Local topographic and edaphic factors largely predict shrub encroachment in Mediterranean drylands

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 657; pp. 310 - 318
• Main Authors: Nunes, Alice, Köbel, Melanie, Pinho, Pedro, Matos, Paula, Costantini, Edoardo A.C., Soares, Cristina, de Bello, Francesco, Correia, Otília, Branquinho, Cristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.03.2019
• Subjects: arid lands; Aridity; carbon nitrogen ratio; climate; Climate change; cost effectiveness; ecosystem services; ecosystems; edaphic factors; flowering; functional diversity; functional properties; Functional traits; Holm-oak; land use; Mediterranean region; plant communities; Quercus ilex; shrubs; soil; Structural equation model; summer; Sustainable land management; topography; understory; woodlands; Mediterranean region; Climate change; Functional traits; Sustainable land management; Holm-oak; Aridity; Structural equation model

Shrub encroachment influences several ecosystem services in drylands worldwide. Yet, commonly used strategies to reduce encroachment show a low medium-term success, calling for a better understanding of its causes. Previous works identified multiple drivers responsible for this phenomenon, including...