2024-03-28T18:15:03Zhttp://digital.csic.es/dspace-oai/requestoai:digital.csic.es:10261/1486822021-12-28T15:50:33Zcom_10261_15com_10261_6col_10261_268
Experimental evidence for drought induced alternative stable states of soil moisture
Robinson, David
Jones, Scott B.
Lebron; Inma
Reinsch, Sabine
Domínguez, María Teresa
Smith, Andrew
Jones, Davey L.
Marshall, Milles
Emmett, B. A.
European Commission
6 páginas.-- 3 figuras.-- 27 referencias.-- Supplementary information in doi: 10.1038/srep20018
Ecosystems may exhibit alternative stable states (ASS) in response to environmental change. Modelling and observational data broadly support the theory of ASS, however evidence from manipulation experiments supporting this theory is limited. Here, we provide long-term manipulation and observation data supporting the existence of drought induced alternative stable soil moisture states (irreversible soil wetting) in upland Atlantic heath, dominated by Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. Manipulated repeated moderate summer drought, and intense natural summer drought both lowered resilience resulting in shifts in soil moisture dynamics. The repeated moderate summer drought decreased winter soil moisture retention by ~10%. However, intense summer drought, superimposed on the experiment, that began in 2003 and peaked in 2005 caused an unexpected erosion of resilience and a shift to an ASS; both for the experimental drought manipulation and control plots, impairing the soil from rewetting in winter. Measurements outside plots, with vegetation removal, showed no evidence of moisture shifts. Further independent evidence supports our findings from historical soil moisture monitoring at a long-term upland hydrological observatory. The results herald the need for a new paradigm regarding our understanding of soil structure, hydraulics and climate interaction.
We thank all the CEH staff members who have contributed to the experiment establishment and maintenance over the years, especially Alwyn Sowerby and Susie Van Baarseel who collected the root data. This research was funded by the EU projects CLIMOOR, VULCAN and INCREASE FP7-INFRASTRUCTURE-2008-1 (Grant Agreement no. 227628).
Peer reviewed
2017-04-21T10:36:28Z
2017-04-21T10:36:28Z
2016-01-25
artículo
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Scientific Reports (6) 20018. (2016)
http://hdl.handle.net/10261/148682
10.1038/srep20018
2045-2322
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780
26804897
en
#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/227628
Publisher's version
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep20018
Sí
open
Nature Publishing Group