Abstract
Models predict that global warming may increase aridity in water-limited ecosystems by accelerating evapotranspiration. We show that interactions between warming and the dominant biota in a grassland ecosystem produced the reverse effect. In a 2-year field experiment, simulated warming increased spring soil moisture by 5-10% under both ambient and elevated CO2. Warming also accelerated the decline of canopy greenness (normalized difference vegetation index) each spring by 11-17% by inducing earlier plant senescence. Lower transpirational water losses resulting from this earlier senescence provide a mechanism for the unexpected rise in soil moisture. Our findings illustrate the potential for organism-environment interactions to modify the direction as well as the magnitude of global change effects on ecosystem functioning.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 9892-9893 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Volume | 100 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 19 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General
- Genetics
Cite this
Plants reverse warming effect on ecosystem water balance. / Zavaleta, Erika S.; Thomas, Brian D.; Chiariello, Nona R.; Asner, Gregory P.; Shaw, M. Rebecca; Field, Christopher B.
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 100, No. 17, 19.08.2003, p. 9892-9893.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Plants reverse warming effect on ecosystem water balance
AU - Zavaleta, Erika S.
AU - Thomas, Brian D.
AU - Chiariello, Nona R.
AU - Asner, Gregory P.
AU - Shaw, M. Rebecca
AU - Field, Christopher B.
PY - 2003/8/19
Y1 - 2003/8/19
N2 - Models predict that global warming may increase aridity in water-limited ecosystems by accelerating evapotranspiration. We show that interactions between warming and the dominant biota in a grassland ecosystem produced the reverse effect. In a 2-year field experiment, simulated warming increased spring soil moisture by 5-10% under both ambient and elevated CO2. Warming also accelerated the decline of canopy greenness (normalized difference vegetation index) each spring by 11-17% by inducing earlier plant senescence. Lower transpirational water losses resulting from this earlier senescence provide a mechanism for the unexpected rise in soil moisture. Our findings illustrate the potential for organism-environment interactions to modify the direction as well as the magnitude of global change effects on ecosystem functioning.
AB - Models predict that global warming may increase aridity in water-limited ecosystems by accelerating evapotranspiration. We show that interactions between warming and the dominant biota in a grassland ecosystem produced the reverse effect. In a 2-year field experiment, simulated warming increased spring soil moisture by 5-10% under both ambient and elevated CO2. Warming also accelerated the decline of canopy greenness (normalized difference vegetation index) each spring by 11-17% by inducing earlier plant senescence. Lower transpirational water losses resulting from this earlier senescence provide a mechanism for the unexpected rise in soil moisture. Our findings illustrate the potential for organism-environment interactions to modify the direction as well as the magnitude of global change effects on ecosystem functioning.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0043193965&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0043193965&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1732012100
DO - 10.1073/pnas.1732012100
M3 - Article
C2 - 12907704
AN - SCOPUS:0043193965
VL - 100
SP - 9892
EP - 9893
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 17
ER -