title: Increased sensitivity to climate change in disturbed ecosystems.
abstract: Human domination of the biosphere includes changes to disturbance regimes, which push many ecosystems towards early-successional states. Ecological theory predicts that early-successional ecosystems are more sensitive to perturbations than mature systems, but little evidence supports this relationship for the perturbation of climate change. Here we show that vegetation (abundance, species richness and species composition) across seven European shrublands is quite resistant to moderate experimental warming and drought, and responsiveness is associated with the dynamic state of the ecosystem, with recently disturbed sites responding to treatments. Furthermore, most of these responses are not rapid (2-5 years) but emerge over a longer term (7-14 years). These results suggest that successional state influences the sensitivity of ecosystems to climate change, and that ecosystems recovering from disturbances may be sensitive to even modest climatic changes. A research bias towards undisturbed ecosystems might thus lead to an underestimation of the impacts of climate change.
authors: Institute of Ecology and Botany, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmany u. 2-4, 2163 Vacratot, Hungary.
authors: György
authors: G
authors: Kröel-Dulay
authors: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Ransijn
authors: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors: Inger Kappel
authors: IK
authors: Schmidt
authors: Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NIVA, Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway.
authors: Claus
authors: C
authors: Beier
authors: Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: De Angelis
authors: Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors: Giovanbattista
authors: G
authors: de Dato
authors: 1] Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA [2] Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors: Jeffrey S
authors: JS
authors: Dukes
authors: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK.
authors: Bridget
authors: B
authors: Emmett
authors: 1] CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain [2] CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Estiarte
authors: Institute of Ecology and Botany, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmany u. 2-4, 2163 Vacratot, Hungary.
authors: János
authors: J
authors: Garadnai
authors: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Kongstad
authors: Institute of Ecology and Botany, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmany u. 2-4, 2163 Vacratot, Hungary.
authors: Edit
authors: E
authors: Kovács-Láng
authors: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors: Klaus Steenberg
authors: KS
authors: Larsen
authors: Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Liberati
authors: 1] CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain [2] CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Romà
authors: R
authors: Ogaya
authors: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors: Torben
authors: T
authors: Riis-Nielsen
authors: School of Environment, Natural Resources, and Geography, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK.
authors: Andrew R
authors: AR
authors: Smith
authors: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK.
authors: Alwyn
authors: A
authors: Sowerby
authors: Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94240, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Tietema
authors: 1] CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, CREAF-CSIC-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain [2] CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Josep
authors: J
authors: Penuelas
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D057231:Climate Change; D055864:Droughts; D017753:Ecosystem; D005060:Europe; D057232:Global Warming; D010944:Plants