Drought and bush encroachment threaten dry rangeland sustainability in Northeastern Ethiopia

文献类型： 外文期刊

第一作者： Tilahun, Minyahel

作者： Tilahun, Minyahel;Liu, Zenghui;Wu, Jianshuang;Tilahun, Minyahel;Angassa, Ayana;Wang, Zhipeng;Li, Meng

作者机构：

关键词： Drylands sensitivity; Extreme droughts; Functional traits; Prosopis juliflora; Rangeland management; Vegetation health

期刊名称：GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION （ 影响因子：3.4； 五年影响因子：4.3 ）

ISSN：

年卷期： 2025 年 58 卷

页码：

收录情况： SCI

摘要： Climate change and the spread of invasive bush species significantly threaten global rangeland health. However, the effects of different land use intensities and timings on vegetation health are still poorly understood. This study evaluated the sustainability of vegetation health in grazing lands of the Afar region of Ethiopia, using a community-based classification that includes three categories: dry season grazing land, wet season grazing land, and wildlife reserves. We assessed the combined impacts of drought and bush invasion on vegetation health, employing the standardized precipitation index (SPI), vegetation health index (VHI), and field measurements of invasive bush thickets, native herbaceous density, and the functional traits of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC as indicators. Our results indicated that SPI and thicket explained 44 % and 16 % of the variance in VHI, respectively. Using structural equation modeling, we demonstrated both direct and indirect effects of the functional traits of Prosopis juliflora on the relationship between SPI, thicket, and VHI in dry rangeland ecosystems. Notably, VHI, as an indicator of vegetation health, decreased with increased bush encroachment and positively correlated with higher herbaceous density across the grazing lands. These findings highlight the complex interplay of physiographic, environmental, and botanical factors amid the challenges posed by invasive plant species and severe drought. They also underscore critical implications for managing and restoring dry rangeland ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainability into land-use practices.

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