Comparative drought resistance of temperate grassland species: testing performance trade-offs and the relation to distribution.

ABSTRACT: To improve projections of consequences of increasing intensity and frequency of drought events for grasslands, we need a thorough understanding of species performance responses to drought, of performance trade-offs and how drought resistance is related to species distributions. However, comparative and quantitative assessments of whole-plant drought resistance that allow to rigorously address these aspects are lacking for temperate grassland species. We conducted a common garden experiment with 40 common temperate grassland species to compare species survival and growth under intense drought and well-irrigated conditions. Overall, survival and growth were significantly reduced under drought, with the effect varying across species. Species ranking of drought damage and survival remained con

SUBMITTER: Jung EY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7165153 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature