Ecological consequences of variation in precipitation: separating short versus longterm effects using satellite data

Aim Precipitation controls the production of semi-arid plants through various mechanisms that operate at a range of time-scales. Short-term variation in precipitation affects vegetation through adjustments in plant physiology and leaf phenology, whereas long-term effects are mediated by plant establishment and mortality, community composition and disturbance regimes. Our goal is to use remote sensing observations to separate the shortand long-term effects of variation in precipitation on ecosystem production.