Woody plants are encroaching across terrestrial ecosystems globally, and this has dramatic
effects on how these systems function and the livelihoods of producers who rely on the land …

Woody vegetation in grasslands and savannas has increased worldwide over the past 100–
200 years. This phenomenon of “woody plant encroachment”(WPE) has been documented …

Grasslands are an important global ecosystem, providing essential ecological and economic
ecosystem services. Over the last couple decades, as a result of climate change and human …

Transitions from semiarid grassland to shrubland states are among the most widely
recognized examples of regime shifts in terrestrial ecosystems. Nonetheless, the processes …

Hysteresis is a fundamental characteristic of alternative stable state theory, yet evidence of
hysteresis is rare. In mesic grasslands, fire frequency regulates transition from grass‐to …

Aim Theory suggests that as ecological systems approach regime shifts, they become
increasingly slow in recovering from perturbations. This phenomenon, known as critical …

Arid and semiarid grasslands of southwestern North America have changed dramatically
over the last 150 years as a result of woody plant encroachment. Overgrazing, reduced fire …

Anthropogenic and natural shrub encroachment have similar ecological consequences on
native grassland ecosystems. In fact, there is an accelerating trend toward anthropogenic …

Abstract Changes in precipitation pattern are likely to affect the community structure and
ecosystem function in drylands. Observational and experimental studies can provide insight …

This essay approaches land degradation by targeting its ultimate thermodynamic causes,
rather than its immediate environmental consequences. The objective is to make some …