Has water limited our imagination for aridland biogeochemistry
The classic ecological paradigm for deserts, that all processes are controlled by water availability, has limited our imagination for exploring other controls on the cycling of carbon and nutrients in aridland ecosystems. This review of recent studies identifies alternative mechanisms that challenge...
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| Formato: | Artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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| Acceso en línea: | http://ri.agro.uba.ar/files/intranet/articulo/2011Austin.pdf LINK AL EDITOR. |
| Aporte de: | Registro referencial: Solicitar el recurso aquí |
| Sumario: | The classic ecological paradigm for deserts, that all processes are controlled by water availability, has limited our imagination for exploring other controls on the cycling of carbon and nutrients in aridland ecosystems. This review of recent studies identifies alternative mechanisms that challenge the idea that all soil processes in aridlands are proximately water-limited, and highlights the significance of photodegradation of aboveground litter and the overriding importance of spatial heterogeneity as a modulator of biotic responses to water availability. Aridlands currently occupy greater than 30 percent of the terrestrial land surface and are expanding. It is therefore critical to incorporate these previously unappreciated mechanisms in our understanding of aridland biogeochemistry to mitigate the effects of desertification and global change. |
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| ISSN: | 0169-5347 |