Authors: Gaitán, Juan José; Bran, Donaldo Eduardo; Oliva, Gabriel Esteban; Aguiar, Martin Roberto; Buono, Gustavo Gabriel; Ferrante, Daniela; Nakamatsu, Viviana; Ciari, Georgina; Salomone, Jorge M.; Massara, Virginia; García Martínez, Guillermo Carlos; Maestre, Fernando T.
Publication Date: 2018.
Language: English.
Abstract:
Over 65% of drylands are used for grazing of managed livestock. Understanding what drives grazing effects on the structure and functioning of rangelands is critical for achieving their sustainability. We studied a network of 239 sites across Patagonian rangelands (Argentina), which constitute one of the world's largest rangeland area. We aimed to (i) evaluate how aridity and grazing affect ecosystem structure and functioning and (ii) test the usefulness of the landscape function analysis (LFA) indices (stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling) as surrogates of soil functioning. Aridity decreased species richness and the cover of palatable grasses but increased the cover of palatable shrubs. Grazing pressure negatively impacted the cover of palatable grasses and species richness but did not affect the cover of shrubs. Aridity had direct and indirect negative relationships with the LFA indices. Grazing pressure had no direct effects on the LFA indices but had an indirect negative effect on them by affecting vegetation structure. The LFA indices were positively and negatively correlated with soil organic carbon and sand contents, respectively, suggesting that these indices are useful proxies of soil functional processes in Patagonian rangelands. Our findings indicate that aridity and overgrazing have convergent effects on the structure and functioning of ecosystems, as both promoted reductions in species richness, the cover of palatable grasses and soil functioning. Rangeland management activities should aim to enhance species richness and the cover of palatable grasses, as these actions could contribute to offset adverse effects of ongoing increases in aridity on drylands. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Author affiliation: Gaitán, Juan José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Suelos; Argentina
Author affiliation: Bran, Donaldo Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Aguiar, Martin Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. ; Argentina
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ferrante, Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Nakamatsu, Viviana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ciari, Georgina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Salomone, Jorge M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Massara, Virginia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: García Martínez, Guillermo Carlos. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Maestre, Fernando T.. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; España
Repository: CONICET Digital (CONICET). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Authors: Gaitan, Juan Jose; Bran, Donaldo Eduardo; Oliva, Gabriel Esteban; Aguiar, Martín Roberto; Buono, Gustavo Gabriel; Ferrante, Daniela; Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz; Ciari, Georgina; Salomone, Jorge Manuel; Massara Paletto, Virginia; Garcia Martinez, Guillermo Carlos; Maestre, Fernando T.
Publication Date: 2018.
Language: English.
Abstract:
Over 65% of drylands are used for grazing of managed livestock. Understanding what drives grazing effects on the structure and functioning of rangelands is critical for achieving their sustainability. We studied a network of 239 sites across Patagonian rangelands (Argentina), which constitute one of the world's largest rangeland area. We aimed to (i) evaluate how aridity and grazing affect ecosystem structure and functioning and (ii) test the usefulness of the landscape function analysis (LFA) indices (stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling) as surrogates of soil functioning. Aridity decreased species richness and the cover of palatable grasses but increased the cover of palatable shrubs. Grazing pressure negatively impacted the cover of palatable grasses and species richness but did not affect the cover of shrubs. Aridity had direct and indirect negative relationships with the LFA indices. Grazing pressure had no direct effects on the LFA indices but had an indirect negative effect on them by affecting vegetation structure. The LFA indices were positively and negatively correlated with soil organic carbon and sand contents, respectively, suggesting that these indices are useful proxies of soil functional processes in Patagonian rangelands. Our findings indicate that aridity and overgrazing have convergent effects on the structure and functioning of ecosystems, as both promoted reductions in species richness, the cover of palatable grasses and soil functioning. Rangeland management activities should aim to enhance species richness and the cover of palatable grasses, as these actions could contribute to offset adverse effects of ongoing increases in aridity on drylands
Instituto de Suelos
Author affiliation: Gaitan, Juan Jose. INTA. Instituto de Suelos; Argentina
Author affiliation: Bran, Donaldo Eduardo. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina
Author affiliation: Aguiar, Martin Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo Gabriel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ferrante, Daniela. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina
Author affiliation: Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ciari, Georgina. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Salomone, Jorge Manuel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Massara Paletto, Virginia. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Garcia Martinez, Guillermo Carlos. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Maestre, Fernando T. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología. Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica; España
Repository: INTA Digital (INTA). Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
Authors: Gaitan, Juan Jose; Bran, Donaldo Eduardo; Oliva, Gabriel Esteban; Ciari, Georgina; Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz; Salomone, Jorge Manuel; Ferrante, Daniela; Buono, Gustavo Gabriel; Massara Paletto, Virginia; Humano, Gervasio; Celdran, Diego Javier; Opazo, Walter Javier; Maestre, Fernando T.
Publication Date: 2013.
Language: English.
Abstract:
Assessing the spatial variability of ecosystem structure and functioning is an important step towards developing monitoring systems to detect changes in ecosystem attributes that could be linked to desertification processes in drylands. Methods based on ground-collected soil and plant indicators are being increasingly used for this aim, but they have limitations regarding the extent of the area that can be measured using them. Approaches based on remote sensing data can successfully assess large areas, but it is largely unknown how the different indices that can be derived from such data relate to ground-based indicators of ecosystem health. We tested whether we can predict ecosystem structure and functioning, as measured with a field methodology based on indicators of ecosystem functioning (the landscape function analysis, LFA), over a large area using spectral vegetation indices (VIs), and evaluated which VIs are the best predictors of these ecosystem attributes. For doing this, we assessed the relationship between vegetation attributes (cover and species richness), LFA indices (stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling) and nine VIs obtained from satellite images of the MODIS sensor in 194 sites located across the Patagonian steppe. We found that NDVI was the VI best predictor of ecosystem attributes. This VI showed a significant positive linear relationship with both vegetation basal cover (R2 = 0.39) and plant species richness (R2 = 0.31). NDVI was also significantly and linearly related to the infiltration and nutrient cycling indices (R2 = 0.36 and 0.49, respectively), but the relationship with the stability index was weak (R2 = 0.13). Our results indicate that VIs obtained from MODIS, and NDVI in particular, are a suitable tool for estimate the spatial variability of functional and structural ecosystem attributes in the Patagonian steppe at the regional scale.
Author affiliation: Gaitan, Juan Jose. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Bran, Donaldo Eduardo. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ciari, Georgina. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Salomone, Jorge Manuel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ferrante, Daniela. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo Gabriel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Massara Paletto, Virginia. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Humano, Gervasio. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina
Author affiliation: Celdran, Diego Javier. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Opazo, Walter Javier. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Maestre, Fernando T. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología. Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica; España
Repository: INTA Digital (INTA). Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
Publication Date: 2011.
Language: Spanish.
Abstract:
El sobrepastoreo es la principal causa de la degradación de los pastizales patagónicos y el ajuste de la carga animal ovina podría detener ese proceso. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la evolución de la disponibilidad de forraje del pastizal bajo diferentes intensidades de uso con pastoreo ovino. Sobre una estepa patagónica típica del SO de Chubut se evaluó el pastizal, en verano, otoño y primavera, mediante el Método del Valor Pastoral, bajo tres intensidades de uso: a) Baja, considerando un factor de uso (FU)=40% de la productividad forrajera anual, b) Media, FU=50% y c) Alta, FU=70%. Los valores de cobertura vegetal total (CVT) y forrajera (CF), el porcentaje de suelo desnudo (SD) y mantillo, Valor Pastoral (VP) y toques forrajeros se analizaron mediante ANOVA (y LSD de Fisher para comparar medias). Época del año e intensidad de uso fueron las variables de clasificación. Se realizaron análisis de regresión lineal del VP, CVT y CF de cada potrero en función del tiempo. No hubo interacción significativa entre las variables evaluadas. El potrero con alta intensidad de uso presentó menor CVT y mayor SD que los otros potreros, mientras que VP sólo fue menor con respecto al de baja intensidad de uso. En función a la dinámica temporal sólo se observaron diferencias en los factores vinculados a la oferta forrajera, con menores valores en otoño. Se registró una tendencia negativa de la CVT, del VP y marginalmente de CF en función del tiempo en el potrero de Alta intensidad de uso. El uso más intenso afectó la estructura y disponibilidad forrajera del pastizal. El ajuste de cargas garantiza un uso sustentable del pastizal natural en el distrito occidental de Patagonia.
EEA Chubut
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo Gabriel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Massara Paletto, Virginia. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Celdran, Diego Javier. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Repository: INTA Digital (INTA). Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
Authors: Gaitán, Juan J.; Bran, Donaldo; Oliva, Gabriel Esteban; Maestre, Fernando T.; Aguiar, Martin Roberto; Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel; Buono, Gustavo; Ferrante, Daniela; Nakamatsu, Viviana; Ciari, Georgina; Salomone, Jorge; Massara, Virginia
Publication Date: 2014.
Language: English.
Abstract:
Drought is an increasingly common phenomenon in drylands as a consequence of climate change. We used 311 sites across a broad range of environmental conditions in Patagonian rangelands to evaluate how drought severity and temperature (abiotic factors) and vegetation structure (biotic factors) modulate the impact of a drought event on the annual integral of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI-I), our surrogate of ecosystem functioning. We found that NDVI-I decreases were larger with both increasing drought severity and temperature. Plant species richness (SR) and shrub cover (SC) attenuated the effects of drought on NDVI-I. Grass cover did not affect the impacts of drought on NDVI-I. Our results suggest that warming and species loss, two important imprints of global environmental change, could increase the vulnerability of Patagonian ecosystems to drought. Therefore, maintaining SR through appropriate grazing management can attenuate the adverse effects of climate change on ecosystem functioning.
Author affiliation: Gaitán, Juan J.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Bran, Donaldo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Maestre, Fernando T.. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología. Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica. Area de Biodiversidad y Conservación ; España
Author affiliation: Aguiar, Martin Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina
Author affiliation: Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis; Argentina
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ferrante, Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Nakamatsu, Viviana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ciari, Georgina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Estación Experimental Agroforestal Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Salomone, Jorge. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Massara, Virginia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Repository: CONICET Digital (CONICET). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Authors: Gaitan, Juan Jose; Bran, Donaldo Eduardo; Oliva, Gabriel Esteban; Maestre, Fernando T.; Aguiar, Martín Roberto; Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel; Buono, Gustavo Gabriel; Ferrante, Daniela; Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz; Ciari, Georgina; Salomone, Jorge Manuel; Massara Paletto, Virginia
Publication Date: 2014.
Language: English.
Abstract:
Drought is an increasingly common phenomenon in drylands as a consequence of climate change. We used 311 sites across a broad range of environmental conditions in Patagonian rangelands to evaluate how drought severity and temperature (abiotic factors) and vegetation structure (biotic factors) modulate the impact of a drought event on the annual integral of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI-I), our surrogate of ecosystem functioning. We found that NDVI-I decreases were larger with both increasing drought severity and temperature. Plant species richness (SR) and shrub cover (SC) attenuated the effects of drought on NDVI-I. Grass cover did not affect the impacts of drought on NDVI-I. Our results suggest that warming and species loss, two important imprints of global environmental change, could increase the vulnerability of Patagonian ecosystems to drought. Therefore, maintaining SR through appropriate grazing management can attenuate the adverse effects of climate change on ecosystem functioning.
Author affiliation: Gaitan, Juan Jose. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Bran, Donaldo Eduardo. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina
Author affiliation: Maestre, Fernando T. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología. Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica; España
Author affiliation: Aguiar, Martin Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina
Author affiliation: Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis "Prof. Ezio Marchi". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico, Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis; Argentina
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo Gabriel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ferrante, Daniela. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina
Author affiliation: Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ciari, Georgina. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Salomone, Jorge Manuel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Massara Paletto, Virginia. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Repository: INTA Digital (INTA). Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
Authors: Gaitan, Juan J.; Bran, Donaldo Mauricio; Oliva, Gabriel; Maestre, Fernando T.; Aguiar, Martin Roberto; Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel; Buono, Gustavo; Ferrante, Daniela; Nakamatsu, Viviana; Ciari, Georgina; Salomone, Jorge; Massara, Virginia
Publication Date: 2014.
Language: English.
Abstract:
Drought is an increasingly common phenomenon in drylands as a consequence of climate change. We used 311 sites across a broad range of environmental conditions in Patagonian rangelands to evaluate how drought severity and temperature (abiotic factors) and vegetation structure (biotic factors) modulate the impact of a drought event on the annual integral of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI-I), our surrogate of ecosystem functioning. We found that NDVI-I decreases were larger with both increasing drought severity and temperature. Plant species richness (SR) and shrub cover (SC) attenuated the effects of drought on NDVI-I. Grass cover did not affect the impacts of drought on NDVI-I. Our results suggest that warming and species loss, two important imprints of global environmental change, could increase the vulnerability of Patagonian ecosystems to drought. Therefore, maintaining SR through appropriate grazing management can attenuate the adverse effects of climate change on ecosystem functioning.
Author affiliation: Gaitan, Juan J.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Bran, Donaldo Mauricio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Oliva, Gabriel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Maestre, Fernando T.. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; España
Author affiliation: Aguiar, Martin Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina
Author affiliation: Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis; Argentina
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ferrante, Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Nakamatsu, Viviana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ciari, Georgina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Salomone, Jorge. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Massara, Virginia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Repository: CONICET Digital (CONICET). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Authors: Buono, Gustavo Gabriel; Oesterheld, Martin; Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz; Paruelo, José María
Publication Date: 2010.
Language: English.
Abstract:
In extra-Andean Patagonia, wet meadows contrast with the prevailing arid steppes, and present a gradient of water availability from the periphery to the center. The objectives of this paper are to describe the spatial and temporal variation of aerial net primary production (ANPP) of Patagonian meadows, and to obtain a model for the relationship between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and ANPP. We determined ANPP in four regionally scattered meadows during 3–5 years and in three positions of the gradient of water availability. In one meadow, we correlated ANPP with NDVI during 2 years. Annual ANPP was 2–3 times larger in the center than in the periphery, and also varied 2–3 fold among the four meadows. The interannual variation of ANPP was high and similar across meadows and zones. ANPP was closely correlated with NDVI through a linear model. Within the growing season, the central zone had a more extended period of high NDVI into the summer than the peripheral and the intermediate zones. We conclude that (1) the local variation of ANPP across the gradient of water availability is strong and must be taken into account for management, and (2) the highly variable ANPP may be monitored by remote sensing.
EEA Chubut
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo Gabriel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Oesterheld, Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina
Author affiliation: Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Paruelo, José María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina
Repository: INTA Digital (INTA). Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
Authors: Gaitan, Juan Jose; Oliva, Gabriel Esteban; Bran, Donaldo Eduardo; Maestre, Fernando T.; Aguiar, Martín Roberto; Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel; Buono, Gustavo Gabriel; Ferrante, Daniela; Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz; Ciari, Georgina; Salomone, Jorge Manuel; Massara Paletto, Virginia
Publication Date: 2014.
Language: English.
Abstract:
1. Drylands cover about 41% of Earth’s land surface, and 65% of their area supports domestic livestock that depends on the above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) of natural vegetation. Thus, understanding how biotic and abiotic factors control ANPP and related ecosystem functions can largely help to create more sustainable land-use practices in rangelands, particularly in the context of ongoing global environmental change. 2. We used 311 sites across a broad natural gradient in Patagonian rangelands to evaluate the relative importance of climate (temperature and precipitation) and vegetation structure (grass and shrub cover, species richness) as drivers of ANPP, precipitation-use efficiency (PUE) and precipitation marginal response (PMR). 3. Climatic variables explained 60%, 52% and 12% of the variation in grass cover, shrub cover and species richness, respectively. Shrub cover increased in areas with warmer, drier and winter rainfall climates, while the response observed for both grass cover and species richness was the opposite. Climate and vegetation structure explained 70%, 60% and 29% of the variation in ANPP, PUE and PMR, respectively. These three variables increased with increasing vegetation cover, particularly grass cover. Species richness also increased with ANPP, PUE and PMR. ANPP increased, and PUE decreased with increasing mean annual precipitation, whereas PMR increased with the proportion of precipitation falling in spring–summer. Temperature had a strong negative effect on ANPP and PUE, and a positive direct effect on PMR. Standardized total effects from structural equation modelling showed that vegetation structure and climate had similar strengths as drivers of ecosystem functioning. Grass cover had the highest total effect on ANPP (0.58), PUE (0.55) and PMR (0.41). Among the climatic variables, mean annual precipitation had the strongest total effect on ANPP (0.51) and PUE ( 0.41), and the proportion of the precipitation falling in spring–summer was the most influential on PMR (0.36). 4. Synthesis. Vegetation structure is as important as climate in shaping ecosystem functioning Patagonian rangelands. Maintaining and enhancing vegetation cover and species richness, particularly in grasses, could reduce the adverse effects of climate change on ecosystem functioning in these ecosystems
Author affiliation: Gaitan, Juan Jose. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina
Author affiliation: Bran, Donaldo Eduardo. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Maestre, Fernando T. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología. Departamento de Biologíıa y Geología Area de Biodiversidad y Conservación; España
Author affiliation: Aguiar, Martin Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina
Author affiliation: Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis "Prof. Ezio Marchi". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico, Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis; Argentina
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo Gabriel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ferrante, Daniela. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina
Author affiliation: Nakamatsu, Viviana Beatriz. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ciari, Georgina. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Salomone, Jorge Manuel. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Massara Paletto, Virginia. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Repository: INTA Digital (INTA). Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
Authors: Gaitan, Juan J.; Oliva, Gabriel Esteban; Bran, Donaldo E.; Maestre, Fernando T.; Aguiar, Martin Roberto; Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel; Buono, Gustavo G.; Ferrante, Daniela; Nakamatsu, Viviana B.; Ciari, Georgina; Salomone, Jorge M.; Massara, Virginia
Publication Date: 2014.
Language: English.
Abstract:
Drylands cover about 41% of Earth's land surface, and 65% of their area supports domestic livestock that depends on the above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) of natural vegetation. Thus, understanding how biotic and abiotic factors control ANPP and related ecosystem functions can largely help to create more sustainable land-use practices in rangelands, particularly in the context of ongoing global environmental change. We used 311 sites across a broad natural gradient in Patagonian rangelands to evaluate the relative importance of climate (temperature and precipitation) and vegetation structure (grass and shrub cover, species richness) as drivers of ANPP, precipitation-use efficiency (PUE) and precipitation marginal response (PMR). Climatic variables explained 60%, 52% and 12% of the variation in grass cover, shrub cover and species richness, respectively. Shrub cover increased in areas with warmer, drier and winter rainfall climates, while the response observed for both grass cover and species richness was the opposite. Climate and vegetation structure explained 70%, 60% and 29% of the variation in ANPP, PUE and PMR, respectively. These three variables increased with increasing vegetation cover, particularly grass cover. Species richness also increased with ANPP, PUE and PMR. ANPP increased, and PUE decreased with increasing mean annual precipitation, whereas PMR increased with the proportion of precipitation falling in spring–summer. Temperature had a strong negative effect on ANPP and PUE, and a positive direct effect on PMR. Standardized total effects from structural equation modelling showed that vegetation structure and climate had similar strengths as drivers of ecosystem functioning. Grass cover had the highest total effect on ANPP (0.58), PUE (0.55) and PMR (0.41). Among the climatic variables, mean annual precipitation had the strongest total effect on ANPP (0.51) and PUE (−0.41), and the proportion of the precipitation falling in spring–summer was the most influential on PMR (0.36). Synthesis. Vegetation structure is as important as climate in shaping ecosystem functioning Patagonian rangelands. Maintaining and enhancing vegetation cover and species richness, particularly in grasses, could reduce the adverse effects of climate change on ecosystem functioning in these ecosystems.
Author affiliation: Gaitan, Juan J.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Bran, Donaldo E.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; Argentina
Author affiliation: Maestre, Fernando T.. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnolog ía. Area de Biodiversidad y Conservación. Departamento de Biolog ía y Geolog ía; España
Author affiliation: Aguiar, Martin Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina
Author affiliation: Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis; Argentina
Author affiliation: Buono, Gustavo G.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ferrante, Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina
Author affiliation: Nakamatsu, Viviana B.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Ciari, Georgina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Estación Experimental Agroforestal Esquel; Argentina
Author affiliation: Salomone, Jorge M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Author affiliation: Massara, Virginia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; Argentina
Repository: CONICET Digital (CONICET). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas