Plant Productivity and Community Response to Supplemental Precipitation in Sotol Grasslands of Big Bend National Park, Texas
Robertson TR. 2006. Plant Productivity and Community Response to Supplemental Precipitation in Sotol Grasslands of Big Bend National Park, Texas
For three years (2002-2004), precipitation was altered and plant growth and ANPP measurements focused on the three dominant species: Dasylirion leiophyllum; Bouteloua curtipendula; Opuntia phaeacantha. Study investigated how overall increases in seasonal precipitation due to global climate change may affect the plant growth, ANPP, species richness, and plant density of a Sotol Grassland ecosystem in Big Bend NP. Dasylirion leiophyllum did show increased growth with increasing precipitation but no response to supplemental water treatment. Both Bouteloua curtipendula in 2002 and Opuntia phaeacantha in 2003 showed increased growth to supplemental water treatment but only for one year. Total species richness and total plant density increased significantly with increasing precipitation but there was no response to supplemental water treatments.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Robertson, Traesha
- Date of Issue
- 2006-12
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Climate Change, Plant Studies, Soil Science, thesis, Vascular Plants, Watershed Management
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Grassland/Herbaceous Communities