Dryland ecosystems cover more than 40% of Earth's land surface and are a major driver of the inter-annual variability and subsequent trend in the terrestrial carbon sink. In recent decades, dryland ecosystems have been affected by factors such as population growth, partial improvements in living standards, and the development of irrigated agriculture. These have greatly altered land use in drylands. Recent studies have shown that factors such as increased agricultural area, urbanization, grazing, and other factors lead to reductions in carbon stocks, water quality, and biodiversity. In the context of climate change, many regions are experiencing trends of warming and drought, which increase the likelihood of water scarcity, natural disasters, desertification, and place considerable pressure on the sustainable use of dryland. Therefore, it is crucial to study both the individual and combined impact mechanisms of climate and land use on dryland ecosystems to develop effective ecosystem management and land-use strategies.
Land-use/land-cover change alters drylands by affecting ecosystem patterns and processes. Climate change affects drylands directly or indirectly by altering ecohydrological processes, vegetation dynamics availability of forage for domestic and wild herbivores. This Research Topic will provide a comprehensive perspective view of the impacts of climate change and land-use change on global dryland ecosystems. The aim is to explore the mechanisms by which climate and land-use changes affect dryland ecosystem elements, and quantitatively reveal the relative contributions of climate and land-use changes to ecosystems. We wish to bring together original research papers and reviews on the above issues.
We particularly welcome contributions concerning:
i. Analysis of the impact of climate or land use on dryland ecosystems as individual factors.
ii. Analysis of the coupled mechanisms of climate and land-use change that impact dryland ecosystems, including their relative contributions
iii. Drivers of climate change and land-use factors on dryland ecosystem services
iv. Succession of dryland ecosystems under climate change
All article types are welcome, with an emphasis on Original Research, Reviews, and Perspectives.
Dryland ecosystems cover more than 40% of Earth's land surface and are a major driver of the inter-annual variability and subsequent trend in the terrestrial carbon sink. In recent decades, dryland ecosystems have been affected by factors such as population growth, partial improvements in living standards, and the development of irrigated agriculture. These have greatly altered land use in drylands. Recent studies have shown that factors such as increased agricultural area, urbanization, grazing, and other factors lead to reductions in carbon stocks, water quality, and biodiversity. In the context of climate change, many regions are experiencing trends of warming and drought, which increase the likelihood of water scarcity, natural disasters, desertification, and place considerable pressure on the sustainable use of dryland. Therefore, it is crucial to study both the individual and combined impact mechanisms of climate and land use on dryland ecosystems to develop effective ecosystem management and land-use strategies.
Land-use/land-cover change alters drylands by affecting ecosystem patterns and processes. Climate change affects drylands directly or indirectly by altering ecohydrological processes, vegetation dynamics availability of forage for domestic and wild herbivores. This Research Topic will provide a comprehensive perspective view of the impacts of climate change and land-use change on global dryland ecosystems. The aim is to explore the mechanisms by which climate and land-use changes affect dryland ecosystem elements, and quantitatively reveal the relative contributions of climate and land-use changes to ecosystems. We wish to bring together original research papers and reviews on the above issues.
We particularly welcome contributions concerning:
i. Analysis of the impact of climate or land use on dryland ecosystems as individual factors.
ii. Analysis of the coupled mechanisms of climate and land-use change that impact dryland ecosystems, including their relative contributions
iii. Drivers of climate change and land-use factors on dryland ecosystem services
iv. Succession of dryland ecosystems under climate change
All article types are welcome, with an emphasis on Original Research, Reviews, and Perspectives.
