Productivity response characteristics of different grasslands to flash drought and their relationship with drought tolerance

Flash droughts have attracted worldwide attention because of their rapid outbreak and extensive influence. However, studies regarding the characteristics and effects of flash droughts in grassland ecosystems are insufficient. In this study, the frequency and intensity characteristics of flash drough...

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Main Authors: Xiaoxu Liu, Xiaomin Liu, Miao Yu, Haiyang Zhao, Zhongyuan Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-02-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24002188
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author Xiaoxu Liu
Xiaomin Liu
Miao Yu
Haiyang Zhao
Zhongyuan Zhu
author_facet Xiaoxu Liu
Xiaomin Liu
Miao Yu
Haiyang Zhao
Zhongyuan Zhu
author_sort Xiaoxu Liu
collection DOAJ
description Flash droughts have attracted worldwide attention because of their rapid outbreak and extensive influence. However, studies regarding the characteristics and effects of flash droughts in grassland ecosystems are insufficient. In this study, the frequency and intensity characteristics of flash droughts in the Xilinguole Grassland in China were studied. The response characteristics of the productivity of different types of grassland to flash droughts and the relationship between these characteristics and the drought tolerance of grassland were revealed. The results show that (1) flash droughts had the greatest impact on grassland net primary productivity (NPP) and rain use efficiency (RUE) in summer and spring, respectively, with a level of intensity above that of moderate drought. Strong evapotranspiration flash droughts (SEFD) require more attention from decision-makers than heat wave flash droughts (HWFD). A higher frequency and intensity of flash droughts had a greater impact on vegetation. (2) Flash droughts caused moderate negative anomalies in the NPP and RUE indices in more than 90 % of the grasslands. The longest lag time of the NPP response to flash droughts was 2 months, and NPP anomalies were affected by flash droughts for nearly 2 months. RUE was more sensitive to flash droughts than NPP. RUE responded to flash droughts within 10 days, with a decrease of more than 80 % in magnitude, which was 30 % higher than that of the NPP, and the duration of the anomaly was half that of the NPP. (3) Grasslands with a high sensitivity to flash droughts had shorter response durations, fewer abnormalities, better recovery abilities and better drought tolerance. The drought tolerance of grasslands did not increase in association with large NPP and RUE values. Desert grasslands were the most drought tolerant, while meadow grasslands were the least drought tolerant, with the highest risk of flash droughts. This study provides theoretical support for improving the ability of an ecosystem to cope with flash drought risk and scientific grassland management.
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spelling doaj.art-29b94f53f0494910a81ba0a2cf59a9022024-02-25T04:35:28ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2024-02-01159111761Productivity response characteristics of different grasslands to flash drought and their relationship with drought toleranceXiaoxu Liu0Xiaomin Liu1Miao Yu2Haiyang Zhao3Zhongyuan Zhu4Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018 Hohhot, ChinaWater Conservancy and Civil Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018 Hohhot, China; Autonomous Region Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrated Management of Water Resources and Water Environment in the Inner Mongolia Reaches of the Yellow River, Hohhot 010018, China; Corresponding author at: Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018 Hohhot, China.Inner Mongolia Water Industry Investment Group Co., LTD, 010020 Hohhot, ChinaInner Mongolia Water Industry Investment Group Co., LTD, 010020 Hohhot, ChinaWater Conservancy and Civil Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 010018 Hohhot, ChinaFlash droughts have attracted worldwide attention because of their rapid outbreak and extensive influence. However, studies regarding the characteristics and effects of flash droughts in grassland ecosystems are insufficient. In this study, the frequency and intensity characteristics of flash droughts in the Xilinguole Grassland in China were studied. The response characteristics of the productivity of different types of grassland to flash droughts and the relationship between these characteristics and the drought tolerance of grassland were revealed. The results show that (1) flash droughts had the greatest impact on grassland net primary productivity (NPP) and rain use efficiency (RUE) in summer and spring, respectively, with a level of intensity above that of moderate drought. Strong evapotranspiration flash droughts (SEFD) require more attention from decision-makers than heat wave flash droughts (HWFD). A higher frequency and intensity of flash droughts had a greater impact on vegetation. (2) Flash droughts caused moderate negative anomalies in the NPP and RUE indices in more than 90 % of the grasslands. The longest lag time of the NPP response to flash droughts was 2 months, and NPP anomalies were affected by flash droughts for nearly 2 months. RUE was more sensitive to flash droughts than NPP. RUE responded to flash droughts within 10 days, with a decrease of more than 80 % in magnitude, which was 30 % higher than that of the NPP, and the duration of the anomaly was half that of the NPP. (3) Grasslands with a high sensitivity to flash droughts had shorter response durations, fewer abnormalities, better recovery abilities and better drought tolerance. The drought tolerance of grasslands did not increase in association with large NPP and RUE values. Desert grasslands were the most drought tolerant, while meadow grasslands were the least drought tolerant, with the highest risk of flash droughts. This study provides theoretical support for improving the ability of an ecosystem to cope with flash drought risk and scientific grassland management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24002188Grassland ecosystemFlash droughtNet primary productivityRain use efficiencySensitivityDrought tolerance
spellingShingle Xiaoxu Liu
Xiaomin Liu
Miao Yu
Haiyang Zhao
Zhongyuan Zhu
Productivity response characteristics of different grasslands to flash drought and their relationship with drought tolerance
Ecological Indicators
Grassland ecosystem
Flash drought
Net primary productivity
Rain use efficiency
Sensitivity
Drought tolerance
title Productivity response characteristics of different grasslands to flash drought and their relationship with drought tolerance
title_full Productivity response characteristics of different grasslands to flash drought and their relationship with drought tolerance
title_fullStr Productivity response characteristics of different grasslands to flash drought and their relationship with drought tolerance
title_full_unstemmed Productivity response characteristics of different grasslands to flash drought and their relationship with drought tolerance
title_short Productivity response characteristics of different grasslands to flash drought and their relationship with drought tolerance
title_sort productivity response characteristics of different grasslands to flash drought and their relationship with drought tolerance
topic Grassland ecosystem
Flash drought
Net primary productivity
Rain use efficiency
Sensitivity
Drought tolerance
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24002188
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