Empirically Derived Sensitivity of Vegetation to Climate across Global Gradients of Temperature and Precipitation

Quetin, Gregory R.; Swann, Abigail L. S.

doi:10.1175/jcli-d-16-0829.1

Cited by 34 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…However, greater plant biomass together with higher temperature also leads to greater water consumption in these regions, and a higher PSSM is needed to support vegetation water needs. Similar responses are also found for the temperature and precipitation regulation on interannual variation of NDVI (32). From a physiological perspective, lower soil moisture increases stomatal sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) (33), which is largely dependent on temperature.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

Large and projected strengthening moisture limitation on end-of-season photosynthesis

Zhang

Parazoo

Williams

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Terrestrial photosynthesis is regulated by plant phenology and environmental conditions, both of which experienced substantial changes in recent decades. Unlike early-season photosynthesis, which is mostly driven by temperature or wet-season onset, late-season photosynthesis can be limited by several factors and the underlying mechanisms are less understood. Here, we analyze the temperature and water limitations on the ending date of photosynthesis (EOP), using data from both remote-sensing and flux tower-based measurements. We find a contrasting spatial pattern of temperature and water limitations on EOP. The threshold separating these is determined by the balance between energy availability and soil water supply. This coordinated temperature and moisture regulation can be explained by “law of minimum,” i.e., as temperature limitation diminishes, higher soil water is needed to support increased vegetation activity, especially during the late growing season. Models project future warming and drying, especially during late season, both of which should further expand the water-limited regions, causing large variations and potential decreases in photosynthesis.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

Large and projected strengthening moisture limitation on end-of-season photosynthesis

Zhang

Parazoo

Williams

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…By analysing the effects of weather on the spatial synchrony of juvenile body mass in two ungulate species inhabiting partly different environments, we have documented similar mechanism for spatiotemporal ecological processes. The results suggest that temperature, but not precipitation is most likely to generate ecological patterns with high spatial synchrony, at least in boreal and arctic environments that is not water‐limited (Quetin & Swann, 2017; Seddon et al, 2016). Moreover, juvenile body mass was most strongly related to temperature during spring and early summer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Temperature better explained the dynamics of body mass of moose and reindeer and, as predicted, accounting for temperature resulted in a stronger decrease in synchrony than accounting for precipitation (Figures 4 and 6). This is most likely related to how these variables affect forage quantity and quality in a region where plants rarely are water‐limited (Quetin & Swann, 2017). In our study system, we expected precipitation to be most important during winter, when varying snow conditions affect locomotion and forage availability (Mysterud & Austrheim, 2013; Mysterud, Bjørnsen, & Østbye, 1997; Nordengren, Hofgaard, & Ball, 2003; Tyler, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In summer, both temperature and precipitation are known to affect the quality and quantity of food plants (Nielsen et al, 2012), and, in turn, body growth of moose and reindeer (Bø & Hjeljord, 1991; Herfindal, Sæther, et al, 2006; Seddon, Macias‐Fauria, Long, Benz, & Willis, 2016; Solberg, Loison, Gaillard, & Heim, 2004; Tveraa et al, 2007, 2013). Temperature during the plant growing season seems to be particularly important, probably because plants rarely experience drought in Northern Europe (Quetin & Swann, 2017; Seddon et al, 2016). During warm summers, many ungulates may also experience considerable levels of insect harassment, leading to behavioural trade‐off between foraging and insect avoidance, particularly in reindeer (Colman et al, 2003; Hagemoen & Reimers, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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When does weather synchronize life‐history traits? Spatiotemporal patterns in juvenile body mass of two ungulates

Herfindal

Tveraa

Stien

et al. 2020

Journal of Animal Ecology

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1. Theory predicts that animal populations will be synchronized over large distances by weather and climatic conditions with high spatial synchrony. However, local variation in population responses to weather, and low synchrony in key weather variables or in other ecological processes may reduce the population synchrony. 2.We investigated to what extent temperature and precipitation during different periods of the year synchronized juvenile body mass of moose and reindeer in Norway. We expected high synchronizing effect of weather variables with a high and consistent explanatory power on body mass dynamics across populations, and a weaker synchronizing effect of weather variables whose effect on body mass varied among populations.3. Juvenile body mass in both species was related to temperature and precipitation during several periods of the year. Temperature had the strongest explanatory power in both species, with a similar effect across all populations.4. There was higher spatial synchrony in temperature compared to precipitation, and accordingly temperature had the strongest synchronizing effect on juvenile body mass. Moreover, periods with strong explanatory power had stronger synchronizing effect on juvenile body mass in both species. However, weather variables with large variation in the effects on body mass among populations had weak synchronizing effect. 5.The results confirm that weather has a large impact on the spatial structure of population properties but also that spatial heterogeneity, for instance, in environmental change or population density may affect how and to what extent populations are synchronized. K E Y W O R D S body mass, climate, large herbivore, life-history trait, moose, reindeer, spatial autocorrelation, spatiotemporal dynamics | 1421 Journal of Animal Ecology HERFINDAL Et AL. How to cite this article: Herfindal I, Tveraa T, Stien A, Solberg EJ, Grøtan V. When does weather synchronize life-history traits? Spatiotemporal patterns in juvenile body mass of two ungulates.

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“…Climatic water deficit (CWD), which combines the influences of temperature and precipitation, has been shown to be an important driver of woody plant decline and mortality in drought [94], which is consistent with the results presented here. Quetin and Swann [95] recently investigated the impacts of changing temperature and precipitation on global NDVI. Here, we further focus on how a changing climate will affect vegetation drought sensitivity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying Drought Sensitivity of Mediterranean Climate Vegetation to Recent Warming: A Case Study in Southern California

et al. 2019

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A combination of drought and high temperatures (“global-change-type drought”) is projected to become increasingly common in Mediterranean climate regions. Recently, Southern California has experienced record-breaking high temperatures coupled with significant precipitation deficits, which provides opportunities to investigate the impacts of high temperatures on the drought sensitivity of Mediterranean climate vegetation. Responses of different vegetation types to drought are quantified using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data for the period 2000–2017. The contrasting responses of the vegetation types to drought are captured by the correlation and regression coefficients between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) anomalies and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). A novel bootstrapping regression approach is used to decompose the relationships between the vegetation sensitivity (NDVI–PDSI regression slopes) and the principle climate factors (temperature and precipitation) associated with the drought. Significantly increased sensitivity to drought in warmer locations indicates the important role of temperature in exacerbating vulnerability; however, spatial precipitation variations do not demonstrate significant effects in modulating drought sensitivity. Based on annual NDVI response, chaparral is the most vulnerable community to warming, which will probably be severely affected by hotter droughts in the future. Drought sensitivity of coastal sage scrub (CSS) is also shown to be very responsive to warming in fall and winter. Grassland and developed land will likely be less affected by this warming. The sensitivity of the overall vegetation to temperature increases is particularly concerning, as it is the variable that has had the strongest secular trend in recent decades, which is expected to continue or strengthen in the future. Increased temperatures will probably alter vegetation distribution, as well as possibly increase annual grassland cover, and decrease the extent and ecological services provided by perennial woody Mediterranean climate ecosystems as well.

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Empirically Derived Sensitivity of Vegetation to Climate across Global Gradients of Temperature and Precipitation

Cited by 34 publications

References 66 publications

Large and projected strengthening moisture limitation on end-of-season photosynthesis

Large and projected strengthening moisture limitation on end-of-season photosynthesis

When does weather synchronize life‐history traits? Spatiotemporal patterns in juvenile body mass of two ungulates

Quantifying Drought Sensitivity of Mediterranean Climate Vegetation to Recent Warming: A Case Study in Southern California

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