Structure and Functioning of Dryland Ecosystems in a Changing World

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 47(1), P. 215 - 237

Published: Aug. 30, 2016

Understanding how drylands respond to ongoing environmental change is extremely important for global sustainability. In this review, we discuss biotic attributes, climate, grazing pressure, land cover change, and nitrogen deposition affect the functioning of at multiple spatial scales. Our synthesis highlights importance attributes (e.g., species richness) in maintaining fundamental ecosystem processes such as primary productivity, illustrates pressure are impacting worldwide, traits woody drivers their expansion former grasslands. We also emphasize role richness abundance controlling responses climate change. This knowledge essential guide conservation restoration efforts drylands, can be actively managed local scale increase resilience

Language: Английский

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Diversifying livestock promotes multidiversity and multifunctionality in managed grasslands

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 116(13), P. 6187 - 6192

Published: March 8, 2019

Increasing plant diversity can increase ecosystem functioning, stability, and services in both natural managed grasslands, but the effects of herbivore diversity, especially livestock remain underexplored. Given that grazing is most extensive land use worldwide, managers readily change we experimentally tested how diversification (sheep, cattle, or both) influenced multidiversity (the plants, insects, soil microbes, nematodes) multifunctionality (including biomass production, leaf N P, above-ground insect abundance, nutrient cycling, C stocks, water regulation, plant–microbe symbiosis) world’s largest remaining grassland. We also considered potential dependence on multidiversity. found substantially increased by increasing The link between was always stronger than single components functions. Our work provides insights into importance multitrophic to maintain ecosystems suggests diversifying could promote an increasingly world.

Language: Английский

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Global change biology: A primer

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 26(1), P. 3 - 30

Published: Oct. 30, 2019

Abstract Because of human action, the Earth has entered an era where profound changes in global environment are creating novel conditions that will be discernable far into future. One consequence may a large reduction Earth's biodiversity, potentially representing sixth mass extinction. With effective stewardship, change drivers threaten biota could alleviated, but this requires clear understanding drivers, their interactions, and how they impact ecological communities. This review identifies 10 anthropogenic discusses six (atmospheric CO 2 enrichment, climate change, land transformation, species exploitation, exotic invasions, eutrophication) biodiversity. Driver impacts on particular positive or negative. In either case, initiate secondary responses cascade along lines connection doing so magnify initial impact. The unique nature threat to biodiversity is not simply due magnitude each driver, speed novelty interactions. Emphasizing one notably problematic because other also degrade together stability biosphere. As main academic journal addressing effects living systems, GCB well positioned provide leadership solving challenge. If humanity cannot meet challenge, then serve as leading chronicle extinction occur planet Earth.

Language: Английский

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Change in dominance determines herbivore effects on plant biodiversity

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 2(12), P. 1925 - 1932

Published: Oct. 26, 2018

Language: Английский

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Grazing and ecosystem service delivery in global drylands

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 378(6622), P. 915 - 920

Published: Nov. 24, 2022

Grazing represents the most extensive use of land worldwide. Yet its impacts on ecosystem services remain uncertain because pervasive interactions between grazing pressure, climate, soil properties, and biodiversity may occur but have never been addressed simultaneously. Using a standardized survey at 98 sites across six continents, we show that soil, are critical to explain delivery fundamental drylands Increasing pressure reduced service in warmer species-poor drylands, whereas positive effects were observed colder species-rich areas. Considering local abiotic biotic factors is key for understanding fate dryland ecosystems under climate change increasing human pressure.

Language: Английский

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Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 14(9), P. e0215702 - e0215702

Published: Sept. 19, 2019

Identifying agricultural practices that enhance water cycling is critical, particularly with increased rainfall variability and greater risks of droughts floods. Soil infiltration rates offer useful insights to in farming systems because they affect both yields (through soil availability) other ecosystem outcomes (such as pollution flooding from runoff). For example, conventional leave soils bare vulnerable degradation are believed limit the capacity quickly absorb retain needed for crop growth. Further, it widely assumed methods such no-till cover crops can improve rates. Despite interest impacts on rates, this effect has not been systematically quantified across a range practices. To evaluate how relative select alternative (no-till, crops, rotation, introducing perennials, livestock systems), we performed meta-analysis included 89 studies field trials comparing at least one practice management. We found perennials (grasses, agroforestry, managed forestry) or led largest increases (mean responses 59.2 ± 20.9% 34.8 7.7%, respectively). Also, although overall was non-significant (5.7 9.7%), wetter climates when combined residue retention. The rotation rate (18.5 13.2%), evaluating grazing croplands indicated reduced (-21.3 14.9%). Findings suggest promoting ground continuous roots, which structure, were most effective increasing

Language: Английский

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Experimental impacts of grazing on grassland biodiversity and function are explained by aridity

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Aug. 19, 2023

Grazing by domestic herbivores is the most widespread land use on planet, and also a major global change driver in grasslands. Yet, experimental evidence long-term impacts of livestock grazing biodiversity function largely lacking. Here, we report results from network 10 sites paired grazed ungrazed grasslands across an aridity gradient, including some largest remaining native planet. We show that partly explains responses multifunctionality to grazing. greatly reduced steppes with higher aridity, while had no effects relatively lower aridity. Moreover, found further changed capacity above- below-ground explain multifunctionality. Thus, plant diversity was positively correlated excluded livestock, soil Together, our cross-site experiment reveals depend levels, more arid experiencing negative ecosystem highlight fundamental importance conserving for protecting

Language: Английский

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Hotspots of biogeochemical activity linked to aridity and plant traits across global drylands

Nature Plants, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(5), P. 760 - 770

Published: April 12, 2024

Language: Английский

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Continental‐scale Impacts of Livestock Grazing on Ecosystem Supporting and Regulating Services

Land Degradation and Development, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 28(4), P. 1473 - 1481

Published: Nov. 10, 2016

Abstract Grazing by livestock supports millions of people worldwide, particularly in drylands, but has marked negative effects on ecosystem services and functions. In Australia, its have not been fully quantified. We examined the extent to which grazing influenced supporting (productivity, habitat for organisms biodiversity) regulating (carbon cycling hydrological function) services, using data from published unpublished studies a large number sites across Australia. reduced our measure about 20% regulatory 8%. On average, plant productivity 40%, value 20%, biodiversity, function carbon sequestration 10%. Habitat showed strong declines with increasing intensity, at lowest highest contrasts. Hydrological biodiversity did decline intensity. Overall, results indicate that leads substantial degradation continental scale reducing associated provision, soil water Management will be critical if we are retain functional levels into next century. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Language: Английский

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A global meta-analysis of livestock grazing impacts on soil properties

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(8), P. e0236638 - e0236638

Published: Aug. 7, 2020

Grazing effects on soil properties under different and environmental conditions across the globe are often controversial. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate overall magnitude direction of grazing soils. This global meta-analysis was conducted using mixed model method address intensities (heavy, moderate, light) 15 based 287 papers published globally from 2007 2019. Our findings showed that heavy significantly increased BD (11.3% relative un-grazing) PR (52.5%) reduced SOC (-10.8%), WC NO3- (-23.5%), MBC (-27.9%) at 0–10 cm depth, (-22.5%) TN (-19.9%) 10–30 depth. Moderate (7.5%), (46.0%), P (18.9%) (0–10 cm), pH (4.1%) decreased (-16.4%), (-10.6%), (-23.9%) (10–30 cm). Light (10.8%) NH4+ (28.7%) Heavy much higher mean probability (0.70) leading overgrazing than moderate (0.14) light (0.10) grazing. These indicate that, globally, compared un-grazing, compaction SOC, NO3-, moisture. alkalinity TN. NH4+. Cattle impacts compaction, TN, available K were sheep grazing, but lower for PR. Climate impacted SOM, P, NH4+, EC, CEC, can be more detrimental quality BD, C: N, WC, However, did not impact most properties, them had insignificant changes over years.

Language: Английский

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