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Research Project: MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR ARID RANGELANDS

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Long-term trends in production, abundance, and richness of plants and animals

Authors
item Peters, Debra
item Laney, Christine -
item Lugo, Ariel -
item Collins, Scott -
item Driscoll, Charles -
item Groffman, Peter -
item Grove, J. Morgan -
item Knapp, Alan -
item Kratz, Timothy -
item Ohman, Mark -

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: October 15, 2011
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This chapter first describes common methods for measuring responses of plants and animals and the rationale for the selection of variables included in this book. It then shows graphs of biotic data through time for each site arrayed across the continent. Net primary production, plant biomass and species richness, animal abundance and species richness are selected. Figure of site-scale data through time of each variable is shown, and a regression line is shown if the relationship is significant and the trend appears linear. The site graphs are shown on a continental map with similar sites to allow comparison among sites. At many sites, multiple locations are sampled for plant and animal dynamics. The large within-site variability in responses often overwhelms trends through time. Although plant response variables of ANPP, richness, and biomass are sampled for most sites to allow cross-site comparisons, animal response variables are more variable among sites with fewer comparable groups. These results indicate that each site selects representative trophic groups from the local ecosystems, instead of attempting to standardize across sites. The length of the time series also varies across sites which further complicates cross-site comparisons.

Technical Abstract: This chapter shows long-term data and trends in production, abundance, and richness of plants and animals for each site. It contains a brief introduction to the topic, and methods of measurements, selection of variables, and their data source. It consists primarily of a large number of figures showing long-term data for different variables. Net primary production, plant biomass and species richness, animal abundance and species richness are selected. Figure of site-scale data through time of each variable is shown, and a regression line is shown if the relationship is significant and the trend appears linear. The site graphs are shown on a continental map with similar sites to allow comparison among sites. At many sites, multiple locations are sampled for plant and animal dynamics. The large within-site variability in responses often overwhelms trends through time. Although plant response variables of ANPP, richness, and biomass are sampled for most sites to allow cross-site comparisons, animal response variables are more variable among sites with fewer comparable groups. These results indicate that each site selects representative trophic groups from the local ecosystems, instead of attempting to standardize across sites. The length of the time series also varies across sites which further complicates cross-site comparisons.

   

 
Project Team
Estell, Richard - Rick
Lucero, Mary
Peters, Debra - Deb
Havstad, Kris
Rango, Albert - Al
Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff
Anderson, Dean
Bestelmeyer, Brandon
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Pasture, Forage and Rangeland Systems (215)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/25/2013
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