The consequences of climate change for ecosystem structure and function remain largely unknown. Here, I examine the ability of climate variation to explain long-term changes in bird and plant populations, as well as trophic interactions in a high-elevation riparian system in central Arizona, USA, based on 20 years of study. Abundances of dominant deciduous trees have declined dramatically over the 20 years, correlated with a decline in overwinter snowfall. Snowfall can affect overwinter presence of elk, whose browsing can significantly impact deciduous tree abundance. Thus, climate may affect the plant community indirectly through effects on herbivores, but may also act directly by influencing water availability...
Categories: Publication;
Types: Citation,
Journal Citation;
Tags: Ecological Society of America,
Ecology,
bird breeding phenology,
bird populations,
climate change, All tags...
ecosystem structure,
habitat selection,
nest predation,
plant populations,
riparian systems,
snowfall,
trophic interactions,
ungulate browsing, Fewer tags
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