Dataset Information

Biocrust as one of multiple stable states in global drylands.

ABSTRACT: Biocrusts cover ~30% of global drylands with a prominent role in the biogeochemical cycles. Theoretically, biocrusts, vascular plants, and bare soil can represent multiple stable states in drylands. However, no empirical evidence for the existence of a biocrust stable state has been reported. Here, using a global drylands dataset, we found that biocrusts form an alternative stable state (biocrust cover, ~80%; vascular cover, ?10%) besides bare soil (both biocrust and vascular cover, ?10%) and vascular plants (vascular cover, >50%; biocrust cover, ~5%). The pattern of multiple stable states associated with biocrusts differs from the classic fold bifurcation, and values of the aridity index in the range of 0 to 0.6 define a bistable region where multiple stable states coexist. This study empirically demonstrates the existence and thresholds of multiple stable states associated with biocrusts along climatic gradients and thus may greatly contribute to conservation and restoration of global drylands.

SUBMITTER: Chen N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7518869 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Biocrust as one of multiple stable states in global drylands.

Chen Ning N Yu Kailiang K Jia Rongliang R Teng Jialing J Zhao Changming C

Science advances 20200925 39

Biocrusts cover ~30% of global drylands with a prominent role in the biogeochemical cycles. Theoretically, biocrusts, vascular plants, and bare soil can represent multiple stable states in drylands. However, no empirical evidence for the existence of a biocrust stable state has been reported. Here, using a global drylands dataset, we found that biocrusts form an alternative stable state (biocrust cover, ~80%; vascular cover, ≤10%) besides bare soil (both biocrust and vascular cover, ≤10%) and va ...[more]

PMID: 32978155

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Project description:1. The environmental filtering hypothesis predicts that the abiotic environment selects species with similar trait values within communities. Testing this hypothesis along multiple - and interacting - gradients of climate and soil variables constitutes a great opportunity to better understand and predict the responses of plant communities to ongoing environmental changes. 2. Based on two key plant traits, maximum plant height and specific leaf area (SLA), we assessed the filtering effects of climate (mean annual temperature and precipitation, precipitation seasonality), soil characteristics (soil pH, sand content and total phosphorus) and all potential interactions on the functional structure and diversity of 124 dryland communities spread over the globe. The functional structure and diversity of dryland communities were quantified using the mean, variance, skewness and kurtosis of plant trait distributions. 3. The models accurately explained the observed variations in functional trait diversity across the 124 communities studied. All models included interactions among factors, i.e. climate - climate (9% of explanatory power), climate - soil (24% of explanatory power) and soil - soil interactions (5% of explanatory power). Precipitation seasonality was the main driver of maximum plant height, and interacted with mean annual temperature and precipitation. Soil pH mediated the filtering effects of climate and sand content on SLA. Our results also revealed that communities characterized by a low variance can also exhibit low kurtosis values, indicating that functionally contrasting species can co-occur even in communities with narrow ranges of trait values. 4. Synthesis We identified the particular set of conditions under which the environmental filtering hypothesis operates in drylands worldwide. Our findings also indicate that species with functionally contrasting strategies can still co-occur locally, even under prevailing environmental filtering. Interactions between sources of environmental stress should be therefore included in global trait-based studies, as this will help to further anticipate where the effects of environmental filtering will impact plant trait diversity under climate change.

Dataset Information

Biocrust as one of multiple stable states in global drylands.

Publications

Biocrust as one of multiple stable states in global drylands.

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