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Modeling Desert Shrubland Changes with an Invasive Grass Introduction and Climate Change

2017 Research Brief

Description

For desert shrubland species that have evolved without fire, the introduction of a grass-fire, positive feedback cycle is particularly problematic. This brief discusses work done by researchers who modeled the grass-fire cycle for non-fire-adapted desert shrublands under three sets of climate conditions.


Contact

Jon E. Keeley, jon_keeley@usgs.gov 

Marti Witter, marti_witter@nps.gov 

Liz van Mantgem, evanmantgem@usgs.gov

Additional Information

Yu, K., G.S. Okin, S. Ravi, and P. D’Odorico. 2016. Potential of grass invasions in desert shrublands to create novel ecosystem states under variable climate. Ecohydrology 9:1496-1506.