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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256728
Title: Long-term trends in production, abundance, and richness of plants and animals

Author
item Peters, Debra
item LANEY, CHRISTINE - New Mexico State University
item LUGO, ARIEL - Forest Service (FS)
item COLLINS, SCOTT - University Of New Mexico
item DRISCOLL, CHARLES - Syracuse University
item GROFFMAN, PETER - Cary Institute Of Ecosystem Studies
item GROVE, J. MORGAN - Forest Service (FS)
item KNAPP, ALAN - Colorado State University
item KRATZ, TIMOTHY - University Of Wisconsin
item OHMAN, MARK - University Of California

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2011
Publication Date: 11/20/2013
Citation: Peters, D.C., Laney, C.M., Lugo, A.E., Collins, S.L., Driscoll, C.T., Groffman, P.M., Grove, J., Knapp, A.K., Kratz, T.K., Ohman, M.D. 2013. Long-term trends in production, abundance, and richness of plants and animals. In: Peters, D.P.C., Laney, C.M., Lugo, A.E., et al., editors. Long-Term Trends in Ecological Systems: A Basis for Understanding Responses to Global Change. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Technical Bulletin Number 1931. p. 191-205.

Interpretive Summary: This chapter first describes common methods for measuring responses of plants and animals and the rationale for the selection of variables included in this book. It then shows graphs of biotic data through time for each site arrayed across the continent. Net primary production, plant biomass and species richness, animal abundance and species richness are selected. Figure of site-scale data through time of each variable is shown, and a regression line is shown if the relationship is significant and the trend appears linear. The site graphs are shown on a continental map with similar sites to allow comparison among sites. At many sites, multiple locations are sampled for plant and animal dynamics. The large within-site variability in responses often overwhelms trends through time. Although plant response variables of ANPP, richness, and biomass are sampled for most sites to allow cross-site comparisons, animal response variables are more variable among sites with fewer comparable groups. These results indicate that each site selects representative trophic groups from the local ecosystems, instead of attempting to standardize across sites. The length of the time series also varies across sites which further complicates cross-site comparisons.

Technical Abstract: This chapter shows long-term data and trends in production, abundance, and richness of plants and animals for each site. It contains a brief introduction to the topic, and methods of measurements, selection of variables, and their data source. It consists primarily of a large number of figures showing long-term data for different variables. Net primary production, plant biomass and species richness, animal abundance and species richness are selected. Figure of site-scale data through time of each variable is shown, and a regression line is shown if the relationship is significant and the trend appears linear. The site graphs are shown on a continental map with similar sites to allow comparison among sites. At many sites, multiple locations are sampled for plant and animal dynamics. The large within-site variability in responses often overwhelms trends through time. Although plant response variables of ANPP, richness, and biomass are sampled for most sites to allow cross-site comparisons, animal response variables are more variable among sites with fewer comparable groups. These results indicate that each site selects representative trophic groups from the local ecosystems, instead of attempting to standardize across sites. The length of the time series also varies across sites which further complicates cross-site comparisons.