Climatic change and rainfall patterns: Effects on semi-arid plant communities of the Iberian Southeast

► Climatic change will alter rainfall frequency and seasonal distribution in arid systems. ► Such changes may have profound effects on the structure and function of plant communities. ► We review the few experiments that have manipulated rainfall patterns in arid systems. ► Results of a pioneer, long-term rain exclusion in arid SE Spain are introduced. ► These arid plant communities exhibit great resilience to changes in rainfall patterns.