The ecology of dust: local- to global-scale perspectives

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Frontiers in Ecology

OSTI ID:956702

Whicker, Jeffrey J ^[1]; Field, Jason P ^[2]; Belnap, Jayne ^[3]; Breshears, David D ^[2]; Neff, Jason ^[4]; Okin, Gregory S ^[5]; Painter, Thomas H ^[6]; Ravi, Sujith ^[6]; Reheis, Marith C ^[5]; Reynolds, Richard L ^[3]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory
2. UA
3. NON LANL
4. CU
5. UCLA
6. UNIV OF ARIZONA

Emission and redistribution of dust due to wind erosion in drylands drives major biogeochemical dynamics and provides important aeolian environmental connectivity at scales from individual plants up to the global scale. Yet, perhaps because most relevant research on aeolian processes has been presented in a geosciences rather than ecological context, most ecological studies do not explicitly consider dust-driven processes. To bridge this disciplinary gap, we provide a general overview of the ecological importance of dust, examine complex interactions between wind erosion and ecosystem dynamics from the plant-interspace scale to regional and global scales, and highlight specific examples of how disturbance affects these interactions and their consequences. Changes in climate and intensification of land use will both likely lead to increased dust production. To address these challenges, environmental scientists, land managers and policy makers need to more explicitly consider dust in resource management decisions.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 956702
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-09-00032; LA-UR-09-32
• Journal Information: Frontiers in Ecology, Journal Name: Frontiers in Ecology
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
ARID LANDS
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DISTURBANCES
DUSTS
DYNAMICS
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
EMISSION
EROSION
INTERACTIONS
LAND USE
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
WIND