Journal of Arid Environments最新文献

英文中文

Biomineralized sand facilitates the structural development of cyanobacterial biocrust

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-02-17 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105339

Keiichi Kimura , Toshiya Okuro

Land degradation is a global problem, and effective land restoration techniques are needed. The introduction of biocrust has attracted much attention because biocrust-forming organisms have a high survival rate in harsh environments and perform various ecological functions. However, physical disturbances and low water resources impede biocrust development. In degraded areas, soil tackifiers and amendments are often applied before biocrust inoculation, but optimal methods require further research. This study examined whether biomineralization by ureolytic bacteria, one soil stabilization method, could facilitate the growth of biocrust-forming cyanobacteria and biocrust development by improving soil stability and water retention. We incubated cyanobacterial biocrusts on biomineralized sand layers, bare sand, and sand with calcium carbonate powder and, measured indicators of biocrust development, soil stability, and water infiltration. Biomineralization with the biocrust had no effect on water infiltration but improved soil stability. Biomineralization did not significantly facilitate cyanobacterial growth but did improve biocrust structure development. Our findings indicate that biomineralization can enhance the biocrust structure at least in the short term. Longer experiments are needed to clarify the negative aspect of biomineralization on cyanobacterial growth.

{"title":"Biomineralized sand facilitates the structural development of cyanobacterial biocrust","authors":"Keiichi Kimura , Toshiya Okuro","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105339","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105339","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land degradation is a global problem, and effective land restoration techniques are needed. The introduction of biocrust has attracted much attention because biocrust-forming organisms have a high survival rate in harsh environments and perform various ecological functions. However, physical disturbances and low water resources impede biocrust development. In degraded areas, soil tackifiers and amendments are often applied before biocrust inoculation, but optimal methods require further research. This study examined whether biomineralization by ureolytic bacteria, one soil stabilization method, could facilitate the growth of biocrust-forming cyanobacteria and biocrust development by improving soil stability and water retention. We incubated cyanobacterial biocrusts on biomineralized sand layers, bare sand, and sand with calcium carbonate powder and, measured indicators of biocrust development, soil stability, and water infiltration. Biomineralization with the biocrust had no effect on water infiltration but improved soil stability. Biomineralization did not significantly facilitate cyanobacterial growth but did improve biocrust structure development. Our findings indicate that biomineralization can enhance the biocrust structure at least in the short term. Longer experiments are needed to clarify the negative aspect of biomineralization on cyanobacterial growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 105339"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143428063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Yearly variations in spatial distribution of large mammals in a protected savannah ecosystem in West Africa

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-02-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105336

Emmanuel M. Hema , Yaya Ouattara , Urbain Belemsobgo , Ismael M. Tou , Youssouf Sanou , Mamadou Karama , Giovanni Amori , Julia E. Fa , Luca Luiselli

Tropical savannah ecosystems exhibit high biodiversity, encompassing a range of megafauna, including elephants, lions, ungulates, birds, and insects. While substantial research has been conducted on the ecological dynamics of eastern and southern African savannahs, West African savannahs, particularly within the semi-arid Sudanian and Sahelian biomes, remain understudied. This study assesses the spatial distribution and habitat utilization of 15 large mammal species (mostly ungulates but also three primates and the elephant Loxodonta africana) in Comoé-Léraba National Park, southwestern Burkina Faso, over the period 2010–2018. Data collection employed line transect surveys to estimate ungulate populations, while the Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) method quantified interannual variations in species occupancy. General Linear Models (GLM) assessed the effects of time and species identity on minimum occupied area. Results indicated no significant temporal variation in species distribution; however, species-specific effects suggested differential habitat preferences. Despite overall spatial stability, variations in poaching indices may have influenced localized species persistence. The reappearance of Loxodonta africana in 2018 underscores the necessity of protecting water-associated habitats and maintaining ecological connectivity. Findings emphasise the need for targeted conservation strategies to sustain biodiversity and mitigate anthropogenic pressures in West African savannahs.

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引用次数: 0

Impact of drought-induced herbivory by Cape porcupine on Aloe claviflora on the Wolwekraal Nature Reserve, Prince Albert

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-02-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105337

G. Arena , S.J. Milton

Aloe claviflora, widely distributed across the arid regions of southern Africa, remains understudied. In 2016, a population on the Wolwekraal Nature Reserve (113 ha) in the Western Cape, Succulent Karoo Biome, was surveyed to examine size class distribution and floral visitors. The genet population (205) had an inverse-J shape distribution with most genets occurring in the small size class (<0.5–1 m) and fewer occurring in the large size classes. The ramet population (1354), exhibited a typical bell-shaped distribution, with 77% of ramets in 2016 occurring in the reproductive size class. In 2016 and 2021, 33% and 29% of the population produced flowers, respectively, which were visited by birds, reptiles, honeybees, solitary bees, and small mammals. Persistent drought (2015–2021) halted flowering in 2019 and 2020. Browsing by Cape Porcupine was first observed in 2018. Therefore, subsequent surveys conducted in 2019 and 2021 assessed the extent of damage. Since 2016, 62.9% of genets and 39.7% of ramets were destroyed. The data suggest that the animals frequently browsed on reproductive ramets. This study highlights the impact of drought-induced porcupine browsing on A. claviflora survival, underscoring significant changes in porcupine behavior and the resulting population decline of this long-lived, arid-adapted species.

{"title":"Impact of drought-induced herbivory by Cape porcupine on Aloe claviflora on the Wolwekraal Nature Reserve, Prince Albert","authors":"G. Arena , S.J. Milton","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Aloe claviflora</em>, widely distributed across the arid regions of southern Africa, remains understudied. In 2016, a population on the Wolwekraal Nature Reserve (113 ha) in the Western Cape, Succulent Karoo Biome, was surveyed to examine size class distribution and floral visitors. The genet population (205) had an inverse-J shape distribution with most genets occurring in the small size class (<0.5–1 m) and fewer occurring in the large size classes. The ramet population (1354), exhibited a typical bell-shaped distribution, with 77% of ramets in 2016 occurring in the reproductive size class. In 2016 and 2021, 33% and 29% of the population produced flowers, respectively, which were visited by birds, reptiles, honeybees, solitary bees, and small mammals. Persistent drought (2015–2021) halted flowering in 2019 and 2020. Browsing by Cape Porcupine was first observed in 2018. Therefore, subsequent surveys conducted in 2019 and 2021 assessed the extent of damage. Since 2016, 62.9% of genets and 39.7% of ramets were destroyed. The data suggest that the animals frequently browsed on reproductive ramets. This study highlights the impact of drought-induced porcupine browsing on <em>A. claviflora</em> survival, underscoring significant changes in porcupine behavior and the resulting population decline of this long-lived, arid-adapted species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 105337"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Beyond boundaries: Phylogeographic structure and major range extension of the Sinai Fan-Toed Gecko, Ptyodactylus guttatus (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) in Saudi Arabia

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-02-13 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105335

Lukáš Pola , Damien M. Egan , Faris A. Mukhtar , Abdulaziz A. Alkaboor , Euan Ferguson , Neil Rowntree , Doubravka Velenská , Vojtěch Waldhauser , Denis Hlaváč , Binish Roobas , Mohammed Shobrak , Ahmed Mohajja AlShammari , Salvador Carranza , Ricardo Oliveira Ramalho , David Olson , Josh Smithson , Jiří Šmíd

The harsh desert environment of Saudi Arabia, though seemingly inhospitable, harbours a rich herpetofauna. Field surveys conducted between 2019 and 2024 led to the rediscovery of the Sinai Fan-Toed Gecko (Ptyodactylus guttatus), a species distributed in the countries of southern Levant, previously known in Saudi Arabia only on the basis of a few historical records. This study combines phylogeographic analysis and ecological niche modelling to explore the species' genetic diversity and potential distribution. Phylogenetic analyses revealed four distinct lineages within Saudi Arabia, though nuclear markers showed a degree of allele sharing among these lineages. Ecological niche modelling suggests that the species' range may be nearly twice as large as previously assumed from its entire range, now extending into Tabuk, Medina, Bahah, and Ha'il Provinces of Saudi Arabia, showing a significant range extension. Additionally, by including topotypic material of P. ananjevae, we clarify its status within the P. hasselquistii species complex, laying an essential groundwork for systematic revision within this complex. This study enhances our understanding of herpetofaunal diversity in Saudi Arabia and emphasises the need for continued fieldwork and genetic research.

{"title":"Beyond boundaries: Phylogeographic structure and major range extension of the Sinai Fan-Toed Gecko, Ptyodactylus guttatus (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) in Saudi Arabia","authors":"Lukáš Pola , Damien M. Egan , Faris A. Mukhtar , Abdulaziz A. Alkaboor , Euan Ferguson , Neil Rowntree , Doubravka Velenská , Vojtěch Waldhauser , Denis Hlaváč , Binish Roobas , Mohammed Shobrak , Ahmed Mohajja AlShammari , Salvador Carranza , Ricardo Oliveira Ramalho , David Olson , Josh Smithson , Jiří Šmíd","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The harsh desert environment of Saudi Arabia, though seemingly inhospitable, harbours a rich herpetofauna. Field surveys conducted between 2019 and 2024 led to the rediscovery of the Sinai Fan-Toed Gecko (<em>Ptyodactylus guttatus</em>), a species distributed in the countries of southern Levant, previously known in Saudi Arabia only on the basis of a few historical records. This study combines phylogeographic analysis and ecological niche modelling to explore the species' genetic diversity and potential distribution. Phylogenetic analyses revealed four distinct lineages within Saudi Arabia, though nuclear markers showed a degree of allele sharing among these lineages. Ecological niche modelling suggests that the species' range may be nearly twice as large as previously assumed from its entire range, now extending into Tabuk, Medina, Bahah, and Ha'il Provinces of Saudi Arabia, showing a significant range extension. Additionally, by including topotypic material of <em>P. ananjevae</em>, we clarify its status within the <em>P. hasselquistii</em> species complex, laying an essential groundwork for systematic revision within this complex. This study enhances our understanding of herpetofaunal diversity in Saudi Arabia and emphasises the need for continued fieldwork and genetic research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 105335"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143394829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Feeding through the ages: Revisiting the diet of meerkats

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-02-02 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105331

Walter R. Jubber , Marta B. Manser , Andrea Fuller

We investigated the diet and foraging behaviour of a social carnivore, the meerkat (Suricata suricatta), living in stochastic dryland, and examined seasonal, as well as age-related variation in diet. Insecta constituted the highest percentage of prey eaten (88.4%), followed by Arachnida (5.7%), Diplopoda (4.3%), and Reptilia (1.1%). Within Insecta, Coleoptera (70.4%) was the most dominant prey order in the diet, followed by Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. There was seasonal variation in the diet of meerkats, with the three main Coleoptera families eaten year-round, but higher consumption of Coleoptera adults in the wet season than in the dry season. We found that old adult meerkats (>24 months) consumed the most large-sized prey, while sub-adults (6–10 months) had the highest prey count of small adult Carabidae beetles. Yearlings (15–24 months) ate the highest percentage of Hepialidae caterpillars. Whether the high representation of Coleoptera in the meerkat diet reflects dietary opportunism associated with the relatively high abundance of Coleoptera, or specialisation in the diet regardless of abundance, remains to be determined.

{"title":"Feeding through the ages: Revisiting the diet of meerkats","authors":"Walter R. Jubber , Marta B. Manser , Andrea Fuller","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105331","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105331","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We investigated the diet and foraging behaviour of a social carnivore, the meerkat (<em>Suricata suricatta</em>), living in stochastic dryland, and examined seasonal, as well as age-related variation in diet. Insecta constituted the highest percentage of prey eaten (88.4%), followed by Arachnida (5.7%), Diplopoda (4.3%), and Reptilia (1.1%). Within Insecta, Coleoptera (70.4%) was the most dominant prey order in the diet, followed by Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. There was seasonal variation in the diet of meerkats, with the three main Coleoptera families eaten year-round, but higher consumption of Coleoptera adults in the wet season than in the dry season. We found that old adult meerkats (>24 months) consumed the most large-sized prey, while sub-adults (6–10 months) had the highest prey count of small adult Carabidae beetles. Yearlings (15–24 months) ate the highest percentage of Hepialidae caterpillars. Whether the high representation of Coleoptera in the meerkat diet reflects dietary opportunism associated with the relatively high abundance of Coleoptera, or specialisation in the diet regardless of abundance, remains to be determined.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 105331"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143136505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Sustaining agricultural livelihoods: The influence of agrotourism on enhancing wellbeing and income in the Todgha Oasis, Morocco

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105333

M'hamed Ahrabous , Khalil Allali , Aziz Fadlaoui , Fatima Arib

Agrotourism activities stimulate the development of additional local activities (e.g., tourist service providers, crafts, shops, and museums) and promote the rural area overall. Therefore, this study examines the impact of agrotourism on the wellbeing of farmers in the Todgha Oasis in Morocco. Using primary data from 47 farming households, the study employs factorial analysis of variance to analyze the influence of age, experience in agrotourism, and land ownership area on agrotourism income. Welfare indicators, including income-to-expenditure ratios, poverty thresholds, and the agricultural minimum wage (AMW), are also assessed to evaluate household prosperity. Our results reveal that agrotourism experience and land ownership area significantly predict agrotourism income, with a notable interactive effect highlighting the advantages of experienced farmers with larger landholdings. Agrotourism contributes to reducing poverty and elevating household income above the AMW for the majority of participants, fostering socioeconomic resilience. The contribution of this study is that it is the first study in North Africa that analyzes the impact of agrotourism on the wellbeing of Todgha Oasis farmers. The findings can serve as a reference for policymakers to formulate poverty reduction programs and improve agricultural households’ wellbeing by promoting broader agricultural and agrotourism activity.

{"title":"Sustaining agricultural livelihoods: The influence of agrotourism on enhancing wellbeing and income in the Todgha Oasis, Morocco","authors":"M'hamed Ahrabous , Khalil Allali , Aziz Fadlaoui , Fatima Arib","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105333","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105333","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agrotourism activities stimulate the development of additional local activities (e.g., tourist service providers, crafts, shops, and museums) and promote the rural area overall. Therefore, this study examines the impact of agrotourism on the wellbeing of farmers in the Todgha Oasis in Morocco. Using primary data from 47 farming households, the study employs factorial analysis of variance to analyze the influence of age, experience in agrotourism, and land ownership area on agrotourism income. Welfare indicators, including income-to-expenditure ratios, poverty thresholds, and the agricultural minimum wage (AMW), are also assessed to evaluate household prosperity. Our results reveal that agrotourism experience and land ownership area significantly predict agrotourism income, with a notable interactive effect highlighting the advantages of experienced farmers with larger landholdings. Agrotourism contributes to reducing poverty and elevating household income above the AMW for the majority of participants, fostering socioeconomic resilience. The contribution of this study is that it is the first study in North Africa that analyzes the impact of agrotourism on the wellbeing of Todgha Oasis farmers. The findings can serve as a reference for policymakers to formulate poverty reduction programs and improve agricultural households’ wellbeing by promoting broader agricultural and agrotourism activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 105333"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143136506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The impact of Polylepis tarapacana on soil microbial communities in the Andean Dry Puna of Chile

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105332

Ignacio Gutiérrez-Cortés , Sofia Simpson , Marlene Manzano , Huber Villca , Benjamín Castro , Jean-Baptiste Ramond , María del Pilar Fernández Murillo , Fernando D. Alfaro

The interaction between plants and soil biogeochemical processes plays a key role in shaping microbial communities, especially under extreme conditions like those in the dry Andes. Polylepis tarapacana, one of the few trees able to survive in these conditions, influences soil development in significant ways. This study examines how P. tarapacana impacts soil microbial communities across varying tree cover. The presence of the tree was found to increase soil organic matter and pH, associated with changes in microbial composition and abundance. Bacterial phyla such as Verrucomicrobiota, Gemmatimonadota, and Nitrospirota increased significantly to the high cover site, while Chloroflexota and Armatimonadota decreased significantly to the absent cover site. Saprotrophic fungi and pathogens thrived with less plant cover, while ericoid mycorrhizal fungi were more prevalent in high and absent cover areas. Sulfur respiration rose in high cover sites, while ammonification decreased in medium cover areas. Enzymatic activities related to phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon capture also increased with tree cover, along with heterotrophic respiration. These findings suggest that improved soil conditions in areas with higher tree cover enhance microbial communities and soil functions.

{"title":"The impact of Polylepis tarapacana on soil microbial communities in the Andean Dry Puna of Chile","authors":"Ignacio Gutiérrez-Cortés , Sofia Simpson , Marlene Manzano , Huber Villca , Benjamín Castro , Jean-Baptiste Ramond , María del Pilar Fernández Murillo , Fernando D. Alfaro","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105332","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105332","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The interaction between plants and soil biogeochemical processes plays a key role in shaping microbial communities, especially under extreme conditions like those in the dry Andes. <em>Polylepis tarapacana</em>, one of the few trees able to survive in these conditions, influences soil development in significant ways. This study examines how <em>P. tarapacana</em> impacts soil microbial communities across varying tree cover. The presence of the tree was found to increase soil organic matter and pH, associated with changes in microbial composition and abundance. Bacterial phyla such as <em>Verrucomicrobiota</em>, <em>Gemmatimonadota</em>, and <em>Nitrospirota</em> increased significantly to the high cover site, while <em>Chloroflexota</em> and <em>Armatimonadota</em> decreased significantly to the absent cover site. Saprotrophic fungi and pathogens thrived with less plant cover, while ericoid mycorrhizal fungi were more prevalent in high and absent cover areas. Sulfur respiration rose in high cover sites, while ammonification decreased in medium cover areas. Enzymatic activities related to phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon capture also increased with tree cover, along with heterotrophic respiration. These findings suggest that improved soil conditions in areas with higher tree cover enhance microbial communities and soil functions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 105332"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143136503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Quantifying the relative contributions of rainfall and antecedent soil moisture to flood generation: Analysis of 963 Iranian catchments

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-01-29 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105328

Afshin Jahanshahi , Martijn J. Booij

Throughout human history, floods have resulted in significant environmental and economic damages globally, and these impacts are expected to increase with climate change. Despite the occurrence of significant floods in Iran in recent decades, the precise impact of intense rainfall and antecedent soil moisture (ASM) on flood occurrence and how this relationship differs at different locations remains an area that requires further investigation. In this study, we analyzed annual maximum floods at 963 catchments across Iran from 1972 to 2019 (47 years). Moreover, we evaluated the relationship between catchment area and the main factor responsible for flood generation. Our analysis reveals a shift in the dominant factor driving flood generation from rainfall to ASM as the catchment area expands. The correlation between the topographic wetness index and the ratio of the relative significance of ASM (S) and daily rainfall (R) (i.e., Soil moisture-to-Rainfall Ratio;

S R R = \frac{S}{R}

.), is positive, while the correlation between the magnitude of annual floods and SRR ratio is negative. A quantitative estimation of potential flood probability in ungauged catchments in Iran is facilitated by establishing a framework based on the relationship between easily measurable catchment attributes and the primary phenomenon of flood generation.

{"title":"Quantifying the relative contributions of rainfall and antecedent soil moisture to flood generation: Analysis of 963 Iranian catchments","authors":"Afshin Jahanshahi , Martijn J. Booij","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105328","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105328","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Throughout human history, floods have resulted in significant environmental and economic damages globally, and these impacts are expected to increase with climate change. Despite the occurrence of significant floods in Iran in recent decades, the precise impact of intense rainfall and antecedent soil moisture (ASM) on flood occurrence and how this relationship differs at different locations remains an area that requires further investigation. In this study, we analyzed annual maximum floods at 963 catchments across Iran from 1972 to 2019 (47 years). Moreover, we evaluated the relationship between catchment area and the main factor responsible for flood generation. Our analysis reveals a shift in the dominant factor driving flood generation from rainfall to ASM as the catchment area expands. The correlation between the topographic wetness index and the ratio of the relative significance of ASM (S) and daily rainfall (R) (i.e., Soil moisture-to-Rainfall Ratio; <span><math><mrow><mi>S</mi><mi>R</mi><mi>R</mi><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mi>S</mi><mi>R</mi></mfrac></mrow></math></span>.), is positive, while the correlation between the magnitude of annual floods and <em>SRR</em> ratio is negative. A quantitative estimation of potential flood probability in ungauged catchments in Iran is facilitated by establishing a framework based on the relationship between easily measurable catchment attributes and the primary phenomenon of flood generation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 105328"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143136507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Piles and towers: Timnian mortuary monuments in the Negev desert of the 6th–3rd millennium BCE

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-01-29 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105322

Yael Abadi-Reiss

During the protohistoric period, a dominant burial practice in the deserts of the southern Levant involved above-ground, stone-built tombs, associated with the semi-nomadic Timnian cultural entity. This paper examines the characteristics of three distinct grave types from this period, highlighting regional and chronological variations between them. We present data from a newly excavated namus (singular of nawamis) stone-built tomb at the Ashalim site in the Negev Desert, offering an opportunity to explore connections between the Negev and neighboring populations. The Ashalim tomb reveals strong links with burial structures in Sinai to the south, while also reflecting the influence of a broader phenomenon common to the deserts further east—namely, the construction of grave markers.

引用次数: 0

Biophysical and environmental changes in livestock disturbed areas in a South-American desert woodland. Potential implications for natural or assisted re-vegetation

IF 2.6 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Arid Environments

Pub Date : 2025-01-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2024.105314

Lucía Nadia Biruk , María Elena Fernández , Julieta Nelida Aranibar , Carla Valeria Giordano

Livestock breeding is among the main productive activities in drylands, often reducing vegetation cover, impacting the surrounding environment and plant regeneration. However, the magnitude of the change in environmental variables in response to vegetation changes has rarely been assessed in arid ecosystems. Our objective was to quantify changes in vegetation cover and floristic composition, as well as the associated microclimatic and edaphic variables that can challenge the ecosystem's restorative capacity in the Monte desert woodland of Argentina. We surveyed sites at 600 (disturbed) and 2000 m (relatively undisturbed) from five rural livestock posts. We found that disturbed sites had lower vegetation cover, altered floristic composition and more stressful environmental conditions for plants. The widest difference was a 50 % decrease in soil NO₃⁻-N concentration, coupled with a 30 % increase in solar radiation (mainly UV-B), a 4 °C increase in air temperature, and coarser soil texture. Potential constraints to plant regeneration would be therefore not only related to low water availability, but also to lower fertility, higher radiation and temperature. Decisions on species selection to restore these ecosystems must therefore consider plant traits related to nutrient use and uptake capacity, and resistance to photo-oxidative stress, in addition to drought resistance.

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