Grazing and ecosystem service delivery in global drylands
Authors: Maestre Fernando T. , Le Bagousse-Pinguet Yoann , Delgado-Baquerizo Manuel , Eldridge David J. , Saiz Hugo , Berdugo Miguel , Gozalo Beatriz , Ochoa Victoria , Guirado Emilio , García-Gómez Miguel , Valencia Enrique , Gaitán Juan J. , Asensio Sergio , Mendoza Betty J. , Plaza César , Díaz-Martínez Paloma , Rey Ana , Hu Hang-Wei , He Ji-Zheng , Wang Jun-Tao , Lehmann Anika , Rillig Matthias C. , Cesarz Simone , Eisenhauer Nico , Martínez-Valderrama Jaime , Moreno-Jiménez Eduardo , Sala Osvaldo , Abedi Mehdi , Ahmadian Negar , Alados Concepción L. , Aramayo Valeria , Amghar Fateh , Arredondo Tulio , Ahumada Rodrigo J. , Bahalkeh Khadijeh , Ben Salem Farah , Blaum Niels , Boldgiv Bazartseren , Bowker Matthew A. , Bran Donaldo , Bu Chongfeng , Canessa Rafaella , Castillo-Monroy Andrea P. , Castro Helena , Castro Ignacio , Castro-Quezada Patricio , Chibani Roukaya , Conceição Abel A. , Currier Courtney M. , Darrouzet-Nardi Anthony , Deák Balázs , Donoso David A. , Dougill Andrew J. , Durán Jorge , Erdenetsetseg Batdelger , Espinosa Carlos I. , Fajardo Alex , Farzam Mohammad , Ferrante Daniela , Frank Anke S. K. , Fraser Lauchlan H. , Gherardi Laureano A. , Greenville Aaron C. , Guerra Carlos A. , Gusmán-Montalvan Elizabeth , Hernández-Hernández Rosa M. , Hölzel Norbert , Huber-Sannwald Elisabeth , Hughes Frederic M. , Jadán-Maza Oswaldo , Jeltsch Florian , Jentsch Anke , Kaseke Kudzai F. , Köbel Melanie , Koopman Jessica E. , Leder Cintia V. , Linstädter Anja , le Roux Peter C. , Li Xinkai , Liancourt Pierre , Liu Jushan , Louw Michelle A. , Maggs-Kölling Gillian , Makhalanyane Thulani P. , Issa Oumarou Malam , Manzaneda Antonio J. , Marais Eugene , Mora Juan P. , Moreno Gerardo , Munson Seth M. , Nunes Alice , Oliva Gabriel , Oñatibia Gastón R. , Peter Guadalupe , Pivari Marco O. D. , Pueyo Yolanda , Quiroga R. Emiliano , Rahmanian Soroor , Reed Sasha C. , Rey Pedro J. , Richard Benoit , Rodríguez Alexandra , Rolo Víctor , Rubalcaba Juan G. , Ruppert Jan C. , Salah Ayman , Schuchardt Max A. , Spann Sedona , Stavi Ilan , Stephens Colton R. A. , Swemmer Anthony M. , Teixido Alberto L. , Thomas Andrew D. , Throop Heather L. , Tielbörger Katja , Travers Samantha , Val James , Valkó Orsolya , van den Brink Liesbeth , Ayuso Sergio Velasco , Velbert Frederike , Wamiti Wanyoike , Wang Deli , Wang Lixin , Wardle Glenda M. , Yahdjian Laura , Zaady Eli , Zhang Yuanming , Zhou Xiaobing , Singh Brajesh K. , Gross Nicolas 
Published: November 2022

Grazing represents the most extensive use of land worldwide. Yet its impacts on ecosystem services remain uncertain because pervasive interactions between grazing pressure, climate, soil properties, and biodiversity may occur but have never been addressed simultaneously. Using a standardized survey at 98 sites across six continents, we show that interactions between grazing pressure, climate, soil, and biodiversity are critical to explain the delivery of fundamental ecosystem services across drylands worldwide. Increasing grazing pressure reduced ecosystem service delivery in warmer and species-poor drylands, whereas positive effects of grazing were observed in colder and species-rich areas. Considering interactions between grazing and local abiotic and biotic factors is key for understanding the fate of dryland ecosystems under climate change and increasing human pressure.