Convergence across biomes to a common rain-use efficiency

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 429; no. 6992; pp. 651 - 654
• Main Authors: Huxman, T.E, Smith, M.D, Fay, P.A, Knapp, A.K, Shaw, M.R, Lolk, M.E, Smith, S.D, Tissue, D.T, Zak, J.C, Weltzin, J.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 10.06.2004; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: aboveground net primary production; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Argentina; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Evolution; Biomass; boreal forests; Climate models; deciduous forests; Desert Climate; deserts; Desiccation; Disasters; Drought; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Extreme drought; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Global climate; Grasslands; Humanities and Social Sciences; letter; multidisciplinary; Panama; plant ecology; Plant growth; plants; Plants - metabolism; Poaceae - metabolism; precipitation; Primary production; primary productivity; Rain; Rainfall measurement; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Synecology; Temperature; Terrestrial ecosystems; Trees - metabolism; tropical forests; United States; Water - analysis; Water - metabolism; Water availability; water use efficiency; United States; Argentina; Panama; Terrestrial environment; Rain; Biome; Ecosystem; Environmental factor; Water use efficiency; Atmospheric precipitation; Vegetation structure

Water availability limits plant growth and production in almost all terrestrial ecosystems. However, biomes differ substantially in sensitivity of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) to between-year variation in precipitation. Average rain-use efficiency (RUE; ANPP/precipitation) also varies b...