Vegetation–Microclimate Feedbacks in Woodland–Grassland Ecotones
Global Ecology and Biogeography, (Global Ecol. Biogeogr.) (2013) 22, 364–379 bs_bs_banner RESEARCH Vegetation–microclimate feedbacks in REVIEW woodland–grassland ecotones Paolo D’Odorico1*, Yufei He1, Scott Collins2, Stephan F. J. De Wekker1, Vic Engel3,4 and Jose D. Fuentes5 1Department of Environmental Sciences, ABSTRACT University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Aim Climatic conditions exert a strong control on the geographic distribution of USA, 2Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, 3South many woodland-to-grassland transition zones (or ‘tree lines’). Because woody Florida Natural Resource Center, Everglades plants have, in general, a weaker cold tolerance than herbaceous vegetation, their National Park, Homestead, FL, USA, 4USGS, altitudinal or latitudinal limits are strongly controlled by cold sensitivity. While Southeast Ecological Science Center, temperature controls on the dynamics of woodland–grassland ecotones are rela- Gainesville, FL, USA, 5Department of tively well established, the ability of woody plants to modify their microclimate and Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State to create habitat for seedling establishment and growth may involve a variety of University, University Park, PA, USA processes that are still not completely understood. Here we investigate feedbacks between vegetation and microclimatic conditions in the proximity to woodland– grassland ecotones. Location We concentrate on arctic and alpine tree lines, the transition between mangrove forests and salt marshes in coastal ecosystems, and the shift from shrub- land to grassland along temperature gradients in arid landscapes. Methods We review the major abiotic and biotic mechanisms underlying the ability of woody plants to alter the nocturnal microclimate by increasing the tem- peratures they are exposed to.
[Show full text]