Shrub encroachment can reverse desertification in semi-arid Mediterranean grasslands Export

@article{citeulike:5446088, abstract = {The worldwide phenomenon of shrub encroachment in grass-dominated dryland ecosystems is commonly associated with desertification. Studies of the purported desertification effects associated with shrub encroachment are often restricted to relatively few study areas, and document a narrow range of possible impacts upon biota and ecosystem processes. We conducted a study in degraded Mediterranean grasslands dominated by Stipa tenacissima to simultaneously evaluate the effects of shrub encroachment on the structure and composition of multiple biotic community components, and on various indicators of ecosystem function. Shrub encroachment enhanced vascular plant richness, biomass of fungi, actinomycetes and other bacteria, and was linked with greater soil fertility and N mineralization rates. While shrub encroachment may be a widespread phenomenon in drylands, an interpretation that this is an expression of desertification is not universal. Our results suggest that shrub establishment may be an important step in the reversal of desertification processes in the Mediterranean region.}, address = {rea de Biodiversidad y Conservacin, Departamento de Biologa y Geologa, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnologa, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933Mstoles, Spain; Environmental Plant Interactions Programme, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee, DD25DA, UK; Departamento de Biologa Animal, Vegetal y Ecologa, Universidad de Jan, 23071 Jan, Spain; Departamento Sistemas Fsicos, Qumicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera km. 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain}, author = {Maestre, Fernando T. and Bowker, Matthew A. and Puche, Mar\'{\i}a D. and Hinojosa, M. Bel\'{e}n and Mart\'{\i}nez, Isabel and Garc\'{\i}a-Palacios, Pablo and Castillo, Andrea P. and Soliveres, Santiago and Luzuriaga, Ar\'{a}ntzazu L. and S\'{a}nchez, Ana M. and Carreira, Jos\'{e} A. and Gallardo, Antonio and Escudero, Adri\'{a}n}, citeulike-article-id = {5446088}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01352.x}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/122520110/ABSTRACT}, doi = {10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01352.x}, issn = {1461-0248}, journal = {Ecology Letters}, keywords = {arid, diversity, ecosystem\_services, grassland, inpro, woody\_weeds}, number = {9}, pages = {930--941}, posted-at = {2009-08-17 02:26:53}, priority = {2}, title = {Shrub encroachment can reverse desertification in semi-arid Mediterranean grasslands}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01352.x}, volume = {12}, year = {2009} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:5446088 L3 - citeulike-article-id:5446088 N2 - The worldwide phenomenon of shrub encroachment in grass-dominated dryland ecosystems is commonly associated with desertification. Studies of the purported desertification effects associated with shrub encroachment are often restricted to relatively few study areas, and document a narrow range of possible impacts upon biota and ecosystem processes. We conducted a study in degraded Mediterranean grasslands dominated by Stipa tenacissima to simultaneously evaluate the effects of shrub encroachment on the structure and composition of multiple biotic community components, and on various indicators of ecosystem function. Shrub encroachment enhanced vascular plant richness, biomass of fungi, actinomycetes and other bacteria, and was linked with greater soil fertility and N mineralization rates. While shrub encroachment may be a widespread phenomenon in drylands, an interpretation that this is an expression of desertification is not universal. Our results suggest that shrub establishment may be an important step in the reversal of desertification processes in the Mediterranean region. IS - 9 JF - Ecology Letters SN - 1461-0248 AD - rea de Biodiversidad y Conservacin, Departamento de Biologa y Geologa, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnologa, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933Mstoles, Spain; Environmental Plant Interactions Programme, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee, DD25DA, UK; Departamento de Biologa Animal, Vegetal y Ecologa, Universidad de Jan, 23071 Jan, Spain; Departamento Sistemas Fsicos, Qumicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera km. 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain EP - 941 TI - Shrub encroachment can reverse desertification in semi-arid Mediterranean grasslands VL - 12 SP - 930 KW - arid KW - diversity KW - ecosystem_services KW - grassland KW - inpro KW - woody_weeds AU - Maestre, Fernando AU - Bowker, Matthew AU - Puche, María AU - Hinojosa, Belén AU - Martínez, Isabel AU - García-Palacios, Pablo AU - Castillo, Andrea AU - Soliveres, Santiago AU - Luzuriaga, Arántzazu AU - Sánchez, Ana AU - Carreira, José AU - Gallardo, Antonio AU - Escudero, Adrián PY - 2009/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01352.x ER -