Shrubland ecosystems are terrestrial biomes dominated by woody shrubs and low-stature vegetation, typically adapted to water limitation, nutrient-poor soils, and frequent disturbances such as fire or grazing. They exhibit pronounced seasonality in productivity, with deep- or dimorphic-rooted shrubs exploiting variable soil moisture profiles and often engaging in strong plant–soil feedbacks via litter quality and rhizosphere processes. Shrublands support distinctive faunal assemblages, influence regional hydrology through interception and evapotranspiration, and play significant roles in carbon and nitrogen cycling. They are key foci in global change research because they are sensitive to altered fire regimes, land-use change, woody encroachment, and shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns.
Removing sheep and other livestock entirely from upland grasslands—a strategy often promoted as a way to boost carbon storage and tackle climate change—may actually reduce the most stable forms of soil carbon, according ...
Ecology
Feb 2, 2026
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An experiment in western China over the past four decades shows that it is possible to tame the expansion of desert lands with greenery, and, in the process, pull excess carbon dioxide out of the sky.
Earth Sciences
Jan 26, 2026
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A global research effort led by Colorado State University shows that extreme, prolonged drought conditions in grasslands and shrublands would greatly limit the long-term health of crucial ecosystems that cover nearly half ...
Earth Sciences
Oct 16, 2025
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Healthy rangelands are essential for ensuring grazing and forage productivity, reducing wind erosion and wildfire risks, and supporting wildlife ecosystems. Covering about 30% of the United States' land, these vast areas ...
Biotechnology
Aug 26, 2025
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