Pub Date : 2018-10-03DOI: 10.5772/INTECHOPEN.74817
Duanyang Xu
As one of the most important ecosystems of our planet, desert and desertified land have provided critical ecosystem services to support inhabitants of dry lands, and the desertification dynamics would have greatly impact on regional ecosystem services and economical-social development. In this study, the desertification dynamics in Inner Mongolia, China, and its impact on regional ecosystem services were analyzed by combining multisource data, GIS, and sensitivity analysis method. The results showed that the total ecosystem service value (ESV) decreased by 67.16 billion yuan from 1981 to 2010, and desertification dynamics had moderate linear correlation with ESV, which caused 23.7% decrease of ESV. The impacts of desertification dynamics on the change of ESV in different subregions had spatial heterogeneity, which had promoting effects in southwest of Inner Mongolia and reverse effects in northeast subregions. The sensitivity of ESV to desertification dynamics in different subregions also had obvious differences, and subregions with higher vegetation coverage always showed larger SAF (sensitivity coefficient). Different measures, such as reasonably utilizing water and soil resources, adopting water-saving technology, adjusting the industry structure, and developing the ecological industry, should be adopted by the government to control desertification and promote the ecosystem services.
{"title":"The Impact of Desertification Dynamics on Regional Ecosystem Services: A Case Study of Inner Mongolia (China)","authors":"Duanyang Xu","doi":"10.5772/INTECHOPEN.74817","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.74817","url":null,"abstract":"As one of the most important ecosystems of our planet, desert and desertified land have provided critical ecosystem services to support inhabitants of dry lands, and the desertification dynamics would have greatly impact on regional ecosystem services and economical-social development. In this study, the desertification dynamics in Inner Mongolia, China, and its impact on regional ecosystem services were analyzed by combining multisource data, GIS, and sensitivity analysis method. The results showed that the total ecosystem service value (ESV) decreased by 67.16 billion yuan from 1981 to 2010, and desertification dynamics had moderate linear correlation with ESV, which caused 23.7% decrease of ESV. The impacts of desertification dynamics on the change of ESV in different subregions had spatial heterogeneity, which had promoting effects in southwest of Inner Mongolia and reverse effects in northeast subregions. The sensitivity of ESV to desertification dynamics in different subregions also had obvious differences, and subregions with higher vegetation coverage always showed larger SAF (sensitivity coefficient). Different measures, such as reasonably utilizing water and soil resources, adopting water-saving technology, adjusting the industry structure, and developing the ecological industry, should be adopted by the government to control desertification and promote the ecosystem services.","PeriodicalId":179595,"journal":{"name":"Community and Global Ecology of Deserts","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133831790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-10-03DOI: 10.5772/INTECHOPEN.78623
Muhammad Saleem Chang
The Nara Desert Wetland Complex (NDWC) includes sandy dunes, steep hills and occupies low lying flat zones associated with different natural wetlands formed from the seepage of Nara Canal. These different wetlands are the major perennial source of water to the agricultural lands, local communities, wildlife and for grazing livestock. The NDWC encompasses more than 225 seasonal and permanent small, medium and large sized lakes/wetlands. The total area of Nara Canal is distributed about (108,960 hectares) which starts from Sorah to Head Jamrao. The NDWC was declared in 1972 as a Game Reserve area for the protection of wild animals. The NDWC is also recognized an important potential Ramsar Site. The different floral habitation in the Nara Desert consists of mostly drought resistant vegetation of phytoplankton, reed vegetation, herbs, shrubs and trees. The area is ecologically rich with the faunal biodiversity that includes zooplankton, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small and large mammals. The NDWC has received high values for its economic, social, floral and faunal habitat, aquatic biodiversity since the local communities are directly or indirectly dependent on these natural sustainable resources. During the sampling of environmental parameters, most of the wetlands were determined to be seasonal and permanent freshwater, brackish and hypersaline lakes.
{"title":"Ecological and Environmental Assessment of Nara Desert Wetland Complex (NDWC), Khairpur, Sindh-Pakistan","authors":"Muhammad Saleem Chang","doi":"10.5772/INTECHOPEN.78623","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.78623","url":null,"abstract":"The Nara Desert Wetland Complex (NDWC) includes sandy dunes, steep hills and occupies low lying flat zones associated with different natural wetlands formed from the seepage of Nara Canal. These different wetlands are the major perennial source of water to the agricultural lands, local communities, wildlife and for grazing livestock. The NDWC encompasses more than 225 seasonal and permanent small, medium and large sized lakes/wetlands. The total area of Nara Canal is distributed about (108,960 hectares) which starts from Sorah to Head Jamrao. The NDWC was declared in 1972 as a Game Reserve area for the protection of wild animals. The NDWC is also recognized an important potential Ramsar Site. The different floral habitation in the Nara Desert consists of mostly drought resistant vegetation of phytoplankton, reed vegetation, herbs, shrubs and trees. The area is ecologically rich with the faunal biodiversity that includes zooplankton, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small and large mammals. The NDWC has received high values for its economic, social, floral and faunal habitat, aquatic biodiversity since the local communities are directly or indirectly dependent on these natural sustainable resources. During the sampling of environmental parameters, most of the wetlands were determined to be seasonal and permanent freshwater, brackish and hypersaline lakes.","PeriodicalId":179595,"journal":{"name":"Community and Global Ecology of Deserts","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117031632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-10-03DOI: 10.5772/INTECHOPEN.76191
Lamia Medini-Bouaziz
Oniscids inhabiting xeric habitats are of particular interest because these habitats may be one of the important agents for desert soil fertility. Although numerous studies have examined the relationship between the environment and population ecology in wood- lice that live in mesic habitats, very little is known about these desert species. Tunisia is known for its arid regions south of the Tunisian Dorsal, habitats in which several species of terrestrial isopods are well adapted. Porcellio is the most widely represented within these habitats: their species richness reaches eight in arid bioclimatic stage. The most widespread of the Porcellio is P. buddelundi , and the least widespread is P. albicornis. Behavioral and reproductive studies carried out in Zarat and Matmata on the two spe- cies P. albinus and P. buddelundi showed that the xeric Porcellio species are mainly active at night and they shelter from the extreme heat and dryness of their habitats either in burrows they dig or by vertical migration. The reproductive pattern is seasonal with two breeding seasons. Life history traits allow P. buddelundi to be an r-strategist and P. albinus a k-strategist. The latter displays a fairly developed social behavior, which allowed him to be the most evolved of Porcellio.
{"title":"Behavioral and Reproductive Strategies of Porcellio Species (Oniscidea) in Tunisian Pre-Desert Ecosystems","authors":"Lamia Medini-Bouaziz","doi":"10.5772/INTECHOPEN.76191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.76191","url":null,"abstract":"Oniscids inhabiting xeric habitats are of particular interest because these habitats may be one of the important agents for desert soil fertility. Although numerous studies have examined the relationship between the environment and population ecology in wood- lice that live in mesic habitats, very little is known about these desert species. Tunisia is known for its arid regions south of the Tunisian Dorsal, habitats in which several species of terrestrial isopods are well adapted. Porcellio is the most widely represented within these habitats: their species richness reaches eight in arid bioclimatic stage. The most widespread of the Porcellio is P. buddelundi , and the least widespread is P. albicornis. Behavioral and reproductive studies carried out in Zarat and Matmata on the two spe- cies P. albinus and P. buddelundi showed that the xeric Porcellio species are mainly active at night and they shelter from the extreme heat and dryness of their habitats either in burrows they dig or by vertical migration. The reproductive pattern is seasonal with two breeding seasons. Life history traits allow P. buddelundi to be an r-strategist and P. albinus a k-strategist. The latter displays a fairly developed social behavior, which allowed him to be the most evolved of Porcellio.","PeriodicalId":179595,"journal":{"name":"Community and Global Ecology of Deserts","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134301144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-10-03DOI: 10.5772/INTECHOPEN.74976
Li Xingcai
At present, the researchers mainly focused on the degradation of vegetation caused by the sand burial, the sand flowing, and the loss of soil moisture and nutrients but never considered the impact of strong environmental electric field, which caused by the moving sand particles, on the physiological process of plants. In this chapter, we briefly intro-duced the research progress of wind-blown sand electrification and proposed a coupling prediction model to explain the contact electrification phenomenon of moving sand. At last, based on the rigid conduit model and the root-water-uptake model, we discussed the effect of wind-blown sand electric field, which maximum value can reach to 200 kV/m, on the speed of plant sap flow, the water potential of root, and the cell membrane permeabil- ity, respectively. The numerical simulation results showed that the wind-blown sand electric field directly accelerates the sap flow rate and indirectly decreased the water potential of plant root, which finally affects the plant physiological processes. These results can explain why the effect of wind-blown sand on the plant is obvious than that of the clean wind. From these discussions, we effectively illustrate the impact mechanism of wind-blown sand on the plant physiology in the desertification land.
{"title":"Sand Electrification Possibly Affects the Plant Physiology in Desertification Land","authors":"Li Xingcai","doi":"10.5772/INTECHOPEN.74976","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.74976","url":null,"abstract":"At present, the researchers mainly focused on the degradation of vegetation caused by the sand burial, the sand flowing, and the loss of soil moisture and nutrients but never considered the impact of strong environmental electric field, which caused by the moving sand particles, on the physiological process of plants. In this chapter, we briefly intro-duced the research progress of wind-blown sand electrification and proposed a coupling prediction model to explain the contact electrification phenomenon of moving sand. At last, based on the rigid conduit model and the root-water-uptake model, we discussed the effect of wind-blown sand electric field, which maximum value can reach to 200 kV/m, on the speed of plant sap flow, the water potential of root, and the cell membrane permeabil- ity, respectively. The numerical simulation results showed that the wind-blown sand electric field directly accelerates the sap flow rate and indirectly decreased the water potential of plant root, which finally affects the plant physiological processes. These results can explain why the effect of wind-blown sand on the plant is obvious than that of the clean wind. From these discussions, we effectively illustrate the impact mechanism of wind-blown sand on the plant physiology in the desertification land.","PeriodicalId":179595,"journal":{"name":"Community and Global Ecology of Deserts","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131704675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-10-03DOI: 10.5772/INTECHOPEN.78368
L. Hufnagel, Ferenc Mics, Melinda Pálinkás, Réka Homoródi
If ecologists or environmental scientists are talking about desert ecological research, then almost everyone is thinking about specific desert flora [1–5], fauna [6, 7], or desertification itself as a consequence of climate change [8, 9], or sand dunes-triggered disasters [10]. In fact, the importance of ecological research in deserts is far more general and wider. For deeper understanding of this importance need to overview the definition of deserts from different viewpoints, the real areas of deserts, and some basic production biological data.
{"title":"Introductory Chapter: Global Aspects and Scientific Importance of Desert Ecological Research","authors":"L. Hufnagel, Ferenc Mics, Melinda Pálinkás, Réka Homoródi","doi":"10.5772/INTECHOPEN.78368","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.78368","url":null,"abstract":"If ecologists or environmental scientists are talking about desert ecological research, then almost everyone is thinking about specific desert flora [1–5], fauna [6, 7], or desertification itself as a consequence of climate change [8, 9], or sand dunes-triggered disasters [10]. In fact, the importance of ecological research in deserts is far more general and wider. For deeper understanding of this importance need to overview the definition of deserts from different viewpoints, the real areas of deserts, and some basic production biological data.","PeriodicalId":179595,"journal":{"name":"Community and Global Ecology of Deserts","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127716583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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