Ecological mechanisms underlying aridity thresholds in global drylands

• Published in: Functional ecology Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 4 - 23
• Main Authors: Berdugo, Miguel, Vidiella, Blai, Solé, Ricard V., Maestre, Fernando T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2022
• Subjects: abrupt shifts; Adaptation; Arid lands; Arid zones; Aridity; climate; Climate change; Collapse; crossing; Desertification; dry environmental conditions; dryland ecology; ecological mechanisms; Ecosystem structure; Ecosystems; nonlinear responses; Nutrient cycles; plant adaptation; Plant communities; Plants; positive feedbacks; probability; soil; Soil erosion; Structure-function relationships; Thresholds; Vegetation; Water shortages

With ongoing climate change, the probability of crossing environmental thresholds promoting abrupt changes in ecosystem structure and functioning is higher than ever. In drylands (areas where it rains <65% of what could be potentially evaporated), recent research has shown how the crossing of thr...