Shifts in the dynamics of productivity signal ecosystem state transitions at the biome-scale

Ecology Letters
Zhongmin HuGui-Rui Yu

Abstract

Understanding ecosystem dynamics and predicting directional changes in ecosystem in response to global changes are ongoing challenges in ecology. Here we present a framework that links productivity dynamics and ecosystem state transitions based on a spatially continuous dataset of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) from the temperate grassland of China. Across a regional precipitation gradient, we quantified spatial patterns in ANPP dynamics (variability, asymmetry and sensitivity to rainfall) and related these to transitions from desert to semi-arid to mesic steppe. We show that these three indices of ANPP dynamics displayed distinct spatial patterns, with peaks signalling transitions between grassland types. Thus, monitoring shifts in ANPP dynamics has the potential for predicting ecosystem state transitions in the future. Current ecosystem models fail to capture these dynamics, highlighting the need to incorporate more nuanced ecological controls of productivity in models to forecast future ecosystem shifts.

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Citations

Jul 6, 2019·Global Change Biology·Kun Huang, Jianyang Xia
Dec 11, 2019·Nature Ecology & Evolution·Tom W N WalkerErik Verbruggen
Jan 31, 2020·Ecology Letters·Andrew GonzalezMichel Loreau
Jun 4, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Yonghui WangWenhong Ma
Mar 20, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Wenjie HuangJunsheng Li
Aug 10, 2021·Journal of Environmental Management·Ye YuanPhilippe De Maeyer

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