<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<oai_dc:dc xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/ http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd">
  <dc:contributor>Jayne Belnap</dc:contributor>
  <dc:contributor>John M. Stark</dc:contributor>
  <dc:contributor>Edith B. Allen</dc:contributor>
  <dc:contributor>Benjamin M. Rau</dc:contributor>
  <dc:creator>Matthew J. Germino</dc:creator>
  <dc:date>2016</dc:date>
  <dc:description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;An understanding of the impacts of exotic plant species on ecosystems is necessary to justify and guide efforts to limit their spread, restore natives, and plan for conservation. Invasive annual grasses such as&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus tectorum&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;B. rubens&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;B. hordeaceus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;, and&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;B. diandrus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;(hereafter collectively referred to as&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;) transform the structure and function of ecosystems they dominate. Experiments that prove cause-and-effect impacts of&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;are rare, yet inferences can be gleaned from the combination of&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;-ecosystem associations, ecosystem condition before/after invasion, and an understanding of underlying mechanisms.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;typically establishes in bare soil patches and can eventually replace perennials such as woody species or bunchgrasses, creating a homogeneous annual cover. Plant productivity and cover are less stable across seasons and years when&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;dominates, due to a greater response to annual climate variability.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus&amp;rsquo;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;ldquo;flash&amp;rdquo; of growth followed by senescence early in the growing season, combined with shallow rooting and annual habit, may lead to incomplete use of deep soil water, reduced C sequestration, and accelerated nutrient cycling. Litter produced by&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;alters nearly all aspects of ecosystems and notably increases wildfire occurrence. Where&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;has become dominant, it can decrease soil stability by rendering soils bare for months following fire or episodic, pathogen-induced stand failure.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus-invaded&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;communities have lower species diversity, and associated species tend to be generalists adapted to unstable and variable habitats. Changes in litter, fire, and soil properties appear to feedback to reinforce&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i class="EmphasisTypeItalic "&gt;Bromus&amp;rsquo;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;dominance in a pattern that portends desertification.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</dc:description>
  <dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
  <dc:identifier>10.1007/978-3-319-24930-8_3</dc:identifier>
  <dc:language>en</dc:language>
  <dc:publisher>Springer International Publishing</dc:publisher>
  <dc:title>Ecosystem impacts of exotic annual invaders in the genus Bromus</dc:title>
  <dc:type>chapter</dc:type>
</oai_dc:dc>