| Legacies of precipitation fluctuations on primary production: theory and data synthesis. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 23045711 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Variability of above-ground net primary production (ANPP) of arid to sub-humid ecosystems displays a closer association with precipitation when considered across space (based on multiyear averages for different locations) than through time (based on year-to-year change at single locations). Here, we propose a theory of controls of ANPP based on four hypotheses about legacies of wet and dry years that explains space versus time differences in ANPP-precipitation relationships. We tested the hypotheses using 16 long-term series of ANPP. We found that legacies revealed by the association of current- versus previous-year conditions through the temporal series occur across all ecosystem types from deserts to mesic grasslands. Therefore, previous-year precipitation and ANPP control a significant fraction of current-year production. We developed unified models for the controls of ANPP through space and time. The relative importance of current-versus previous-year precipitation changes along a gradient of mean annual precipitation with the importance of current-year PPT decreasing, whereas the importance of previous-year PPT remains constant as mean annual precipitation increases. Finally, our results suggest that ANPP will respond to climate-change-driven alterations in water availability and, more importantly, that the magnitude of the response will increase with time. |
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Authors:
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Osvaldo E Sala; Laureano A Gherardi; Lara Reichmann; Esteban Jobbágy; Debra Peters |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; 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: 3135-44 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. osvaldo.sala@asu.edu |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Carbon Cycle Climate Change Droughts Ecosystem* Geography Models, Biological Plant Leaves / chemistry Plant Roots / chemistry Poaceae / chemistry* Statistics as Topic / methods* Time Factors Water / chemistry* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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7732-18-5/Water |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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