Integrating Herbivore Population Dynamics Into a Global Land Biosphere Model: Plugging Animals Into the Earth System. (17th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dangal, Shree R. S.; Tian, Hanqin; Lu, Chaoqun; Ren, Wei; Pan, Shufen; Yang, Jia; Di Cosmo, Nicola; Hessl, Amy
• Is Part Of: Journal of advances in modeling earth systems. Volume 9:Number 8(2017)
• Page Start: 2920
• Page End: 2945
• Publication Date: 2017-12-17
• Subjects: grassland -- savanna -- grazing -- herbivore population dynamics -- terrestrial biosphere model; Geological modeling -- Periodicals; Climatology -- Periodicals; Geochemical modeling -- Periodicals; 551.5011
• DOI: 10.1002/2016MS000904
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1942-2466

Abstract

Abstract: Mammalian herbivores are an essential component of grassland and savanna ecosystems, and with feedbacks to the climate system. To date, the response and feedbacks of mammalian herbivores to changes in both abiotic and biotic factors are poorly quantified and not adequately represented in the current global land surface modeling framework. In this study, we coupled herbivore population dynamics in a global land model (the Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model, DLEM 3.0) to simulate populations of horses, cattle, sheep, and goats, and their responses to changes in multiple environmental factors at the site level across different continents during 1980–2010. Simulated results show that the model is capable of reproducing observed herbivore population dynamics across all sites for these animal groups. Our simulation results also indicate that during this period, climate extremes led to a maximum mortality of 27% of the total herbivores in Mongolia. Across all sites, herbivores reduced aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh) by 14% and 15%, respectively ( p < 0.05). With adequate parameterization, the model can be used for historical assessment and future prediction of mammalian herbivore populations and their relevant impacts on biogeochemical cycles. Our simulation results demonstrate a strong coupling between primary producers and consumers, indicating that inclusion of herbivores into the global land modeling framework is essential to better understand the potentially large effect of herbivores on carbon cycles in grassland and savanna ecosystems. Key Points: Mammalian herbivore population dynamics has been represented in the Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model (DLEM 3.0) Simulation results indicate that herbivores have a significant impact on terrestrial carbon dynamics and hence carbon‐climate feedbacks Animal as an essential component of ecosystems needs to be taken into account in the earth system modeling framework