Articles tagged with Grassland Ecosystems
A recent study found that temperature and extreme drought drive movement among herds of Plains bison, posing challenges for managing the iconic species. The team analyzed GPS-backed evidence from 33 Plains bison across two sites in Oklahoma, revealing a strong link between air temperature and bison movement.
Researchers found evidence of C4 grasses in eastern Africa dating back to around 15 million years ago, contradicting the long-held idea that open habitats proliferated later. The findings suggest that early apes lived in a variety of habitats and that C4 grasses played a significant role in shaping their evolution.
Restoration of Brazil's dry forests and savannas can sequester up to 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon in the long term, while conservation is essential to meet its 2030 climate goal. The new study suggests a focus on these biomes could be more cost-effective than restoration.
Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University identify vital differences between the plants, including pollinators and lifespan, confirming their classification. The study highlights the importance of recognizing every species for conservation programs.
A new study by the University of Göttingen found that alley-cropping agroforestry significantly improves ecosystem functions, including carbon sequestration, habitat creation, and soil protection. In contrast, open grassland systems did not show significant changes in ecosystem function after conversion to agroforestry.
Researchers identified hundreds of microorganisms associated with plant roots and soil, showing potential for developing biological substitutes for phosphorus-based fertilizers. The discovery highlights the importance of microbial communities in supplying essential nutrients like nitrogen.
A new study analyzing a two-decade long grassland experiment found that plant species complement each other to produce stable biomass at the community level. This 'compensatory' effect is more pronounced in diverse communities, which also show increased stability and resilience over time.
A study found that the decline of black-tailed prairie dogs due to sylvatic plague, combined with abnormally high precipitation, led to dramatic ecosystem changes. The loss of prairie dog habitat caused declines in associated species such as birds, swift foxes, and coyotes.
A four-year experiment combined with a 40-year observation in Inner Mongolia found that previous-year extreme droughts can create strong positive legacies for current-year community productivity. The mechanism driving this effect is the coupled increase of annuals and an early less, middle more precipitation pattern.
Researchers at Göttingen University found that removing vegetation in small areas led to a significant increase in ground nests, especially with nearby flowering plants. The removal of vegetation proved to be a simple measure to promote ground-nesting wild bees on calcareous grasslands.
A new study found that healthier plant-based dietary patterns had lower cardiovascular disease risk and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to less healthy plant-based diets. Diets high in refined grains, sugary drinks, and processed meat required more cropland, fertilizer, and irrigation water.
Researchers used a random forest model to analyze hyena whoops and found that individual signatures are distinct enough for identification. Repeating calls can improve identification accuracy, peaking at seven repetitions.
A NASA initiative studies wildfire-induced air pollution by measuring atmospheric CO and O3 levels using airborne observations. The study found that CO levels increased in the plume as it was transported away from the fire site, while plume age was associated with distance in both vertical and horizontal directions.
A recent study by K-State researchers found that reintroducing bison to grasslands can significantly increase plant diversity. The study revealed that the return of bison led to long-running and resilient increases in grassland biodiversity.
Research finds that grassland biodiversity and resilience are the result of a slow process over hundreds of years, not rapid recovery. Ancient grasslands have unique characteristics that develop over time and can be conserved to maintain ecosystem functions.
A new resilience sensing system can identify areas in danger of collapse and measure the success of conservation efforts. Global average resilience has declined over the last 20 years, with regions such as the Amazon rainforest showing signs of loss of resilience.
A recent study by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University provides a method to help farmers and policymakers decide whether organic farming is beneficial for the environment. The researchers analyzed international studies to find a threshold where organic farming's biodiversity gain outweighs its land requirements.
New research highlights how climate change enhances wildfire risk globally, but human actions and policies can mitigate regional impacts. The study assesses 500 previous papers and examines future fire weather trends to provide insight into the success or failure of climate policies.
Researchers found traces of plastics in over half of the species examined, including polyester, polyethylene, and polynorbornene. Four out of seven species, such as European hedgehogs and field voles, were identified as 'plastic positive', highlighting potential impacts on conservation status.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma found that climate warming reduces microbial diversity in grassland soil, essential for ecosystem functioning. The long-term experiment revealed significant negative effects of climate change on soil biodiversity, with warming playing a predominant role.
A study by the University of Würzburg found that grasshoppers eat a wide range of plants in cold regions, but are more specialized in temperate habitats. The researchers suggest that this adaptation allows them to survive in extreme climatic conditions.
Researchers found that livestock grazing had no negative impact on snow leopard distribution or density, and the species can coexist due to their separate ecological niches. The study suggests a more nuanced approach to conservation and land use, prioritizing the preservation of rocky mosaics.
A recent study found that bison reintroduction to mixed-grass prairies increases bird diversity and cervid occupancy in riparian areas. Vegetation changes associated with bison grazing promote biodiversity, benefiting multiple species.
A new study finds that controlled burning can stabilize or increase soil carbon, offering a method to maximize carbon storage. By manipulating fires, ecosystems can store huge amounts of carbon when the frequency and intensity are just right. This approach may help maintain natural ecosystem processes.
A new study reveals that climate change causes a mismatch between above- and belowground plant phenology, with woody plants responding more strongly to warming in their roots. This finding highlights the importance of plant root phenology and its impact on ecosystem functioning.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that plant species vulnerable to climate change may lead to bigger problems than previously thought. The research, led by Amelia Wolf and Erika Zavaleta, suggests that losing biodiversity can have significant impacts on ecosystems, particularly during droughts.
A new report identifies priority areas for ecosystem restoration, which could rescue land-based species and soak up vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Protecting these areas and restoring natural ecosystems can deliver significant biodiversity and climate benefits at a relatively low cost.
A new study using fossil pollen samples suggests that North America's plant biomes are experiencing low landscape resilience, similar to the end of the Pleistocene megafauna extinctions. The researchers found that forests persisted longer than grasslands and recovered more slowly if the ecosystem contains high plant biodiversity.
A new study suggests replacing GDP with Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) can provide decision-makers with clear and compelling evidence of the value of nature. The study, conducted in China's Qinghai province, found that GEP was greater than GDP in the year 2000.
A new measure, Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP), is proposed to value nature's contributions to economic activity and human well-being. GEP summarizes the economic value of nature's services, highlighting the need to balance domestic and ecosystem needs for a sustainable future.
A study by Oregon State University scientists found that increasing bison numbers in the park's Lamar Valley are exerting 10 times the environmental pressure of elk, disrupting species distribution and limiting woody plant communities. The findings suggest that the park's ecosystem engineers may be out of balance.
The Amazon rainforest could disappear within a lifetime if a tipping point is reached, according to new research. Ecosystems dominated by single species are more stable and take longer to shift, while the loss of key species like elephants can trigger rapid changes.
A new study reveals that biodiversity increases the efficiency of energy use in grasslands by storing more energy, having greater flow of energy and using energy more efficiently across all trophic levels. Ecosystems with higher plant diversity contain twice as much standing biomass compared to monocultures
A study examining 220,000 records of land use in western France found that conversion to crop production has long-lasting impacts on biodiversity. Functional diversity was relatively high in areas with old, permanent grasslands, highlighting the importance of retaining these sanctuaries.
Researchers discovered that spillover, especially of wind-dispersed plant species, promotes biodiversity in restored grasslands. This is crucial for recovering endangered temperate grasslands.
A global dataset analysis revealed exponential increases in gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) with mean annual temperature (MAT), with maximum leaf area index (LAI) as a key factor determining carbon fluxes across all biomes. The model explained 53% of GPP variations and 48% of ER variations, highlighting ...
A new study found that extreme drought conditions can lead to an explosion of root-feeding nematodes in grassland ecosystems, decreasing grass root production and potentially exacerbating carbon sequestration loss. The research team hopes to learn more about the interaction between water and nematode stresses to plants.
A University of Guelph study found that warmer temperatures are causing fish to forage in deeper water, leading to a climate-induced reorganization of food webs. The research tracked lake trout movement and feeding habits across hundreds of lakes in northwestern Ontario.
A recent study highlights the crucial role of indigenous knowledge in restoring degraded ecosystems. Indigenous communities have contributed significantly to ecological restoration through traditional practices such as anthropogenic burning and rotational swidden cultivation systems, resulting in highly biodiverse ecosystems.
A team of scientists found that herbivory has a complex relationship with plant diversity, but is crucial for maintaining biodiversity when dominant species are present. In some grasslands, herbivores help regulate the growth of fast-growing plants and promote smaller, slower-growing species.
Researchers found that high biodiversity increases individual stability components, but at a cost: biomass production fluctuates more with diverse species. Non-linear connections between diversity and stability highlight the need for nuanced management strategies.
Climate change could lead to sweeping global landscape changes, threatening biodiversity and vital services like water security and carbon storage. The study used fossil records of vegetation change to project future ecosystem transformations under various greenhouse gas emissions scenarios.
A new study found that ancient animal herders in Africa added to the ecological richness and diversity of the savanna thousands of years ago. Their practice of penning cattle, goats, and sheep at night created nutrient-rich grassy glades, or hotspots, that still attract wildlife and have increased habitat diversity in the region.
New study finds that 40% of plant material is removed by insects and fungi each year, supporting diverse communities of organisms. Contrary to expectations, plants don't face trade-offs in defending themselves against different consumers, with some species protected against everything and others devoured.
A study published in Ecosphere found that native birds can successfully nest in non-native plants in altered ecosystems, challenging traditional views on habitat restoration. The research suggests that controlling non-native plants may not yield benefits for all nesting bird species.
Scientists studied China's terrestrial ecosystems, revealing significant carbon stock changes driven by climate change, ecological restoration projects, and land-use practices. The study identified four major ecosystems with varying carbon sink or source capabilities.
Plants may have exerted greater influence on terrestrial ecosystems than megaherbivores that once roamed landscapes. Shrubs consistently predicted ecosystem change, with increasing shrub biomass reducing nitrogen availability and promoting tree growth.
The Jena Experiment found that biodiversity influences almost half the processes in an ecosystem, while intensive grassland management does not result in higher yields. High-diversity meadows had higher productivity and better carbon storage than low-diversity meadows.
Researchers propose a new approach to evaluating biodiversity, focusing on species migration and abundance within ecosystems. By analyzing these dynamics, experts can better understand ecosystem responses to environmental changes and develop more effective conservation strategies.
A graduate research fellow investigates how fungi and fire enable pine savanna ecosystems to prosper, discovering mutualisms that promote equilibrium and fire adaptation. The study aims to understand the role of plant-fungal interactions in shaping ecosystem dynamics.
A new study finds that warming temperatures affect the stability of Tibetan alpine grasslands, threatening forage production and livestock reliance. Climate change also disrupts species synchrony, jeopardizing well-adapted ecosystems.
New research identifies the oldest bison fossils and constructs a bison genealogy establishing that a common maternal ancestor arrived in North America. The study clarifies the earliest parts of the bison family tree using ancient DNA extraction and sequencing techniques.
Researchers found that reducing the number of species in a grassland ecosystem can cause remaining species to flower earlier, similar to the effects of climate change. The study suggests that future changes in biological timing could be much bigger than expected, with potential cascading effects on ecosystem dynamics.
A new study reveals that grazing pressures compound drought stress, delaying recovery and reducing ecosystems' tipping points. Grazing animals and fungal pathogens can kill drought-weakened vegetation, preventing plants from recovering.
A global study predicts that soils may release large quantities of carbon dioxide in response to warming, leading to even faster rates of warming globally. Soils in Arctic ecosystems are the most susceptible to releasing stored carbon when warmed.
The Jasper Ridge Global Change Experiment found that warming had negative effects on plant growth, while elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide showed no consistent response. Plant growth peaked when precipitation was close to historic averages, highlighting the need for ambitious climate action to stabilize warming and protect ecosystems.
A new international study links fertilizer addition to decreased plant diversity in diverse ecosystems globally, highlighting the need for ecosystem preservation strategies as they face multiple human-induced threats.
Researchers have found cold snaps in sub-tropical ecosystems and droughts in rainforests due to human influence. The study also explores new relationships among species arising from global changes, highlighting the need for understanding ecosystem structure and function.
Researchers found that a three-year absence of fire is the tipping point for the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, and increasing burning frequency can help prevent it from transitioning to woodland. The study suggests that land managers in the Flint Hills need to increase burning to more than once every three years.
Researchers found that relative amounts of predator and prey biomass are predicted by a simple mathematical function called a power scaling law. This means that even in diverse ecosystems, from oceans to savannas, there are always fewer top predators than expected in resource-rich environments.