| Hydrologic variability in dryland regions: impacts on ecosystem dynamics and food security. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 23045712 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Research on ecosystem and societal response to global environmental change typically considers the effects of shifts in mean climate conditions. There is, however, some evidence of ongoing changes also in the variance of hydrologic and climate fluctuations. A relatively high interannual variability is a distinctive feature of the hydrologic regime of dryland regions, particularly at the desert margins. Hydrologic variability has an important impact on ecosystem dynamics, food security and societal reliance on ecosystem services in water-limited environments. Here, we investigate some of the current patterns of hydrologic variability in drylands around the world and review the major effects of hydrologic fluctuations on ecosystem resilience, maintenance of biodiversity and food security. We show that random hydrologic fluctuations may enhance the resilience of dryland ecosystems by obliterating bistable deterministic behaviours and threshold-like responses to external drivers. Moreover, by increasing biodiversity and the associated ecosystem redundancy, hydrologic variability can indirectly enhance post-disturbance recovery, i.e. ecosystem resilience. |
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Authors:
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Paolo D'Odorico; Abinash Bhattachan |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences Volume: 367 ISSN: 1471-2970 ISO Abbreviation: Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., B, Biol. Sci. Publication Date: 2012 Nov |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-10-09 Completed Date: 2013-03-08 Revised Date: 2013-04-16 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7503623 Medline TA: Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 3145-57 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. paolo@virginia.edu |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Biodiversity Desert Climate* Droughts Ecosystem* Food Supply* Hydrology / methods* Models, Biological Rain Soil / chemistry Water / chemistry* Water Cycle |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Soil; 7732-18-5/Water |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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