Title: Extreme climatic events shape arid and semiarid ecosystems
Abstract: Frontiers in Ecology and the EnvironmentVolume 4, Issue 2 p. 87-95 Review Extreme climatic events shape arid and semiarid ecosystems Milena Holmgren, Milena Holmgren Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Bornsesteeg 69, Building 119, 6708 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands ( E-mail: [email protected])Search for more papers by this authorPaul Stapp, Paul Stapp Department of Biological Science, California State University, PO Box 6850, Fullerton, CA 92834–6850, USA ( E-mail: [email protected])Search for more papers by this authorChris R. Dickman, Chris R. Dickman Institute of Wildlife Research, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (continued on p 95)Search for more papers by this authorCarlos Gracia, Carlos Gracia Departamento d'Ecologia, Fac de Biologia, Universidad de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainSearch for more papers by this authorSonia Graham, Sonia Graham CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, GPO Box 284, Canberra ACT 2601, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorJulio R. Gutiérrez, Julio R. Gutiérrez Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla 599 and Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), La Serena, ChileSearch for more papers by this authorChristine Hice, Christine Hice Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USASearch for more papers by this authorFabián Jaksic, Fabián Jaksic Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity (CASEB), Santiago, ChileSearch for more papers by this authorDouglas A. Kelt, Douglas A. Kelt Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USASearch for more papers by this authorMike Letnic, Mike Letnic Parks and Wildlife Service of Northern Territory, PO Box 30, Palmerston NT, Australia 0831Search for more papers by this authorMauricio Lima, Mauricio Lima Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity (CASEB), Santiago, ChileSearch for more papers by this authorBernat C. López, Bernat C. López Departamento d'Ecologia, Fac de Biologia, Universidad de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainSearch for more papers by this authorPeter L. Meserve, Peter L. Meserve Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USASearch for more papers by this authorW Bryan Milstead, W Bryan Milstead National Park Service, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USASearch for more papers by this authorGary A. Polis, Gary A. Polis Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA (deceased)Search for more papers by this authorM Andrea Previtali, M Andrea Previtali Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USASearch for more papers by this authorMichael Richter, Michael Richter Institute of Geography, FAU, Kochstr. 4/4, D 91054 Erlangen, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorSanti Sabaté, Santi Sabaté Departamento d'Ecologia, Fac de Biologia, Universidad de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainSearch for more papers by this authorFrancisco A. Squeo, Francisco A. Squeo Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla 599 and Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), La Serena, ChileSearch for more papers by this author Milena Holmgren, Milena Holmgren Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Bornsesteeg 69, Building 119, 6708 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands ( E-mail: [email protected])Search for more papers by this authorPaul Stapp, Paul Stapp Department of Biological Science, California State University, PO Box 6850, Fullerton, CA 92834–6850, USA ( E-mail: [email protected])Search for more papers by this authorChris R. Dickman, Chris R. Dickman Institute of Wildlife Research, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (continued on p 95)Search for more papers by this authorCarlos Gracia, Carlos Gracia Departamento d'Ecologia, Fac de Biologia, Universidad de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainSearch for more papers by this authorSonia Graham, Sonia Graham CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, GPO Box 284, Canberra ACT 2601, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorJulio R. Gutiérrez, Julio R. Gutiérrez Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla 599 and Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), La Serena, ChileSearch for more papers by this authorChristine Hice, Christine Hice Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USASearch for more papers by this authorFabián Jaksic, Fabián Jaksic Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity (CASEB), Santiago, ChileSearch for more papers by this authorDouglas A. Kelt, Douglas A. Kelt Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USASearch for more papers by this authorMike Letnic, Mike Letnic Parks and Wildlife Service of Northern Territory, PO Box 30, Palmerston NT, Australia 0831Search for more papers by this authorMauricio Lima, Mauricio Lima Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity (CASEB), Santiago, ChileSearch for more papers by this authorBernat C. López, Bernat C. López Departamento d'Ecologia, Fac de Biologia, Universidad de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainSearch for more papers by this authorPeter L. Meserve, Peter L. Meserve Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USASearch for more papers by this authorW Bryan Milstead, W Bryan Milstead National Park Service, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USASearch for more papers by this authorGary A. Polis, Gary A. Polis Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA (deceased)Search for more papers by this authorM Andrea Previtali, M Andrea Previtali Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USASearch for more papers by this authorMichael Richter, Michael Richter Institute of Geography, FAU, Kochstr. 4/4, D 91054 Erlangen, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorSanti Sabaté, Santi Sabaté Departamento d'Ecologia, Fac de Biologia, Universidad de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, SpainSearch for more papers by this authorFrancisco A. Squeo, Francisco A. Squeo Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Casilla 599 and Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), La Serena, ChileSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 March 2006 https://doi.org/10.1890/1540-9295(2006)004[0087:ECESAA]2.0.CO;2Citations: 334Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Climatic changes associated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) can have a dramatic impact on terrestrial ecosystems worldwide, but especially on arid and semiarid systems, where productivity is strongly limited by precipitation. Nearly two decades of research, including both short-term experiments and long-term studies conducted on three continents, reveal that the initial, extraordinary increases in primary productivity percolate up through entire food webs, attenuating the relative importance of top-down control by predators, providing key resources that are stored to fuel future production, and altering disturbance regimes for months or years after ENSO conditions have passed. Moreover, the ecological changes associated with ENSO events have important implications for agroecosystems, ecosystem restoration, wildlife conservation, and the spread of disease. 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