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Published on: November 21, 2015
Leaf and ecosystem response to soil water availability in mountain grasslands
Federico Brilli1, Lukas Hörtnagl2, Albin Hammerle2
1Ionicon Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, AUSTRIA.
Mountain grasslands in the Alps show resilience to drought. Despite increasing summer dryness due to climate change, these ecosystems maintain function, with plants recovering quickly after short dry spells.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Climate Change Biology
- Plant Physiology
Background:
- Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of summer droughts in the Alps.
- Drought events pose risks to mountain ecosystem water resources and functioning.
- Understanding plant and ecosystem responses to water availability is crucial for predicting future impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the response of a mountain grassland's carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) exchange to natural soil water fluctuations.
- To investigate the physiological performance of individual mountain plant species under drought conditions.
- To assess the impact of current drought patterns on grassland ecosystem functioning.
Main Methods:
- Long-term monitoring (2001-2009) of net ecosystem CO2 exchange and evapotranspiration in a mountain grassland.
- Laboratory drought experiments on individual forb and graminoid species to assess physiological responses to soil water shortage.
- Analysis of plant gas exchange recovery after simulated short-term drought events.
Main Results:
- Over a 9-year period, moderate to extreme dry spells did not significantly reduce net ecosystem CO2 exchange or evapotranspiration.
- Mountain grassland plant species demonstrated tolerance to drying soils, showing insensitivity until very low water content was reached.
- Leaf gas exchange recovered rapidly and completely after short-term drought events (around 5 days) and re-watering.
Conclusions:
- The current frequency and intensity of dry periods do not substantially impair the functioning of this mountain grassland ecosystem.
- Mountain grassland species exhibit a 'water spending' strategy, which may offer a cooling effect but could impact downstream water availability.
- The ecosystem's resilience suggests it can withstand current drought regimes, but long-term implications for water resources warrant consideration.
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