Spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of light distribution were investigated using lacunarity analysis, a multi-scale measure of spatial heterogeneity, in three mesic grasslands with different disturbance regimes. Frequency distributions of relative light intensity (RLI) were similar for the two non-disturbed grasslands, despite different composition (forbs vs. caespitose grass) resulting fro...

Kline et al. (1) pose a series of “what-if” scenarios intended to cast doubt on our (2) findings. These scenarios arise from a critical misreading of our paper and misinterpretation of the US Department of Agriculture’s Cropland Data Layer (CDL). First, we did not include alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a perennial cultivated-hay legume, in our definition of grassland (2), contrary to Kline et al.’s...

The effect of different amounts of rainfall on the below-ground plant biomass was studied in three grassland ecosystems. Responses of the lowland (dry Festuca grassland), highland (wet Cirsium grassland), and mountain (Nardus grassland) grasslands were studied during five years (2006-2010). A field experiment based on rainout shelters and gravity irrigation simulated three climate scenarios: ra...

The relationship between vegetation and soil moisture deserves attention due to its scientific importance and practical applications. However, the effects of soil moisture on vegetation development and succession are poorly documented. Here we study soil water storage in Yanhe watershed at northern Shaanxi on five different land uses, namely shrubland, farmland, natural grassland, woodland, and...

Compost amendment to grassland is a novel strategy proposed and demonstrated to increase ecosystem carbon (C) storage. However, the effects of compost applications on biomass production and plant diversity are not well known. We assessed impacts of a onetime compost amendment over 4 yr on plant dynamics in two grazed grassland ecosystems in California: a coastal prairie and valley grassland. Th...

Grassland management regimens influence the structure of archaeal communities in upland pasture soils, which appear to be dominated by as yet uncultivated non-thermophilic Crenarchaeota. In an attempt to determine which grassland management factors select for particular crenarchaeal community structures, soil microcosm experiments were performed examining the effect of increased pH, application...

Grassland management regimens influence the structure of archaeal communities in upland pasture soils, which appear to be dominated by as yet uncultivated non-thermophilic Crenarchaeota. In an attempt to determine which grassland management factors select for particular crenarchaeal community structures, soil microcosm experiments were performed examining the effect of increased pH, application...

Gustavsson, E. 2007. Grassland plant diversity in relation to historical and current land use. Doctor's dissertation. About 150 years ago agriculture was drastically reformed and around 90% of the formerly vastly distributed semi-natural grasslands, i.e. unfertilised and uncultivated grasslands, have since then disappeared. Accordingly, grassland plant diversity has declined due to abandonment,...

Grassland degradation in the Inner Mongolia grassland became seriously since the end of 20th century, because of the rapid expansion of livestock numbers and the development of economy. Overgrazing in this region is one of the main causes of grassland degradation. In this paper, soil microbial biomass carbon (Cmic) and nitrogen (Nmic) under continuous free-grazing and exclusion of livestock wer...

Butterflies are important components of biodiversity in grassland ecosystems and provide ecosystem services such as pollination. Although agricultural intensification has led to a scarcity of native grassland habitats within most agricultural landscapes of North America, fragmented remnants and semi-natural habitats may support diverse communities, including butterflies, as long as vital resour...