Academic Journal
Aridity and drought: distinct concepts often conflated in ecological research.
| Τίτλος: | Aridity and drought: distinct concepts often conflated in ecological research. |
|---|---|
| Συγγραφείς: | Knapp AK; Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Chatwin A; Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Gardner JE; Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Hall A; Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Jacobi A; Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Otto S; Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Siggers JA; Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Toman JG; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Tooley EG; Department of Biology and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Griffin-Nolan RJ; Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Chico, CA, 95929, USA. |
| Πηγή: | The New phytologist [New Phytol] 2026 May; Vol. 250 (4), pp. 2026-2038. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 13. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Review |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Wiley on behalf of New Phytologist Trust Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9882884 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1469-8137 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0028646X NLM ISO Abbreviation: New Phytol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Oxford : Wiley on behalf of New Phytologist Trust Original Publication: London, New York [etc.] Academic Press. |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Droughts* , Drought Resistance* , Adaptation, Physiological*, Climate ; Ecosystem ; Ecology ; Water |
| Περίληψη: | As well-established drivers of ecological pattern and process, aridity and drought are linked by a common focus on water limitation - with both aridity and especially drought projected to increase in extent and severity with climate change. There is a long history of assessing plant adaptations to drought through the lens of aridity. Consistent with this history, trait-based studies of drought typically frame their hypotheses around how plants, communities, and ecosystems vary along spatial aridity gradients. However, aridity, as a long-term, water-limited climatic state, differs fundamentally from drought, which is an anomalous but discrete period of severe water limitation. Here, we ask whether patterns observed along aridity gradients should conceptually underpin how plants are hypothesized to respond to drought. We briefly review literature that either supports or challenges the use of traits that vary along aridity gradients to predict responses to drought. We then highlight reasons why plants and ecosystems might be expected to respond differently to aridity and drought. We conclude that the conflation of aridity with drought may hamper progress in understanding the ecological consequences of globally increasing water limitation. Advancing the field of drought ecology would be better served by testing hypotheses arising from alternative frameworks. (© 2026 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2026 New Phytologist Foundation.) |
| References: | Nature. 2024 Nov;635(8039):631-638. (PMID: 39443806) Ecol Lett. 2022 Dec;25(12):2688-2698. (PMID: 36269682) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Jul 14;112(28):8672-7. (PMID: 26100891) Glob Chang Biol. 2018 Jul;24(7):2818-2827. (PMID: 29505170) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Jan 2;121(1):e2304404120. (PMID: 38109562) Oecologia. 2002 Feb;130(3):449-457. (PMID: 28547053) New Phytol. 2021 Jul;231(2):540-558. (PMID: 33864276) Plant Cell. 2023 Jan 2;35(1):67-108. (PMID: 36018271) Plant Cell Environ. 2023 May;46(5):1489-1503. (PMID: 36655754) Glob Chang Biol. 2021 Mar;27(6):1127-1140. (PMID: 33295684) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Jun;31(6):e70260. (PMID: 40452421) Plant Cell Environ. 2025 Mar;48(3):2053-2066. (PMID: 39552528) Front Plant Sci. 2022 Oct 07;13:949531. (PMID: 36275606) Nat Commun. 2025 Aug 29;16(1):8095. (PMID: 40883303) Ann Bot. 2025 Dec 20;136(7):1565-1574. (PMID: 40795458) Ecology. 2021 Sep;102(9):e03437. (PMID: 34133764) Nat Commun. 2020 Jan 28;11(1):545. (PMID: 31992718) Ecol Evol. 2017 Mar 30;7(9):3123-3131. (PMID: 28480011) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Jul 12;113(28):E4043-51. (PMID: 27354534) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Jan 13;112(2):448-52. (PMID: 25548195) New Phytol. 2023 Aug;239(3):888-904. (PMID: 37282764) Ann Bot. 2006 Nov;98(5):927-33. (PMID: 17028299) Nature. 2004 Jun 10;429(6992):651-4. (PMID: 15190350) Science. 2017 Sep 1;357(6354):917-921. (PMID: 28860384) Trends Ecol Evol. 2019 May;34(5):416-421. (PMID: 30824195) Plant Environ Interact. 2023 Mar 17;4(2):70-85. (PMID: 37288162) Ecol Lett. 2017 Apr;20(4):539-553. (PMID: 28220612) Oecologia. 2020 Jan;192(1):55-66. (PMID: 31932921) Nat Ecol Evol. 2025 Oct;9(10):1825-1836. (PMID: 40846760) Nature. 2023 Sep;621(7977):105-111. (PMID: 37612501) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Jul;31(7):e70363. (PMID: 40709570) Plant Cell Environ. 2015 Sep;38(9):1699-712. (PMID: 25065257) Science. 2020 Feb 14;367(6479):787-790. (PMID: 32054762) Science. 2025 Jun 12;388(6752):1153-1160. (PMID: 40504917) Nat Commun. 2021 May 12;12(1):2754. (PMID: 33980822) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Sep 8;117(36):22249-22255. (PMID: 32839346) Glob Chang Biol. 2017 Jan;23(1):209-223. (PMID: 27562605) New Phytol. 2021 Jul;231(1):32-39. (PMID: 33728638) New Phytol. 2009;184(1):257-274. (PMID: 19674334) Ecology. 2021 Oct;102(10):e03465. (PMID: 34236696) Plant Cell Environ. 2019 Apr;42(4):1104-1111. (PMID: 30513545) Oecologia. 2000 Jul;124(1):8-18. (PMID: 28308415) J Plant Res. 2016 May;129(3):449-61. (PMID: 26897637) New Phytol. 2022 Jul;235(2):420-431. (PMID: 35377474) Ecology. 2006 Mar;87(3):535-41. (PMID: 16602282) New Phytol. 2023 Oct;240(1):23-40. (PMID: 37501525) Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 1;16(1):5779. (PMID: 40592814) J Exp Bot. 2025 Sep 17;76(14):4185-4200. (PMID: 40321132) Glob Chang Biol. 2018 Jul;24(7):2929-2938. (PMID: 29350812) Trends Ecol Evol. 2025 Sep;40(9):862-873. (PMID: 40681396) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Jan 14;111(2):740-5. (PMID: 24379395) Ecology. 2009 Dec;90(12):3279-89. (PMID: 20120798) Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2023 Dec;98(6):2243-2270. (PMID: 37558208) Ecology. 2022 Dec;103(12):e3826. (PMID: 35857330) Plant Cell Environ. 2025 Jul;48(7):5357-5368. (PMID: 40177719) Science. 2025 Jan 17;387(6731):278-284. (PMID: 39818908) Tree Physiol. 2017 Jul 1;37(7):889-901. (PMID: 28419347) Nature. 2016 Jan 14;529(7585):167-71. (PMID: 26700811) Ecol Lett. 2025 Apr;28(4):e70110. (PMID: 40178069) New Phytol. 2007;175(4):686-698. (PMID: 17688584) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Jul;31(7):e70369. (PMID: 40718991) New Phytol. 2023 Mar;237(6):1998-2004. (PMID: 36308517) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Jul;31(7):e70332. (PMID: 40625258) New Phytol. 2025 Sep;247(6):2630-2646. (PMID: 40598862) Oecologia. 2023 Dec;203(3-4):297-310. (PMID: 37874360) New Phytol. 2025 Jul;247(1):388-407. (PMID: 40346892) Ecol Lett. 2014 Dec;17(12):1580-90. (PMID: 25327976) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jan 2;110(1):52-7. (PMID: 23248309) Plant Cell Environ. 2021 Jul;44(7):2414-2427. (PMID: 33817813) Ecol Evol. 2021 Nov 11;11(23):16434-16445. (PMID: 34938447) New Phytol. 2025 Dec;248(5):2236-2242. (PMID: 40963481) Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2025 May 29;380(1927):20240241. (PMID: 40439306) Ecology. 2025 Jul;106(7):e70142. (PMID: 40620163) Science. 2025 Jan 17;387(6731):246-247. (PMID: 39818876) Nature. 2025 Jun;642(8068):628-635. (PMID: 40468063) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 May 5;112(18):5744-9. (PMID: 25902534) Ecol Lett. 2025 Feb;28(2):e70084. (PMID: 39980380) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Jun 16;117(24):13580-13587. (PMID: 32482870) New Phytol. 2010 Oct;188(2):565-75. (PMID: 20663058) New Phytol. 2002 Sep;155(3):403-416. (PMID: 33873314) New Phytol. 2008;178(4):719-739. (PMID: 18422905) New Phytol. 2022 Apr;234(1):21-27. (PMID: 34679225) Plant Cell Environ. 2007 Sep;30(9):1086-106. (PMID: 17661749) Glob Chang Biol. 2024 Apr;30(4):e17292. (PMID: 38634556) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Sep;31(9):e70474. (PMID: 40892635) New Phytol. 2024 Oct;244(2):464-476. (PMID: 38863314) Nat Commun. 2023 Nov 29;14(1):7828. (PMID: 38030605) New Phytol. 2026 Mar;249(6):2808-2820. (PMID: 41431850) New Phytol. 2026 Apr;250(1):21-40. (PMID: 41572937) New Phytol. 2003 Oct;160(1):21-42. (PMID: 33873544) New Phytol. 2024 Nov;244(4):1250-1262. (PMID: 39223910) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 May;31(5):e70217. (PMID: 40341842) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Apr;31(4):e70168. (PMID: 40176575) Nature. 2004 Apr 22;428(6985):821-7. (PMID: 15103368) Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci. 2022 Dec 12;380(2238):20210285. (PMID: 36300353) Science. 2000 Sep 22;289(5487):2068-74. (PMID: 11000103) New Phytol. 2019 Sep;223(4):1834-1843. (PMID: 31087656) Sci Total Environ. 2018 Jul 1;628-629:611-620. (PMID: 29454202) New Phytol. 2022 May;234(3):1088-1100. (PMID: 35118675) Ecol Evol. 2015 Dec 09;5(24):5962-73. (PMID: 26811768) J Plant Res. 2010 Jul;123(4):551-61. (PMID: 20066555) Plant Cell Environ. 2018 Jun;41(6):1251-1262. (PMID: 29314047) Sci Rep. 2013;3:2031. (PMID: 23778457) Oecologia. 2016 Apr;180(4):961-73. (PMID: 26801493) Trends Ecol Evol. 2006 May;21(5):261-8. (PMID: 16697912) Funct Plant Biol. 2023 Jan;50(1):71-83. (PMID: 36210348) Mol Plant. 2023 Oct 2;16(10):1612-1634. (PMID: 37740489) New Phytol. 2016 Apr;210(1):97-107. (PMID: 26680276) Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst. 2016 Nov;47:215-237. (PMID: 28239303) BMC Plant Biol. 2023 May 19;23(1):266. (PMID: 37202776) Trends Ecol Evol. 2011 Feb;26(2):88-95. (PMID: 21196061) Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2017 May;92(2):1156-1173. (PMID: 27103505) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Nov;31(11):e70618. (PMID: 41287985) Science. 2017 Oct 6;358(6359):101-105. (PMID: 28983050) Glob Chang Biol. 2019 May;25(5):1665-1684. (PMID: 30746837) Funct Plant Biol. 2003 Mar;30(3):239-264. (PMID: 32689007) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Jun;31(6):e70306. (PMID: 40546057) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Jan 23;121(4):e2309881120. (PMID: 38190514) Science. 2025 Jun 12;388(6752):1167-1173. (PMID: 40504915) Glob Chang Biol. 2022 Jul;28(13):3995-3997. (PMID: 35485230) Plant Cell Environ. 2021 Jul;44(7):2090-2101. (PMID: 33534189) Plant Cell Environ. 2025 Aug;48(8):6016-6031. (PMID: 40269634) J Exp Bot. 2016 Jan;67(1):47-60. (PMID: 26428061) J Exp Bot. 2014 Nov;65(21):6219-29. (PMID: 24591050) Glob Chang Biol. 2017 Jun;23(6):2473-2481. (PMID: 28208238) Glob Chang Biol. 2023 Aug;29(15):4368-4382. (PMID: 37089078) Glob Chang Biol. 2019 Oct;25(10):3193-3200. (PMID: 31276260) Ecol Lett. 2014 Nov;17(11):1365-79. (PMID: 25199649) New Phytol. 2024 Dec;244(5):2024-2035. (PMID: 39238117) Ann Bot. 2021 Mar 24;127(4):461-471. (PMID: 32949134) Sci Adv. 2022 Nov 25;8(47):eadd6249. (PMID: 36417538) Science. 2020 Apr 17;368(6488):256-260. (PMID: 32299944) Oecologia. 2004 Oct;141(2):221-35. (PMID: 14986096) Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2025 May 29;380(1927):20240235. (PMID: 40439311) Science. 2020 Apr 17;368(6488):261-266. (PMID: 32299945) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 May 3;113(18):5024-9. (PMID: 27091965) Oecologia. 2023 Feb;201(2):311-322. (PMID: 36640197) Nature. 2012 Nov 29;491(7426):752-5. (PMID: 23172141) Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Mar;31(3):e70102. (PMID: 40022591) Plant Sci. 2015 May;234:155-62. (PMID: 25804818) Elife. 2017 Jun 01;6:. (PMID: 28570219) |
| Grant Information: | DEB-2025849 Division of Environmental Biology; EF-1137378 Division of Emerging Frontiers; 2020-67019-31795 National Institute of Food and Agriculture; 2022-67019-36367 National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: aridity; conservative vs acquisitive; drought; drought strategies; functional traits; leaf economic spectrum; water limitation |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 059QF0KO0R (Water) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260313 Date Completed: 20260902 Latest Revision: 20260902 |
| Update Code: | 20260913 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13103425 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/nph.71082 |
| PMID: | 41821516 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1469-8137 |
|---|---|
| DOI: | 10.1111/nph.71082 |