Contrasts of differences within plant species and ecotypes are often best examined in
ecology, evolution and genetics through provenance and biogeographical comparisons …

Climate change profoundly influences plants and animals in all ecosystems including
drylands such as semi-arid and arid scrublands and grasslands. At the peak of an extended …

Functional trait combinations underlie assembly rules of plant communities. In harsh
environments, facilitation is widespread but its strength varies greatly between pairs of …

Earth's dryland (hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid) ecosystems face increasing
aridity and invasion by exotic plant species. In concert, these global changes threaten the …

Despite the recognition of positive interactions as an important driver of species coexistence
and community structure, the underlying mechanism of how facilitation affects assembly …

Shrubs commonly shape the plant community in arid ecosystems such as deserts. Plant
interactions between shrubs and the associated species can be both negative and positive …

Dominant vegetation in many ecosystems is an integral component of structure and habitat.
In many drylands, native shrubs function as foundation species that benefit other plants and …

Arthropods underpin arid community dynamics and provide many key ecosystem services.
In arid ecosystems, the key habitat components that influence arthropod community structure …

Questions The biodiversity of deserts is becoming increasingly threatened due to global
change including the introduction of invasive species. Desert shrubs are foundational …

Abstract Question The Stress Gradient Hypothesis (SGH) predicts that competition and
facilitation shift along stress gradients. We ask if the underlying mechanisms operate at …