close

Home
What We Do
Who We Are
Inclusion
Publications
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
News
McAllister
Art
- Scientific Illustrations
Resources

Inner Basin of the San Fransico Peaks during autumn.

Ecoss

Home
What We Do
Who We Are
Inclusion
Publications
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
News
McAllister
Art
- Scientific Illustrations
Resources

HomeSeminar Schedule

Seminar Schedule

Click here to view the Ecoss seminar schedule

Contact Us

Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 5620, Flagstaff, AZ 86011

Support Us

Please consider a charitable gift to the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society this year. Generous support from the university and grants from federal agencies cover only a part of our work, so your gift is an essential contribution. Gifts can be designated for student research, providing opportunities for undergraduate students to work with Ecoss scientists on cutting edge ecosystem research. Click here to support us

Latest Publications

Hou E, Luo Y, Kuang Y, Chen C, Lu X, Jiang L, Luo X, Wen D (2020) Global meta-analysis shows pervasive phosphorus limitation of aboveground plant production in natural terrestrial ecosystems. Nature Communications 11 (637).

Read Abstract / Download .PDF / Read Publication

Plants are thought to be limited by phosphorus (P) especially in tropical regions. Here, Hou et al. report a meta-analysis of P fertilization experiments to show widespread P limitation on plant growth across terrestrial ecosystems modulated by climate, ecosystem properties, and fertilization regimes

Twitter Facebook Google +

Hartsell JA, Copeland SM, Munson SM, Butterfield BJ, Bradford JB (2020) Gaps and hotspots in the state of knowledge of pinyon-juniper communities. Forest Ecology and Management 455: 117628.

Read Abstract / Read Publication

Pinyon-juniper (PJ) plant communities cover a large area across North America and provide critical habitat for wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem functions, and rich cultural resources. These communities occur across a variety of environmental gradients, disturbance regimes, structural conditions and species compositions, including three species of juniper and two species of pinyon. PJ communities have experienced substantial changes in recent decades and identifying appropriate management strategies for these diverse communities is a growing challenge. Here, we surveyed the literature and compiled 441 studies to characterize patterns in research on PJ communities through time, across geographic space and climatic conditions, and among focal species. We evaluate the state of knowledge for three focal topics: 1) historical stand dynamics and responses to disturbance, 2) land management actions and their effects, and 3) potential future responses to changing climate. We identified large and potentially important gaps in our understanding of pinyon-juniper communities both geographically and topically. The effect of drought on Pinus edulis, the pinyon pine species in eastern PJ communities was frequently addressed, while few studies focused on drought effects on Pinus monophylla, which occurs in western PJ communities. The largest proportion of studies that examined land management actions only measured their effects for one year. Grazing was a common land-use across the geographic range of PJ communities yet was rarely studied. We found only 39 studies that had information on the impacts of anthropogenic climate change and most were concentrated on Pinus edulis. These results provide a synthetic perspective on PJ communities that can help natural resource managers identify relevant knowledge needed for decision-making and researchers design new studies to fill important knowledge gaps.

Twitter Facebook Google +

Guo JS, Hultine KR, Koch GW, Kropp H, Ogle K (2020) Temporal shifts in iso/anisohydry revealed from daily observations of plant water potential in a dominant desert shrub. New Phytologist 225(2): 713-726.

Read Abstract / Read Publication

Plant species are characterized along a spectrum of isohydry to anisohydry depending on their regulation of water potential (?), but the plasticity of hydraulic strategies is largely unknown. The role of environmental drivers was evaluated in the hydraulic behavior of Larrea tridentata, a drought-tolerant desert shrub that withstands a wide range of environmental conditions. With a 1.5 yr time-series of 2324 in situ measurements of daily predawn and midday ?, the temporal variability of hydraulic behavior was explored in relation to soil water supply, atmospheric demand and temperature. Hydraulic behavior in Larrea was highly dynamic, ranging from partial isohydry to extreme anisohydry. Larrea exhibited extreme anisohydry under wet soil conditions corresponding to periods of high productivity, whereas partial isohydry was exhibited after prolonged dry or cold conditions, when productivity was low. Environmental conditions can strongly influence plant hydraulic behavior at relatively fast timescales, which enhances our understanding of plant drought responses. Although species may exhibit a dominant hydraulic behavior, variable environmental conditions can prompt plasticity in ? regulation, particularly for species in seasonally dry climates.

Twitter Facebook Google +

Links of Interest

Ecoss Sitemap
Ecoss YouTube Channel