The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction:Biotically driven vegetation mosaics
Grazing ecosystems ranging from the arctic tundra to tropical savannas are often characterized by small-scale mosaics of herbivore-preferred and herbivore-avoided patches, promoting their biodiversity and resilience. The three leading explanations for bistable patchiness in grazed ecosystems are: i)...
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ftunigroningenpu:oai:pure.rug.nl:publications/9c7f20cd-fd95-46a1-9f32-84a0e513e9f2 2024-06-02T08:02:07+00:00 The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction:Biotically driven vegetation mosaics Howison, Ruth Alison 2016 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/11370/9c7f20cd-fd95-46a1-9f32-84a0e513e9f2 https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/9c7f20cd-fd95-46a1-9f32-84a0e513e9f2 https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847841/Title_and_contents.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847843/Chapter_1.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847845/Chapter_2.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847847/Chapter_3.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847849/Chapter_4.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847851/Chapter_5.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847853/Chapter_6.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847855/Chapter_7.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847857/References.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847859/Summary_Samenvatting.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847861/Acknowledgements.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847863/List_of_co_authors.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847865/Curriculum_Vitae.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847867/Complete_thesis.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847869/Propositions.pdf eng eng University of Groningen https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/9c7f20cd-fd95-46a1-9f32-84a0e513e9f2 urn:ISBN:9789036784368 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Howison , R A 2016 , ' The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction : Biotically driven vegetation mosaics ' , Doctor of Philosophy , University of Groningen , [Groningen] . book 2016 ftunigroningenpu 2024-05-07T19:45:21Z Grazing ecosystems ranging from the arctic tundra to tropical savannas are often characterized by small-scale mosaics of herbivore-preferred and herbivore-avoided patches, promoting their biodiversity and resilience. The three leading explanations for bistable patchiness in grazed ecosystems are: i) herbivore-driven nutrient cycling, ii) plant growth-water infiltration feedback under aridity, and iii) irreversible local herbivore-induced abiotic stress (topsoil erosion, salinity). However, these insufficiently explain the high temporal patch dynamics and wide-ranging distribution of grazing mosaics across productive habitats. Here we propose and experimentally test a fourth possibility where alternating patches are governed by the interplay of two important biotic processes: bioturbation by soil fauna that locally ameliorates soil conditions, promoting tall plant communities, alternating with biocompaction by large herbivores that locally impairs soil conditions, and promotes lawn communities. This study provides novel and important insights into the mechanisms whereby the aggregation and activities of organisms promote their own resources. Book Arctic Tundra University of Groningen research database Arctic |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Groningen research database |
op_collection_id |
ftunigroningenpu |
language |
English |
description |
Grazing ecosystems ranging from the arctic tundra to tropical savannas are often characterized by small-scale mosaics of herbivore-preferred and herbivore-avoided patches, promoting their biodiversity and resilience. The three leading explanations for bistable patchiness in grazed ecosystems are: i) herbivore-driven nutrient cycling, ii) plant growth-water infiltration feedback under aridity, and iii) irreversible local herbivore-induced abiotic stress (topsoil erosion, salinity). However, these insufficiently explain the high temporal patch dynamics and wide-ranging distribution of grazing mosaics across productive habitats. Here we propose and experimentally test a fourth possibility where alternating patches are governed by the interplay of two important biotic processes: bioturbation by soil fauna that locally ameliorates soil conditions, promoting tall plant communities, alternating with biocompaction by large herbivores that locally impairs soil conditions, and promotes lawn communities. This study provides novel and important insights into the mechanisms whereby the aggregation and activities of organisms promote their own resources. |
format |
Book |
author |
Howison, Ruth Alison |
spellingShingle |
Howison, Ruth Alison The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction:Biotically driven vegetation mosaics |
author_facet |
Howison, Ruth Alison |
author_sort |
Howison, Ruth Alison |
title |
The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction:Biotically driven vegetation mosaics |
title_short |
The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction:Biotically driven vegetation mosaics |
title_full |
The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction:Biotically driven vegetation mosaics |
title_fullStr |
The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction:Biotically driven vegetation mosaics |
title_full_unstemmed |
The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction:Biotically driven vegetation mosaics |
title_sort |
battle between bioturbation and biocompaction:biotically driven vegetation mosaics |
publisher |
University of Groningen |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/11370/9c7f20cd-fd95-46a1-9f32-84a0e513e9f2 https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/9c7f20cd-fd95-46a1-9f32-84a0e513e9f2 https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847841/Title_and_contents.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847843/Chapter_1.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847845/Chapter_2.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847847/Chapter_3.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847849/Chapter_4.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847851/Chapter_5.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847853/Chapter_6.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847855/Chapter_7.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847857/References.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847859/Summary_Samenvatting.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847861/Acknowledgements.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847863/List_of_co_authors.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847865/Curriculum_Vitae.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847867/Complete_thesis.pdf https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/26847869/Propositions.pdf |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic Tundra |
op_source |
Howison , R A 2016 , ' The battle between bioturbation and biocompaction : Biotically driven vegetation mosaics ' , Doctor of Philosophy , University of Groningen , [Groningen] . |
op_relation |
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/9c7f20cd-fd95-46a1-9f32-84a0e513e9f2 urn:ISBN:9789036784368 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
_version_ |
1800746611021709312 |