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Full-Text Articles in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
The Ecological Effects Of Nitrogen Enrichment In Aridlands, Jennifer Holguin
The Ecological Effects Of Nitrogen Enrichment In Aridlands, Jennifer Holguin
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition is one of the most prominent factors driving global change. Across the globe, N deposition has driven major changes in terrestrial ecosystems, such as declines in plant biodiversity, enhanced exotic plant growth, and changes to biogeochemical processes involved in carbon and nutrient cycling. While noteworthy effort has been put forth to investigate the effects of N deposition on terrestrial ecosystems, a disproportionate number of N addition studies have been conducted in temperate mesic systems. Thus, we lack a holistic and mechanistic understanding of how N deposition impact aridland ecosystems. Additionally, our predictions of the effects of …
Restoring Biogeochemical Properties In Drylands And Exploring Functional Roles Of Biological Soil Crust, Kristina Young
Restoring Biogeochemical Properties In Drylands And Exploring Functional Roles Of Biological Soil Crust, Kristina Young
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Degradation in dryland regions is a persistent and accelerating problem. Though the mechanisms that initiate and maintain dryland degradation have been well studied, restoring productivity and function to degraded dryland ecosystems remains difficult. Here, I present three chapters that address gaps in our understanding of dryland functions and our ability to restore them. I begin by examining how dryland restoration research has addressed altered biogeochemical cycling in drylands and how to expand current understandings of dryland biogeochemistry into restoration. I then present two chapters that explore mechanistic and quantitative understandings of the contribution of biocrusts to soil nutrient cycling both …