Vegetation and climate characteristics of arid and semi-arid grasslands in North America and their biome transition zone

Authors: Hochstrasser T.¹; Kröel-Dulay G.²; Peters D.P.C.³; Gosz J.R.⁴

Source: Journal of Arid Environments, Volume 51, Number 1, May 2002 , pp. 55-78(24)

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Abstract:

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship among species richness, functional group composition, and climate for three sites representing the shortgrass steppe, the Chihuahuan desert grasslands and their biome transition zone. We found that perennial species richness increased as the climate became more favorable for plant growth. The biome transition zone was more similar to the Chihuahuan desert grassland site in most climate and vegetation characteristics, partly because of the shorter biogeographic distance between the two sites. This study clarified the ecological position of the biome transition zone site with respect to the adjacent biomes. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Keywords: annuals; Chihuahuan desert grasslands; ecotone; perennials; regional analysis; shortgrass steppe; species area curve

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, and Department of Rangeland Ecosystem Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1499, U.S.A. 2: Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Vácrátot, H-2163, Hungary 3: United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, NMSU, Las Cruces, NM, MSC 3JER, U.S.A. 4: Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, U.S.A.

Publication date: 2002-05-01