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Woody encroachment decreases diversity across North American grasslands and.
- Source :
-
Ecology . Apr2012, Vol. 93 Issue 4, p697-703. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Woody encroachment is a widespread and acute phenomenon affecting grasslands and savannas worldwide. We performed a meta-analysis of 29 studies from 13 different grassland/savanna communities in North America to determine the consequences of woody encroachment on plant species richness. In all 13 communities, species richness declined with woody plant encroachment (average decline = 45%). Species richness declined more in communities with higher precipitation (r2 = 0.81) and where encroachment was associated with a greater change in annual net primary productivity (ANPP; r2 = 0.69). Based on the strong positive correlation between precipitation and ANPP following encroachment (r2 = 0.87), we hypothesize that these relationships occur because water-limited woody plants experience a greater physiological and demographic release as precipitation increases. The observed relationship between species richness and ANPP provides support for the theoretical expectation that a trade-off occurs between richness and productivity in herbaceous communities. We conclude that woody plant encroachment leads to significant declines in species richness in North American grassland/savanna communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00129658
- Volume :
- 93
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Ecology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 75276964
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1890/11-1199.1