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https://doi.org/10.5194/we-22-75-2022
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The BIODESERT survey: assessing the impacts of grazing on the structure and functioning of global drylands
Fernando T. Maestre
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramón
Margalef”, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain
Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante,
Spain
David J. Eldridge
Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and
Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South
Wales 2052, Australia
Nicolas Gross
INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Unité Mixte
de Recherche Ecosystème Prairial, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Yoann Le Bagousse-Pinguet
Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, Avignon Université, IRD, IMBE,
Technopôle Arbois-Méditerranée, Bât. Villemin – BP 80,
13545 Aix-en-Provence, CEDEX 04, France
Hugo Saiz
Departamento de Ciencias Agrarias y del Medio Natural, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain
Beatriz Gozalo
Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramón
Margalef”, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain
Victoria Ochoa
Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramón
Margalef”, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain
Juan J. Gaitán
Instituto
de Suelos-CNIA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham 1686, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Departamento de Tecnología,
Universidad Nacional de Luján, Luján 6700, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Web Ecol., 26, 119–155, https://doi.org/10.5194/we-26-119-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/we-26-119-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Our greenhouse study shows arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi drive robust root growth, while grasses boost aboveground yield. Crucially, commercial treatments can reduce fungal diversity, whereas forbs thrive with more diverse fungal communities. This research is vital for sustainable agriculture, proving that simply adding fungi is not enough. We must understand these specific interactions to truly enhance soil biodiversity and ecosystem health.
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Short summary
Here we introduce the BIODESERT survey, the first systematic field survey devoted to evaluating the joint impacts of grazing by domestic livestock and climate on the structure and functioning of dryland ecosystems worldwide. We describe the major characteristics and the field protocols used in this survey and the organizational aspects followed to carry it out succesfully.
Here we introduce the BIODESERT survey, the first systematic field survey devoted to evaluating...
Special issue