Effects of simulated daily precipitation patterns on annual plant populations depend on life stage and climatic region.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To improve the understanding of consequences of climate change for annual plant communities, I used a detailed, grid-based model that simulates the effect of daily rainfall variability on individual plants in five climatic regions on a gradient from 100 to 800 mm mean annual precipitation (MAP). The model explicitly considers moisture storage in the soil. I manipulated daily rainfall variability by changing the daily mean rain (DMR, rain volume on rainy days averaged across years for each day of the year) by +/- 20%. At the same time I adjusted intervals appropriately between rainy days for keeping the mean annual volume constant. In factorial combination with changing DMR I also changed MAP by +/- 20%.

Results

Increasing MAP generally increased water availability

SUBMITTER: Kochy M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2359731 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature