Climate change and rangelands: Responding rationally to uncertainty

TitleClimate change and rangelands: Responding rationally to uncertainty
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsBrown JR, Thorpe J.
JournalRangelands
Volume30
Pagination3-6
Date PublishedJune 30, 2008
ARIS Log Number228673
Keywordsclimate change, rangelands
AbstractRangelands constitute a substantial portion of the earth’s surface and contribute a wide variety of products and services to human well being. Global climate change will have an inordinate impact on rangelands because the productivity of grass and shrub dominated ecosystems is so closely linked to the short term expression of climate, weather. In general, most rangeland ecosystems and human activities associated with them are forecast to experience increasingly erratic precipitation and temperature patterns in the short and mid term future (20-100 years). Other aspects of global change, such as CO2 fertilization, invasive species and changes in land use, will also have significant effects on the ability of rangelands to meet human needs and desires.
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