• DOI:10.1146/ANNUREV.ECOLSYS.31.1.197
• Corpus ID: 86095545

Shrub Invasions of North American Semiarid Grasslands

@article{Auken2000ShrubIO,
  title={Shrub Invasions of North American Semiarid Grasslands},
  author={O. W. Van Auken},
  journal={Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics},
  year={2000},
  volume={31},
  pages={197-215}
}

• O. V. Auken
• Published 5 January 2000
• Environmental Science
• Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics

▪ Abstract The composition and structure of the semiarid or desert grasslands of southwestern North America have changed over the past 150 y. Brushy or woody species in these communities have increased in density and cover. This increase in density of woody species is called brush encroachment because most of these species have been present in these communities at lower densities for thousands of years. The brushy or woody species were not introduced from other continents or from great distances. They are indigenous species that have increased in density or cover because of changes in local abiotic or biotic conditions. The brushy and woody plants are not the cause of these changes, but their increase is the result of other factors. The causes of changes that have led to the present woody-brushy composition of these semiarid grasslands has been difficult to determine. Warming of the climate seems to be a background condition, but the driving force seems to be chronic, high levels of herbivory by domestic ...