Drought and Plant Invasions Along an Aridity Gradient

Questions: Biological invasions significantly impact plant communities, affecting and threatening biodiversity at regional and local scales worldwide. The invasion process may be influenced by climate change, particularly by the increasing frequency of extreme droughts. Here we evaluate (1) the lev...

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Autores principales: Ravetta, Damian Andrés, Bondaruk, Viviana F., Oñatibia, Gastón R., Loydi, Alejandro, Pascual, Jesús, Peri, Pablo Luis, Peter, Guadalupe, Oliva, Gabriel Esteban, Ferrante, Daniela, Brusquetti, Martín, Daleo, Pedro, Agüero, Walter Damian, Yahdjian, Laura
Formato: info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/24547
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvs.70084
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70084
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author Ravetta, Damian Andrés
Bondaruk, Viviana F.
Oñatibia, Gastón R.
Loydi, Alejandro
Pascual, Jesús
Peri, Pablo Luis
Peter, Guadalupe
Oliva, Gabriel Esteban
Ferrante, Daniela
Brusquetti, Martín
Daleo, Pedro
Agüero, Walter Damian
Yahdjian, Laura
author_browse Agüero, Walter Damian
Bondaruk, Viviana F.
Brusquetti, Martín
Daleo, Pedro
Ferrante, Daniela
Loydi, Alejandro
Oliva, Gabriel Esteban
Oñatibia, Gastón R.
Pascual, Jesús
Peri, Pablo Luis
Peter, Guadalupe
Ravetta, Damian Andrés
Yahdjian, Laura
author_facet Ravetta, Damian Andrés
Bondaruk, Viviana F.
Oñatibia, Gastón R.
Loydi, Alejandro
Pascual, Jesús
Peri, Pablo Luis
Peter, Guadalupe
Oliva, Gabriel Esteban
Ferrante, Daniela
Brusquetti, Martín
Daleo, Pedro
Agüero, Walter Damian
Yahdjian, Laura
author_sort Ravetta, Damian Andrés
collection INTA Digital
description Questions: Biological invasions significantly impact plant communities, affecting and threatening biodiversity at regional and local scales worldwide. The invasion process may be influenced by climate change, particularly by the increasing frequency of extreme droughts. Here we evaluate (1) the level of exotic plant invasion along an aridity gradient and its relationship with environmental variables, and (2) the cumulative effect of prolonged droughts on native plant communities and the invasion of exotic species. Location: Rangelands located along an aridity gradient from the arid Patagonian steppe to the humid Pampa region in Argentina, South America. The study sites (11) encompass a wide range of mean annual precipitation (170–950 mm year−1) and diverse vegetation physiognomic characteristics. Methods: We conducted floristic surveys to assess plant community composition, diversity, and the cover of native and invasive exotic species in (1) 11 sites located along an aridity gradient, and (2) a 4-year drought simulation experiment established in nine sites. At each experimental site, rain-out shelters intercepted 50%–60% of incoming rainfall to simulate drought conditions. We then used linear mixed models to analyze the effects of drought on the cover, richness, and dominance of the plant community. Results: Our findings reveal (1) a positive relationship between plant invasion and rangeland humidity at the regional scale. In the humid extreme, invasive exotic species dominated the plant community, whereas in the arid extreme native species were more abundant than invasive exotic species. (2) Experimental droughts reduced native plant cover in arid and semi-arid rangelands and promoted the cover, dominance, and richness of invasive exotic species in humid counterparts, reducing native species richness. Conclusions: This study suggests a potential intensification of biological invasions in response to increased occurrences of droughts predicted by climate change. Management strategies for invaded humid rangelands are imperative, and early warnings are crucial during dry years in arid and semi-arid rangelands, where droughts could enhance the abundance of invasive exotic species.
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spelling INTA245472025-11-11T13:50:32Z Drought and Plant Invasions Along an Aridity Gradient Ravetta, Damian Andrés Bondaruk, Viviana F. Oñatibia, Gastón R. Loydi, Alejandro Pascual, Jesús Peri, Pablo Luis Peter, Guadalupe Oliva, Gabriel Esteban Ferrante, Daniela Brusquetti, Martín Daleo, Pedro Agüero, Walter Damian Yahdjian, Laura Invasive Species Plant Communities Rangelands Water Availability Arid zones Biodiversity Climate Change Data Analysis Cover Plants South America Especie Invasiva Tierra de Pastos Disponibilidad del Agua Zona Arida Comunidad Vegetal Biodiversidad Cambio Climático Análisis de Datos Plantas de Cobertura América del Sur Plant Richness Aridity Gradient Environmental Variables Plant Community Composition Invasive Exotic Species Dominance Riqueza Vegetal Gradiente de Aridez Variables Ambientales Composición de la Comunidad Vegetal Especies Exóticas Invasoras Dominio Región Patagónica Questions: Biological invasions significantly impact plant communities, affecting and threatening biodiversity at regional and local scales worldwide. The invasion process may be influenced by climate change, particularly by the increasing frequency of extreme droughts. Here we evaluate (1) the level of exotic plant invasion along an aridity gradient and its relationship with environmental variables, and (2) the cumulative effect of prolonged droughts on native plant communities and the invasion of exotic species. Location: Rangelands located along an aridity gradient from the arid Patagonian steppe to the humid Pampa region in Argentina, South America. The study sites (11) encompass a wide range of mean annual precipitation (170–950 mm year−1) and diverse vegetation physiognomic characteristics. Methods: We conducted floristic surveys to assess plant community composition, diversity, and the cover of native and invasive exotic species in (1) 11 sites located along an aridity gradient, and (2) a 4-year drought simulation experiment established in nine sites. At each experimental site, rain-out shelters intercepted 50%–60% of incoming rainfall to simulate drought conditions. We then used linear mixed models to analyze the effects of drought on the cover, richness, and dominance of the plant community. Results: Our findings reveal (1) a positive relationship between plant invasion and rangeland humidity at the regional scale. In the humid extreme, invasive exotic species dominated the plant community, whereas in the arid extreme native species were more abundant than invasive exotic species. (2) Experimental droughts reduced native plant cover in arid and semi-arid rangelands and promoted the cover, dominance, and richness of invasive exotic species in humid counterparts, reducing native species richness. Conclusions: This study suggests a potential intensification of biological invasions in response to increased occurrences of droughts predicted by climate change. Management strategies for invaded humid rangelands are imperative, and early warnings are crucial during dry years in arid and semi-arid rangelands, where droughts could enhance the abundance of invasive exotic species. EEA Santa Cruz Fil: Ravetta, Damian Andrés. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Ecología; Argentina. Fil: Ravetta, Damian Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Bondaruk, Viviana F. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Fil: Bondaruk, Viviana F. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Ecología; Argentina. Fil: Oñatibia, Gastón R. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Fil: Oñatibia, Gastón R. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Fil: Loydi, Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentina. Fil: Loydi, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Física; Argentina. Fil: Pascual, Jesús. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC); Argentina. Fil: Pascual, Jesús. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC); Argentina. Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina. Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina. Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Peter, Guadalupe. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro; Argentina. Fil: Peter, Guadalupe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina. Fil: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Académica Río Gallegos; Argentina. Fil: Ferrante, Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina. Fil: Ferrante, Daniela. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Académica Río Gallegos; Argentina. Fil: Brusquetti, Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC); Argentina. Fil: Brusquetti, Martín. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC); Argentina. Fil: Daleo, Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC); Argentina. Fil: Daleo, Pedro. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC); Argentina. Fil: Agüero, Walter Damian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Rioja; Argentina. Fil: Yahdjian, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina Fil: Yahdjian, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente. Cátedra de Ecología; Argentina. 2025-11-11T13:39:37Z 2025-11-11T13:39:37Z 2025-11-07 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/24547 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvs.70084 Ravetta M.; Bondaruk V.; Oñatibia G.; Loydi A.; Pascual J.; Peri P.L.; Peter G.; Oliva G.; Ferrante D.; Bruschetti C.M.; Daleo P.; Aguero W.; Yahdjian L. (2025) Drought and plant invasions along an aridity gradient. Journal of Vegetation Science 36: e70084. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70084 1654-1103 (Online) 1100-9233 (Print) https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70084 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) application/pdf Wiley Journal of Vegetation Science 36 (6) : e70084. (November/December 2025)
spellingShingle Invasive Species
Plant Communities
Rangelands
Water Availability
Arid zones
Biodiversity
Climate Change
Data Analysis
Cover Plants
South America
Especie Invasiva
Tierra de Pastos
Disponibilidad del Agua
Zona Arida
Comunidad Vegetal
Biodiversidad
Cambio Climático
Análisis de Datos
Plantas de Cobertura
América del Sur
Plant Richness
Aridity Gradient
Environmental Variables
Plant Community Composition
Invasive Exotic Species
Dominance
Riqueza Vegetal
Gradiente de Aridez
Variables Ambientales
Composición de la Comunidad Vegetal
Especies Exóticas Invasoras
Dominio
Región Patagónica
Ravetta, Damian Andrés
Bondaruk, Viviana F.
Oñatibia, Gastón R.
Loydi, Alejandro
Pascual, Jesús
Peri, Pablo Luis
Peter, Guadalupe
Oliva, Gabriel Esteban
Ferrante, Daniela
Brusquetti, Martín
Daleo, Pedro
Agüero, Walter Damian
Yahdjian, Laura
Drought and Plant Invasions Along an Aridity Gradient
title Drought and Plant Invasions Along an Aridity Gradient
title_full Drought and Plant Invasions Along an Aridity Gradient
title_fullStr Drought and Plant Invasions Along an Aridity Gradient
title_full_unstemmed Drought and Plant Invasions Along an Aridity Gradient
title_short Drought and Plant Invasions Along an Aridity Gradient
title_sort drought and plant invasions along an aridity gradient
topic Invasive Species
Plant Communities
Rangelands
Water Availability
Arid zones
Biodiversity
Climate Change
Data Analysis
Cover Plants
South America
Especie Invasiva
Tierra de Pastos
Disponibilidad del Agua
Zona Arida
Comunidad Vegetal
Biodiversidad
Cambio Climático
Análisis de Datos
Plantas de Cobertura
América del Sur
Plant Richness
Aridity Gradient
Environmental Variables
Plant Community Composition
Invasive Exotic Species
Dominance
Riqueza Vegetal
Gradiente de Aridez
Variables Ambientales
Composición de la Comunidad Vegetal
Especies Exóticas Invasoras
Dominio
Región Patagónica
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/24547
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvs.70084
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70084
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