The Groot Effect: Plant facilitation and desert shrub regrowth following extensive damage.

ABSTRACT: Deserts are increasing in extent globally, but existing deserts are decreasing in health. The basic biology and ecology of foundation plant species in deserts are limited. This is a direct study that provides an estimate of the capacity for a locally dominant foundation shrub species in California to recover from damage. Desert shrubs are cleared and damaged by humans for many purposes including agriculture, oil and gas production, and sustainable energy developments; we need to know whether foundation species consistently facilitate the abundance and diversity of other plants in high-stress ecosystems and whether they can recover. A total of 20 Ephedra californica shrubs were clipped to the ground at a single site and systematically resampled for regrowth 2 years later. These shrub

SUBMITTER: Lortie CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5756850 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature