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Convergence across biomes to a common rain-use efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Travis E. Huxman

    (University of Arizona)

  • Melinda D. Smith

    (National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
    Yale University)

  • Philip A. Fay

    (Natural Resources Research Institute)

  • Alan K. Knapp

    (Colorado State University)

  • M. Rebecca Shaw

    (Carnegie Institution of Washington)

  • Michael E. Loik

    (University of California)

  • Stanley D. Smith

    (University of Nevada)

  • David T. Tissue

    (Texas Tech University)

  • John C. Zak

    (Texas Tech University)

  • Jake F. Weltzin

    (University of Tennessee)

  • William T. Pockman

    (University of New Mexico)

  • Osvaldo E. Sala

    (University of Buenos Aires)

  • Brent M. Haddad

    (University of California)

  • John Harte

    (University of California)

  • George W. Koch

    (Northern Arizona University)

  • Susan Schwinning

    (Biosphere 2 Center, Columbia University)

  • Eric E. Small

    (University of Colorado)

  • David G. Williams

    (University of Wyoming)

Abstract

Water availability limits plant growth and production in almost all terrestrial ecosystems1,2,3,4,5. However, biomes differ substantially in sensitivity of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) to between-year variation in precipitation6,7,8. Average rain-use efficiency (RUE; ANPP/precipitation) also varies between biomes, supposedly because of differences in vegetation structure and/or biogeochemical constraints8. Here we show that RUE decreases across biomes as mean annual precipitation increases. However, during the driest years at each site, there is convergence to a common maximum RUE (RUEmax) that is typical of arid ecosystems. RUEmax was also identified by experimentally altering the degree of limitation by water and other resources. Thus, in years when water is most limiting, deserts, grasslands and forests all exhibit the same rate of biomass production per unit rainfall, despite differences in physiognomy and site-level RUE. Global climate models9,10 predict increased between-year variability in precipitation, more frequent extreme drought events, and changes in temperature. Forecasts of future ecosystem behaviour should take into account this convergent feature of terrestrial biomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Travis E. Huxman & Melinda D. Smith & Philip A. Fay & Alan K. Knapp & M. Rebecca Shaw & Michael E. Loik & Stanley D. Smith & David T. Tissue & John C. Zak & Jake F. Weltzin & William T. Pockman & Osva, 2004. "Convergence across biomes to a common rain-use efficiency," Nature, Nature, vol. 429(6992), pages 651-654, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:429:y:2004:i:6992:d:10.1038_nature02561
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02561
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiumei Wang & Jianjun Dong & Taogetao Baoyin & Yuhai Bao, 2019. "Estimation and Climate Factor Contribution of Aboveground Biomass in Inner Mongolia’s Typical/Desert Steppes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Shijie Zhou & Yiqiang Dong & Asitaiken Julihaiti & Tingting Nie & Anjing Jiang & Shazhou An, 2022. "Spatial Variation in Desert Spring Vegetation Biomass, Richness and Their Environmental Controls in the Arid Region of Central Asia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Zhiqiang Wang & Heng Huang & Han Wang & Josep Peñuelas & Jordi Sardans & Ülo Niinemets & Karl J. Niklas & Yan Li & Jiangbo Xie & Ian J. Wright, 2022. "Leaf water content contributes to global leaf trait relationships," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Emma Sumner & Susanna Venn, 2021. "Plant Responses to Changing Water Supply and Availability in High Elevation Ecosystems: A Quantitative Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-17, October.
    5. Sileshi, Gudeta W. & Akinnifesi, Festus K. & Ajayi, Oluyede C. & Muys, Bart, 2011. "Integration of legume trees in maize-based cropping systems improves rain use efficiency and yield stability under rain-fed agriculture," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(9), pages 1364-1372, July.
    6. Jia, Binghao & Wang, Yuanyuan & Xie, Zhenghui, 2018. "Responses of the terrestrial carbon cycle to drought over China: Modeling sensitivities of the interactive nitrogen and dynamic vegetation," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 368(C), pages 52-68.
    7. Fang Huang & Shuangling Xu, 2016. "Spatio-Temporal Variations of Rain-Use Efficiency in the West of Songliao Plain, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Rakefet Shafran-Nathan & Tal Svoray & Avi Perevolotsky, 2013. "The resilience of annual vegetation primary production subjected to different climate change scenarios," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 118(2), pages 227-243, May.
    9. M. E. Gilbert & N. M. Holbrook, 2011. "Limitations to crop diversification for enhancing the resilience of rain-fed subsistence agriculture to drought," CID Working Papers 228, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    10. Zhao, Tianxing & Zhu, Yan & Ye, Ming & Yang, Jinzhong & Jia, Biao & Mao, Wei & Wu, Jingwei, 2022. "A new approach for estimating spatial-temporal phreatic evapotranspiration at a regional scale using NDVI and water table depth measurements," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    11. Shulin Chen & Zhenghao Zhu & Xiaotong Liu & Li Yang, 2022. "Variation in Vegetation and Its Driving Force in the Pearl River Delta Region of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    12. Taofeek O. Muraina, 2020. "Frameworks on Patterns of Grasslands’ Sensitivity to Forecast Extreme Drought," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-13, September.
    13. Pirzad, Alireza & Mohammadzadeh, Sevil, 2018. "Water use efficiency of three mycorrhizal Lamiaceae species (Lavandula officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus vulgaris)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 1-10.
    14. Yao Zhang & Pierre Gentine & Xiangzhong Luo & Xu Lian & Yanlan Liu & Sha Zhou & Anna M. Michalak & Wu Sun & Joshua B. Fisher & Shilong Piao & Trevor F. Keenan, 2022. "Increasing sensitivity of dryland vegetation greenness to precipitation due to rising atmospheric CO2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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