OOS 23
The Value of Comparative Approaches for Understanding Ecosystem Responses to Global Change
Wednesday, August 13, 2014: 8:00 AM-11:30 AM
304/305, Sacramento Convention Center
Organizer:
Melinda D. Smith, Colorado State University
Co-organizers:
Alan K. Knapp, Colorado State University; and
Scott L. Collins, University of New Mexico
Moderator:
Alan K. Knapp, Colorado State University
Traditionally, ecological research has been dominated by site-based studies. However, the scale at which global changes are occurring demands research that moves beyond individual sites to that which is more comparative in nature. Comparative approaches are particularly important for understanding how and why ecosystems may differ in their sensitivity to global changes, such as land use change, climate change and eutrophication. Such understanding is critical for predicting how ecosystems may change in the future with increasing human pressures and forecast climate changes. The purpose of this organized oral session is to 1) bring together an international group of researchers employing a variety of comparative approaches, including between-ecosystem, inter-continental comparisons and network-level research, aimed at assessing the impacts of global change on ecosystem structure and function and 2) promote the value of comparative approaches to the next generation of ecologists.
9:00 AM
Differential effects of extreme drought on production and respiration: Synthesis and modeling analysis
Zheng Shi, University of Oklahoma;
Michell L. Thomey, University of New Mexico;
W. Mowll, Colorado State University;
Marcy E. Litvak, University of New Mexico;
Nathaniel Brunsell, University of Kansas;
Scott L. Collins, University of New Mexico;
William T. Pockman, University of New Mexico;
Melinda D. Smith, Colorado State University;
A.K. Knapp, Colorado State University;
Yiqi Luo, University of Oklahoma
9:20 AM
An inter-continental comparison of the effects of grazing and fire on savanna grassland plant community composition and ecosystem function
Sally E. Koerner, Duke University;
Deron E. Burkepile, Florida International University;
Richard W.S. Fynn, University of Botswana;
Catherine E. Burns, San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory;
Stephanie Eby, Yale University;
Navashni Govender, Scientific Service Kruger National Park;
Nicole Hagenah, University of Kwazulu-Natal;
Katherine Matchett, University of KwaZulu-Natal;
Dave Thompson, SAEON;
Kevin R. Wilcox, Colorado State University;
Scott L. Collins, University of New Mexico;
Kevin Kirkman, University of KwaZulu-Natal;
A.K. Knapp, Colorado State University;
Melinda D. Smith, Colorado State University
