Are plant functional types relevant to describe degradation in arid, southern Tunisian steppes?

摘要: Abstract In the Tunisian arid zone disturbances (e.g. overgrazing and agriculture) stresses aridity, low fertility) drive changes in structure functioning of rangelands, with a decrease perennial plant cover, floristic composition erosion. Long-term monitoring requires (1) an understanding dynamics vegetation change associated ecological processes (2) identification relevant indicators. Using data from southern Tunisia we tested hypothesis that functional response types could be used to address these two goals. We identified gradient soil characterized by dominant species types. Vegetation samples were stratified contrasted patch varying cover (1.6 22%). focused our analysis trait responses within dwarf–shrubs, which are dominants typical ste...