Reduced wind speed improves plant growth in a desert city.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The often dramatic effects of urbanization on community and ecosystem properties, such as primary productivity, abundances, and diversity are now well-established. In most cities local primary productivity increases and this extra energy flows upwards to alter diversity and relative abundances in higher trophic levels. The abiotic mechanisms thought to be responsible for increases in urban productivity are altered temperatures and light regimes, and increased nutrient and water inputs. However, another abiotic factor, wind speed, is also influenced by urbanization and well known for altering primary productivity in agricultural systems. Wind effects on primary productivity have heretofore not been studied in the context of urbanization.

Methodology/principal findings<

SUBMITTER: Bang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2883576 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature