Equids engineer desert water availability

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 372 (6541) ◽  
pp. 491-495
Author(s):  
Erick J. Lundgren ◽  
Daniel Ramp ◽  
Juliet C. Stromberg ◽  
Jianguo Wu ◽  
Nathan C. Nieto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Ecosystem Engineering ◽  
Flood Disturbance ◽  
Riparian Trees ◽  
Dryland Ecosystems ◽  
Density Of Water

Megafauna play important roles in the biosphere, yet little is known about how they shape dryland ecosystems. We report on an overlooked form of ecosystem engineering by donkeys and horses. In the deserts of North America, digging of ≤2-meter wells to groundwater by feral equids increased the density of water features, reduced distances between waters, and, at times, provided the only water present. Vertebrate richness and activity were higher at equid wells than at adjacent dry sites, and, by mimicking flood disturbance, equid wells became nurseries for riparian trees. Our results suggest that equids, even those that are introduced or feral, are able to buffer water availability, which may increase resilience to ongoing human-caused aridification.

scholarly journals Ecological Factors Preventing Restoration of Degraded Short Tussock Landscapes in New Zealand’s Dryland Zone

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna P. Rodrigues ◽  
Elena Moltchanova ◽  
David A. Norton ◽  
Matthew Turnbull
Keyword(s):  
Water Availability ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Biotic Factors ◽  
Introduced Herbivores ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Native Woody Species ◽  
Dryland Ecosystems ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Chemical Conditions

AbstractBiotic factors such as the presence of invasive animal and/or plant species are well known as major causes of ecological degradation and as limiting either natural or assisted (human-induced) ecological restoration. However, abiotic aspects of the landscape, such as water availability and soil physical/chemical conditions can also potentially limit restoration and should be considered. Dryland ecosystems are amongst the world’s most threatened and least protected. New Zealand’s drylands have been drastically changed, initially through burning, agricultural and grazing practices and the impacts of introduced herbivores and plants. This research aimed at identifying some of the key environmental factors preventing the reestablishment of native woody species in a New Zealand dryland ecosystem. The experiments involved a combination of shading, irrigation and grazing exclusion. The results showed that supplemental water was not beneficial for the survival and growth of the native seedlings, unless combined with shade. Fencing proved important for establishment, even though the species used are regarded in the literature as unpalatable to herbivores. The results indicated that the presence of shade was fundamental for the establishment and growth of the native seedlings likely due to improvements in the microclimate, soil aeration, and water availability to seedlings.

Preliminary findings from Lake sediment studies of changing water availability in Western North America during the Holocene

2015 ◽  
Vol 387 ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Mark B. Abbott ◽  
Byron A. Steinman ◽  
Michael E. Mann ◽  
Lesleigh Anderson ◽  
Joseph D. Ortiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Lake Sediment ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Western North America ◽  
The Holocene

scholarly journals Terrestrial carbon balance in a drier world: the effects of water availability in southwestern North America

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 1867-1879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel A. Biederman ◽  
Russell L. Scott ◽  
Michael L. Goulden ◽  
Rodrigo Vargas ◽  
Marcy E. Litvak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Carbon Balance ◽  
Terrestrial Carbon

scholarly journals Enhanced North American carbon uptake associated with El Niño

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. eaaw0076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Hu ◽  
Arlyn E. Andrews ◽  
Kirk W. Thoning ◽  
Colm Sweeney ◽  
John B. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
North American ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Surface Air Temperature ◽  
Net Ecosystem Exchange ◽  
Carbon Uptake ◽  
Annual Nee

Long-term atmospheric CO2mole fraction and δ13CO2observations over North America document persistent responses to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. We estimate these responses corresponded to 0.61 (0.45 to 0.79) PgC year−1more North American carbon uptake during El Niño than during La Niña between 2007 and 2015, partially offsetting increases of net tropical biosphere-to-atmosphere carbon flux around El Niño. Anomalies in derived North American net ecosystem exchange (NEE) display strong but opposite correlations with surface air temperature between seasons, while their correlation with water availability was more constant throughout the year, such that water availability is the dominant control on annual NEE variability over North America. These results suggest that increased water availability and favorable temperature conditions (warmer spring and cooler summer) caused enhanced carbon uptake over North America near and during El Niño.

scholarly journals Shifting species interactions in terrestrial dryland ecosystems under altered water availability and climate change

2011 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 563-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin E. McCluney ◽  
Jayne Belnap ◽  
Scott L. Collins ◽  
Angélica L. González ◽  
Elizabeth M. Hagen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Dryland Ecosystems

scholarly journals A review of the ecological effects of European Common Reed (Phragmites australis) on fishes and fish habitat in North America

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emillie Elizabeth Rose
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Phragmites Australis ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Common Reed ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Wetland Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Native Fishes

The invasive European Common Reed (Phragmites australis), first established in North America in the early 1900’s, is now a dominant emergent aquatic plant in many coastal and inland wetlands. A review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the extent of ecological impacts on fishes and their habitat, such as changes in the composition and abundance of native fishes and wetland plants, and alterations to water availability and substrate. The review indicated that a reduction in the abundance of native fishes was common (54.54% of studies), as were impacts to fish habitat (e.g., 54.54% of studies documented a change in wetland plant composition). Many studies were conducted in the eastern and northern United States, which showed that the abundance of juvenile and larval fishes was significantly lower in marshes dominated by P. australis, relative to those dominated by native plant species (Spartina alterniflora); however, changes to wetland plant abundance and composition, water availability, water temperature, nutrient cycling, substrate, reproduction and spawning, genetics of native fishes, and general food web effects were also observed. These results indicate that P. australis poses numerous ecological impacts to the structure and function of wetland habitats, with implications for the ongoing productivity of aquatic ecosystems. 

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