01540nas a2200229 4500008004100000245009000041210006900131300001500200490000800215520084900223100002001072700001401092700002001106700002401126700001601150700001901166700001701185700001701202700001501219700001901234856005701253 2002 eng d00aRainfall variability, carbon cycling and plant species diversity in a mesic grassland0 aRainfall variability carbon cycling and plant species diversity a2202 -22050 v2983 a
Ecosystem responses to increased variability in rainfall, a prediction of general circulation models, were assessed in native grassland by reducing storm frequency and increasing rainfall quantity per storm during a 4-year experiment. More extreme rainfall patterns, without concurrent changes in total rainfall quantity, increased temporal variability in soil moisture and plant species diversity. However, carbon cycling processes such as soil CO2 flux, CO2 uptake by the dominant grasses, and aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) were reduced, and ANPP was more responsive to soil moisture variability than to mean soil water content. Our results show that projected increases in rainfall variability can rapidly alter key carbon cycling processes and plant community composition, independent of changes in total precipitation.
1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aFay, P.A.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aCollins, Scott., L.1 aSmith, M.D.1 aCarlisle, J.D.1 aHarper, C.W.1 aDanner, B.T.1 aLett, M.S.1 aMcCarron, J.K. uhttps://science.sciencemag.org/content/298/5601/2202