge diverse should be used tool assess restoration status fire‐resilient ecosystems cerrado.

Language: Английский

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Challenges and solutions to biodiversity conservation in arid lands

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 857, P. 159695 - 159695

Published: Oct. 24, 2022

Language: Английский

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Placing Brazil's grasslands and savannas on the map of science and conservation

Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 56, P. 125687 - 125687

Published: June 4, 2022

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity hotspots and Ocbil theory

Plant and Soil, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 403(1-2), P. 167 - 216

Published: Dec. 21, 2015

Language: Английский

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Human impacts in African savannas are mediated by plant functional traits

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 220(1), P. 10 - 24

Published: May 28, 2018

Summary Tropical savannas have a ground cover dominated by C 4 grasses, with fire and herbivory constraining woody below rainfall‐based potential. The savanna biome covers 50% of the African continent, encompassing diverse ecosystems that include densely wooded Miombo woodlands Serengeti grasslands scattered trees. provide water, grazing browsing, food fuel for tens millions people, unique biodiversity supports wildlife tourism. However, human impacts are causing widespread accelerating degradation savannas. primary threats land cover‐change transformation, landscape fragmentation disrupts herbivore communities regimes, climate change rising atmospheric CO 2 . interactions among these poorly understood, unknown consequences ecosystem health livelihoods. We argue combinations plant functional traits characterizing major floristic assemblages make them differentially susceptible resilient to anthropogenic drivers change. Research must address how this diversity influences their vulnerability global elucidate mechanisms responsible. This knowledge will permit appropriate management strategies be developed maintain integrity,

Language: Английский

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Humboldt and the reinvention of nature

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 107(3), P. 1031 - 1037

Published: Nov. 25, 2018

Abstract Alexander von Humboldt is a key figure in the history of ecology and biogeography who contributed to shape what today ecology, as well environmentalist movement. His observation that world’s vegetation varies systematically with climate was one his many contributions science. Here, we question extent Humboldt’s view biased our vision nature. The current emphasis on role soils ecological evolutionary studies, forests potential most important vegetation, suggests still nature through eyes Humboldt. Over last 20 years, diverse studies have shown open non‐forested ecosystems (savannas, grasslands, shrublands) cannot be predicted by are ancient systems maintained fire and/or vertebrate herbivory. Paleoecological phylogenetic these plant consumers at geological time scales. This has major implications for how understand manage ecosystems. Synthesis. We need consciously probe long‐standing idea only factors shaping broad‐scale patterns propose move beyond legacy embracing large mammal herbivory additional explaining evolution world vegetation.

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity-rich European grasslands: Ancient, forgotten ecosystems

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 228, P. 224 - 232

Published: Nov. 1, 2018

Language: Английский

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