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Self-organized spatial patterns of vegetation in alpine grasslands

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  • Alados, C.L.
  • Aich, A. El
  • Komac, B.
  • Pueyo, Y.
  • García-Gonzalez, R.

Abstract

There is increased interest in vegetation spatial pattern as an indicator of transition shifts following catastrophes. Much, however, remains unknown about the mechanisms that underlie spatial pattern formations. In this study, we examined how the spatial heterogeneity of species distributions in the grasslands of the Central Pyrenees and Middle Atlas Mountains is associated with plant species diversity and the importance of self-organizing processes in the control of pattern formations. In the grasslands of the Central Pyrenees and Middle Atlas, the spatial heterogeneity of species distributions increased along a habitat degradation gradient defined by an increase in bare soil. In Central Pyrenees grasslands, however, the increase in heterogeneity was associated with self-organizing bare soil formations, rather than the self-organizing distribution of plant species. In Middle Atlas grasslands, the increased heterogeneity of species spatial distributions was a consequence of the self-organizing capacity of the composing species; the increase in bare soil was randomly distributed. In the more heavily grazed grasslands (Middle Atlas), but not in the more lightly grazed and better preserved ecosystem (Central Pyrenees), plant species richness and diversity declined significantly with an increase in grazing pressure because fewer species were able to colonize empty space. On the contrary, the colonization of bare soil by new species increased the diversity and spatial organization of new colonizing species in Central Pyrenees grassland.

Suggested Citation

  • Alados, C.L. & Aich, A. El & Komac, B. & Pueyo, Y. & García-Gonzalez, R., 2007. "Self-organized spatial patterns of vegetation in alpine grasslands," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 201(2), pages 233-242.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:201:y:2007:i:2:p:233-242
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2006.09.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marten Scheffer & Steve Carpenter & Jonathan A. Foley & Carl Folke & Brian Walker, 2001. "Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 413(6856), pages 591-596, October.
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    1. Theophilus Atio Abalori & Wenxia Cao & Conrad Atogi-Akwoa Weobong & Wen Li & Shilin Wang & Xiuxia Deng, 2022. "Spatial Vegetation Patch Patterns and Their Relation to Environmental Factors in the Alpine Grasslands of the Qilian Mountains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Mouissie, A. Maarten & Apol, M. Emile F. & Heil, Gerrit W. & van Diggelen, Rudy, 2008. "Creation and preservation of vegetation patterns by grazing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 218(1), pages 60-72.
    3. Claire L Narraway & Oliver SP Davis & Sally Lowell & Katrina A Lythgoe & J Scott Turner & Stephen Marshall, 2020. "Biotic analogies for self-organising cities," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 47(2), pages 268-286, February.
    4. Claudia Bita-Nicolae & Faruk Yildiz & Ozkan Kaya, 2023. "Exploring the Biodiversity and Conservation Value of Alpine Grasslands in the Bucegi Massif, Romanian Carpathians," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.
    5. Seppelt, Ralf & Müller, Felix & Schröder, Boris & Volk, Martin, 2009. "Challenges of simulating complex environmental systems at the landscape scale: A controversial dialogue between two cups of espresso," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(24), pages 3481-3489.

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