Climate extremes drive shifts in grassland biomass, impacting ecosystem stability.
Grassland belowground biomass varies across different regions and is influenced by climate. Colder regions have higher biomass, while arid regions have lower biomass. Warmer temperatures benefit C3 plants in colder regions and C4 plants in arid regions, but harm C3 plants in arid regions and C4 plants in humid savannas. Precipitation helps C4 plants in arid regions. Extreme dry events boost biomass in colder regions, while extreme wet events benefit C4 plants in savannas. Overall, climate variability affects biomass differently based on plant type and region, emphasizing the importance of maintaining ecosystem stability.