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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182778
Title: MODELING THE UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF ARID ECOSYSTEMS: LESSONS FROM THE JORNADA BASIN

Author
item REYNOLDS, JAMES - DUKE UNIV
item KEMP, PAUL - SAN DIEGO UNIV
item OGLE, KIONA - PRINCETON UNIV
item FERNANDEZ, ROBERTO - DUKE UNIV
item GAO, QIONG - BEIJING NORMAL UNIV
item WU, JIANGUO - ARIZONA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2005
Publication Date: 7/1/2006
Citation: Reynolds, J.F., Kemp, P.R., Ogle, K., Fernandez, R.J. Gao, Q., Wu, J. 2006. Modeling the unique attributes of arid ecosystems: lessons from the Jornada basin. In: Havstad, K.M., Huenneke, L.F., Schlesinger, W.H., editors. Structure and Function of a Chihuahuan Desert Ecosystem. The Jornada Basin Long-Term Ecological Research Site. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 321-353.

Interpretive Summary: No interpretive summary required.

Technical Abstract: The Jornada Basin is typical of aridland ecosystems of the southwestern United States and many other regions of the globe: it is water-limited with low annual net primary production (ANPP) and low-standing crop (Szarek 1979; Ludwig 1987). Yet, paradoxically, aridland ecosystems are structurally and functionally quite complex, exhibiting a remarkable range of species compositions and system behaviors. This can be attributed, in part, to the presence of complex topography and landscape physiography which, when combined with extreme variability in precipitation, produces striking spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the availability of essential limiting resources such as water and mineral nutrients.