Shrublands and grasslands of the Jornada Long-Term Ecological Research Site: desertification and plant community structure in the northern Chihuahuan Desert

TitleShrublands and grasslands of the Jornada Long-Term Ecological Research Site: desertification and plant community structure in the northern Chihuahuan Desert
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Publication1996
AuthorsHuenneke L.
EditorBarrow J.R., McArthur E.D., Sosebee R.E, Tausch R.J
Conference NameProceedings: symposium on shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment
VolumeGen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-338
Number of Volumes275
Pagination48-50
Date PublishedMay 23-25, 1995
PublisherU.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station
Conference LocationLas Cruces, NM
Accession NumberJRN00220
Call Number00709
Keywordsabstract, abstracts, conference, conference proceedings, conferences, desertification, plant community, diversity, plant community, productivity, plant community, structure, plant, diversity, plant, productivity, proceeding, proceedings
AbstractSemidesert grasslands of southern New Mexico have been replaced in this century with shrublands (chiefly creosote bush and mesquite). The Jornada Long-Term Ecological Research Program has been monitoring aboveground plant productivity, plant species composition, and other aspects of ecosystem function in 15 sites. Plant diversity differs significantly among vegetation types, with grasslands being the most diverse. Aboveground net primary productivity does not differ significantly among vegetation types. Productivity is correlated with plant species richness in some seasons; however, diversity has not been correlated with smaller fluctuation of production between years in the first few years of study. These results have implications for sustainable management of diversity and of productivity.
Custom 1Ogden, UT