Location: Livestock, Forage and Pasture Management Research Unit
Title: Responses of ecosystem-atmosphere exchange to precipitation pulses in adjacent native and introduced prairie pasturesAuthor
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FLYNN, COLTON - Redlands Community College |
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MA, SHENGFANG - Non ARS Employee |
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Wagle, Pradeep |
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ZHOU, YUTING - Oklahoma State University |
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Gowda, Prasanna |
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Starks, Patrick |
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BAJGAIN, RAJEN - University Of Oklahoma |
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XIAO, XIANGMING - University Of Oklahoma |
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BASARA, JEFFREY - University Of Oklahoma |
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STEINER, JEAN - Kansas State University |
Submitted to: American Geophysical Union
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2019 Publication Date: 12/11/2019 Citation: Flynn, C.K., Ma, S., Wagle, P., Zhou, Y., Gowda, P.H., Starks, P.J., Bajgain, R., Xiao, X., Basara, J.B., Steiner, J.L. 2019. Responses of ecosystem-atmosphere exchange to precipitation pulses in adjacent native and introduced prairie pastures [abstract]. American Geophysical Union. Available at: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm19/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/523351. Interpretive Summary: Abstract only Technical Abstract: Traditionally, annual precipitation is considered as the dominant factor affecting grassland ecosystems. However, the seasonal distribution of precipitation is also a key factor in controlling inter-annual variability of productivity, especially in semi-arid and arid grasslands. Large variabilities exist in sub-seasonal and seasonal precipitation, featured by precipitation pulses of varying magnitudes, within the Great Plains (GP) of the United States. Grassland ecosystem-atmosphere exchange responds differently to precipitation pulses depending on the soil types, current soil moisture, and subsequent weather conditions. Furthermore, native and introduced prairies might have different sensitivities to precipitation pulses because of varying species composition and water use strategies. This study utilizes two paired native and introduced prairie pastures located less than one kilometer apart, to compare responses of ecosystem-atmosphere exchange to precipitation pulses. Using a five year dataset, the response of native and introduced prairie pastures to the same precipitation pulses will be compared. Also, the interaction of annual climatic conditions and precipitation pulses on ecosystem-atmosphere exchange is examined. The methods employ eddy covariance technology to examine the sensitivities of carbon (net ecosystem carbon exchange, NEE), energy (sensible heat, H), and water fluxes (evapotranspiration, ET) to precipitation pulses in native and introduced prairie pastures over a five year study period with highly variable climatic conditions. The results from this study can help improve the understanding of the importance of grassland types on responses to precipitation pulses to better inform ecosystem modeling. |