Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105457
G.L. Modutlwe , C. Munyati , B. Moseki
Trees are a core component of savannah vegetation content, with vital ecosystem functions. Therefore, determining location differences in their senescence time and leaf macronutrient (MN) concentrations can yield indicators of differences in habitat quality. In this work, senescence time and MN levels in three common tree species (Colophospermum mopane, Grewia flava, Vachellia erioloba) in the semi-arid savannah woodlands of Botswana were studied, at three temperature and rainfall-contrasted study sites. Chlorophyll (Chl) levels in sample tree leaves were measured weekly in the March–May (autumn) period using a chlorophyll meter that utilised the blue + red absorption and green reflectance Chl properties. In the same period, sampling tree Green Leaf Index (GLI) values were computed from periodic (approximately every five days) cloud-free 10 m resolution Sentinel-2 MSI images. Some image dates coincided with the Chl measurement dates, which facilitated predictive modelling using GLI values. Leaf MN concentrations were determined once-off, during the peak phenology period. Graphical plots of measured Chl and GLI values indicated the onset of senescence, through the commencement of sustained reductions. Trees in the hotter, more arid site generally had earlier senescence and lower nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations than same species trees in cooler, higher rainfall sites.
{"title":"Location differences in senescence and leaf macronutrient concentrations for selected tree species in the savannah woodlands of Botswana","authors":"G.L. Modutlwe , C. Munyati , B. Moseki","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105457","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105457","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trees are a core component of savannah vegetation content, with vital ecosystem functions. Therefore, determining location differences in their senescence time and leaf macronutrient (MN) concentrations can yield indicators of differences in habitat quality. In this work, senescence time and MN levels in three common tree species (<em>Colophospermum mopane</em>, <em>Grewia flava</em>, <em>Vachellia erioloba</em>) in the semi-arid savannah woodlands of Botswana were studied, at three temperature and rainfall-contrasted study sites. Chlorophyll (Chl) levels in sample tree leaves were measured weekly in the March–May (autumn) period using a chlorophyll meter that utilised the blue + red absorption and green reflectance Chl properties. In the same period, sampling tree Green Leaf Index (GLI) values were computed from periodic (approximately every five days) cloud-free 10 m resolution Sentinel-2 MSI images. Some image dates coincided with the Chl measurement dates, which facilitated predictive modelling using GLI values. Leaf MN concentrations were determined once-off, during the peak phenology period. Graphical plots of measured Chl and GLI values indicated the onset of senescence, through the commencement of sustained reductions. Trees in the hotter, more arid site generally had earlier senescence and lower nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations than same species trees in cooler, higher rainfall sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105457"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828555","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105451
Victoria Márquez , Lucas M. Carbone , N. David Jiménez-Escobar , Ana Laura Chiapero , Lorena Ashworth , Fernando Zamudio , Ramiro Aguilar
In the Chaco region of Argentina coexist different livestock production systems operating under a variety of management regimens and represented by different social actors. The sustainability of peasant extensive grazing systems is mainly based on the high degree of ecological knowledge of the wild forage sources available in the forest by local producers. In this study, we conducted a literature review focused on ethnobiological studies to assess the plant species used as forage by local communities in the Argentine Chaco to evaluate their degree of pollinator dependence. The proportion of forage species that depend to some degree on pollinators was lower (60.6 %) than the overall average found across angiosperms (90 %). Such results can be explained by the predominance of grasses that are used as fodder (22 %) in the Chaco, which are wind-pollinated and do not rely on pollinators to produce fruits and seed. However, when analyzing the most important forage species, we found that nearly all of them depend on animal pollinators to produce nutritious forage. Our findings emphasize the need for conservation actions that safeguard both pollination services and the plant resources that sustain local livelihoods.
{"title":"Forage plants used by local communities for livestock production systems in the Argentine Chaco and their dependence on pollinators","authors":"Victoria Márquez , Lucas M. Carbone , N. David Jiménez-Escobar , Ana Laura Chiapero , Lorena Ashworth , Fernando Zamudio , Ramiro Aguilar","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105451","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the Chaco region of Argentina coexist different livestock production systems operating under a variety of management regimens and represented by different social actors. The sustainability of peasant extensive grazing systems is mainly based on the high degree of ecological knowledge of the wild forage sources available in the forest by local producers. In this study, we conducted a literature review focused on ethnobiological studies to assess the plant species used as forage by local communities in the Argentine Chaco to evaluate their degree of pollinator dependence. The proportion of forage species that depend to some degree on pollinators was lower (60.6 %) than the overall average found across angiosperms (90 %). Such results can be explained by the predominance of grasses that are used as fodder (22 %) in the Chaco, which are wind-pollinated and do not rely on pollinators to produce fruits and seed. However, when analyzing the most important forage species, we found that nearly all of them depend on animal pollinators to produce nutritious forage. Our findings emphasize the need for conservation actions that safeguard both pollination services and the plant resources that sustain local livelihoods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105451"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144771766","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-03DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105467
Xinrui Liu , Zhongwu Wang , Guodong Han , Yuanyuan Cui , Dongjie Hou , Yahong Liu , Pablo Gregorini
Desert steppe ecosystems are very sensitive to climate change. Although precipitation is known to promote carbon exchange and biomass production, quantitative assessments of C3/C4 species dynamics and carbon-water coupling mechanisms under long-term precipitation manipulation remain limited. Here, we conduct a five-year rainfall control experiment in the Stipa breviflora desert in Inner Mongolia, China, employing four treatments: 50 % reduced precipitation, natural precipitation, 50 % increased precipitation, and 100 % (doubled) precipitation. We measured gas exchange in each plot with a portable photosynthesis system Li-6400 and measured aboveground biomass of C3 and C4 species during the growing season (May–October). The results demonstrated that elevated precipitation enhanced ecosystem carbon exchange, driven by a linear increase in C3 species biomass, with a 100 % precipitation increase significantly strengthening carbon sink capacity. Conversely, the carbon sink function of C4 species declined under drought (reduce precipitation by 50 %). These findings suggest that C3 biomass dominates carbon-water coupling, while C4 species buffers drought effects, collectively stabilizing ecosystems under extreme precipitation.
{"title":"Long-term precipitation manipulation enhances carbon sink strength and differentially drives C3 / C4 species biomass in a desert steppe: Five-year results","authors":"Xinrui Liu , Zhongwu Wang , Guodong Han , Yuanyuan Cui , Dongjie Hou , Yahong Liu , Pablo Gregorini","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105467","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105467","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Desert steppe ecosystems are very sensitive to climate change. Although precipitation is known to promote carbon exchange and biomass production, quantitative assessments of C<sub>3</sub>/C<sub>4</sub> species dynamics and carbon-water coupling mechanisms under long-term precipitation manipulation remain limited. Here, we conduct a five-year rainfall control experiment in the <em>Stipa breviflora</em> desert in Inner Mongolia, China, employing four treatments: 50 % reduced precipitation, natural precipitation, 50 % increased precipitation, and 100 % (doubled) precipitation. We measured gas exchange in each plot with a portable photosynthesis system Li-6400 and measured aboveground biomass of C<sub>3</sub> and C<sub>4</sub> species during the growing season (May–October). The results demonstrated that elevated precipitation enhanced ecosystem carbon exchange, driven by a linear increase in C<sub>3</sub> species biomass, with a 100 % precipitation increase significantly strengthening carbon sink capacity. Conversely, the carbon sink function of C<sub>4</sub> species declined under drought (reduce precipitation by 50 %). These findings suggest that C<sub>3</sub> biomass dominates carbon-water coupling, while C<sub>4</sub> species buffers drought effects, collectively stabilizing ecosystems under extreme precipitation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105467"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144931578","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-07-29DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105448
Xin He, Mengwen Gao, Xuanzhi Wang, Zihan Yang, Yecui Hu
The agro-pastoral zone of northern China is a critical ecological functional area of wind soil erosion, spanning 9 provinces with a total area of . Assessment of the ecosystem's wind erosion prevention function is essential for ensuring the sustainable development of the region. In this study, the actual soil loss (SL) and wind erosion prevention retention rate (R) of this ecosystem from 2000 to 2022 were quantified, and the impacts of vegetation cover and ecological projects on actual soil loss were assessed. The results suggested that SL in our study area was observably reduced and the ecological system's wind erosion prevention function was significantly improved from 2000 to 2022. The change in vegetation cover level caused by the implementation of ecological projects contributes to a total reduction of tons of actual soil loss from 2000 to 2022, of which about 62.58 % is due to the change from low vegetation cover to medium vegetation cover. This shows that the implementation of ecological projects, such as the Three-North Shelter Forest Belt Program, has substantially improved wind erosion prevention. The regionalization of environmental policies should be strengthened so as to better control wind erosion and promote coordinated and sustainable development.
{"title":"Assessment about wind erosion prevention effectiveness by ecological projects in the agro-pastoral zone of northern China","authors":"Xin He, Mengwen Gao, Xuanzhi Wang, Zihan Yang, Yecui Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105448","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105448","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The agro-pastoral zone of northern China is a critical ecological functional area of wind soil erosion, spanning 9 provinces with a total area of <span><math><mn>71</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>62</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>4</mn></msup><mspace></mspace><msup><mrow><mi>k</mi><mi>m</mi></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></math></span>. Assessment of the ecosystem's wind erosion prevention function is essential for ensuring the sustainable development of the region. In this study, the actual soil loss (SL) and wind erosion prevention retention rate (R) of this ecosystem from 2000 to 2022 were quantified, and the impacts of vegetation cover and ecological projects on actual soil loss were assessed. The results suggested that SL in our study area was observably reduced and the ecological system's wind erosion prevention function was significantly improved from 2000 to 2022. The change in vegetation cover level caused by the implementation of ecological projects contributes to a total reduction of <span><math><mn>4</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>99</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>7</mn></msup></math></span> tons of actual soil loss from 2000 to 2022, of which about 62.58 % is due to the change from low vegetation cover to medium vegetation cover. This shows that the implementation of ecological projects, such as the Three-North Shelter Forest Belt Program, has substantially improved wind erosion prevention. The regionalization of environmental policies should be strengthened so as to better control wind erosion and promote coordinated and sustainable development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105448"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144722111","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105465
Ali Akbar Barati , Ali Asadi , Hengameh Sardar Shahraki , Milad Dehghani Pour , Mohammad Reza Naroui Rad
The livelihoods of a considerable portion of the population in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in rural communities, depends on small-scale agriculture. Despite the growing global demand for medicinal plants (MPs), little is known about the behavioral mechanisms influencing farmers' adoption decisions in challenging environments like Iran. This study fills this gap by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to examine farmers' adoption behavior of MPs cultivation, incorporating contextual challenges as external factors. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 139 randomly selected farmers and all 25 pre-identified experts with specialized knowledge and field experience in medicinal plants in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships between challenges, perceived ease of use, usefulness, and adoption behavior. The results revealed that while farmers had a positive attitude toward MPs' usefulness (mean score: 3.18/5), adoption was hindered by low perceived ease of cultivation (mean: 1.77/5). Key challenges included high production costs (ranked 1st by CV = 0.332), lack of marketing infrastructure (CV = 0.333), and technical skill gaps. Crucially, farmers’ intentions were influenced more by perceived ease (β = 0.520) than usefulness (β = 0.185), contrasting with classic TAM predictions. This highlights a disconnect between economic potential and practical feasibility in resource-scarce settings. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the dominance of ease-of-use over usefulness in agricultural technology adoption among low-literacy farmers; quantifying the mediating role of infrastructural and technical barriers on behavioral intentions; and providing actionable insights for policymakers to prioritize skill development and value-chain investments over purely economic incentives.
{"title":"Farmers’ attitude and intention towards medicinal plants cultivation: experiences from semi-arid areas of Iran","authors":"Ali Akbar Barati , Ali Asadi , Hengameh Sardar Shahraki , Milad Dehghani Pour , Mohammad Reza Naroui Rad","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105465","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105465","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The livelihoods of a considerable portion of the population in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in rural communities, depends on small-scale agriculture. Despite the growing global demand for medicinal plants (MPs), little is known about the behavioral mechanisms influencing farmers' adoption decisions in challenging environments like Iran. This study fills this gap by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to examine farmers' adoption behavior of MPs cultivation, incorporating contextual challenges as external factors. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 139 randomly selected farmers and all 25 pre-identified experts with specialized knowledge and field experience in medicinal plants in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships between challenges, perceived ease of use, usefulness, and adoption behavior. The results revealed that while farmers had a positive attitude toward MPs' usefulness (mean score: 3.18/5), adoption was hindered by low perceived ease of cultivation (mean: 1.77/5). Key challenges included high production costs (ranked 1st by CV = 0.332), lack of marketing infrastructure (CV = 0.333), and technical skill gaps. Crucially, farmers’ intentions were influenced more by perceived ease (β = 0.520) than usefulness (β = 0.185), contrasting with classic TAM predictions. This highlights a disconnect between economic potential and practical feasibility in resource-scarce settings. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the dominance of ease-of-use over usefulness in agricultural technology adoption among low-literacy farmers; quantifying the mediating role of infrastructural and technical barriers on behavioral intentions; and providing actionable insights for policymakers to prioritize skill development and value-chain investments over purely economic incentives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105465"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888806","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}
Pastoralism is a cornerstone of the argan forest ecosystem in Morocco, where the argan tree supports food production and livelihoods. However, overbrowsing threatens this ecosystem, underscoring the need for sustainable management strategies. This study assessed the impact of three browsing intensities on argan trees in the Essaouira region: no-browsing, moderate-browsing (managed browsing or the Agdal system), and heavy-browsing systems. Measurements of argan physiological and biochemical traits and soil parameters revealed significant differences among the three-browsing intensities. Heavily browsed argan trees exhibited reduced photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic pigments content, and leaf area index, while no-browsing system maintained optimal performances. The Agdal strategy significantly enhanced plant health compared to heavy browsing, improving physiological indicators and soil quality. Soil traits including electrical conductivity, moisture, and organic matter and total nitrogen content were notably better under managed browsing, promoting healthier argan ecosystems. Additionally, browsing intensity affected leaf biochemistry: overbrowsing induced a decline in protein content, while it enhanced total soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide content, and antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenoloxidase), reflecting heightened stress responses. Overall, even if the non-browsed trees performed best, the moderate-browsing system (Agdal) may be the most suitable of the three browsing systems, since it will be able to meet goats’ feed needs while ensuring the sustainability of the argan forest ecosystem.
{"title":"The impact of browsing intensity on argan trees in the Essaouira region of Morocco","authors":"Boujemaa Fassih , Mohamed Ait-El-Mokhtar , Aicha Nait Douch , Abderrahim Boutasknit , Raja Ben-Laouane , Badia Aganchich , Said Wahbi","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pastoralism is a cornerstone of the argan forest ecosystem in Morocco, where the argan tree supports food production and livelihoods. However, overbrowsing threatens this ecosystem, underscoring the need for sustainable management strategies. This study assessed the impact of three browsing intensities on argan trees in the Essaouira region: no-browsing, moderate-browsing (managed browsing or the Agdal system), and heavy-browsing systems. Measurements of argan physiological and biochemical traits and soil parameters revealed significant differences among the three-browsing intensities. Heavily browsed argan trees exhibited reduced photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic pigments content, and leaf area index, while no-browsing system maintained optimal performances. The Agdal strategy significantly enhanced plant health compared to heavy browsing, improving physiological indicators and soil quality. Soil traits including electrical conductivity, moisture, and organic matter and total nitrogen content were notably better under managed browsing, promoting healthier argan ecosystems. Additionally, browsing intensity affected leaf biochemistry: overbrowsing induced a decline in protein content, while it enhanced total soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide content, and antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenoloxidase), reflecting heightened stress responses. Overall, even if the non-browsed trees performed best, the moderate-browsing system (Agdal) may be the most suitable of the three browsing systems, since it will be able to meet goats’ feed needs while ensuring the sustainability of the argan forest ecosystem.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105472"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144913054","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-07-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105443
Yibo Xue , Xiaoxiao Zhang , Jiaqiang Lei , Shengyu Li , Lianyou Liu , Zifa Wang , Baidourela Aliya , Gongxin Yang , Xiaole Pan , Sinan Li , Jing Ye , Fan Yang , Mamtimin Ali , Xiao Tang , Xueshun Chen
The physicochemical characteristics of dustfall particles are essential for the in-depth understanding on the aerodynamic processes of aeolian dust and its environmental effects. In this study, we conducted continuous high-frequency sampling of atmospheric dustfall in the Taklimakan hinterland during spring 2022, analyzing particle micromorphology, size distribution, mineral composition, deposition fluxes, and vertical dust characteristics. The results showed that the dustfall particles sampled in the Taklimakan hinterland were mostly micro-aggregates, angular, and subrounded based on the statistical analysis of the Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM). As determined by the Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer (LDPSA), the dustfall particles were predominately coarse particles, with particles between 20 μm and 80 μm accounting for 83.73 % of the total particle number. Volume proportion of dustfall particles with particle size of 60–150 μm was 72.41 %. Mineralogical analysis of dustfall particles using the Intelligent Scanning Electron Microscope Environmental Particle Analysis System (IntelliSEM EPAS) revealed that calcite was the dominant component (31.15 %), followed by quartz (18.52 %), chlorite (11.84 %), kaolinite (8.11 %), smectite (6.28 %), and illite (5.25 %). Halite was identified as the primary salt component, making up 9.52 % of detected particles. Vertical dust profiles derived by the ground-based Mie-scattering lidar indicated that large amounts of irregular dust floated in the tropospheric atmosphere over the Taklimakan Desert, causing a high depolarization ratio of more than 0.6 within 5 km of the surface. These dust aerosols suspended in the upper air with long periods were attributed to the frequent windblown dust weather over the Tarim Basin in spring, resulting in high ambient particulate concentration and dust deposition.
{"title":"Characteristics of the atmospheric dustfall in the Taklimakan hinterland: ground observation and microscopic analysis","authors":"Yibo Xue , Xiaoxiao Zhang , Jiaqiang Lei , Shengyu Li , Lianyou Liu , Zifa Wang , Baidourela Aliya , Gongxin Yang , Xiaole Pan , Sinan Li , Jing Ye , Fan Yang , Mamtimin Ali , Xiao Tang , Xueshun Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The physicochemical characteristics of dustfall particles are essential for the in-depth understanding on the aerodynamic processes of aeolian dust and its environmental effects. In this study, we conducted continuous high-frequency sampling of atmospheric dustfall in the Taklimakan hinterland during spring 2022, analyzing particle micromorphology, size distribution, mineral composition, deposition fluxes, and vertical dust characteristics. The results showed that the dustfall particles sampled in the Taklimakan hinterland were mostly micro-aggregates, angular, and subrounded based on the statistical analysis of the Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM). As determined by the Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer (LDPSA), the dustfall particles were predominately coarse particles, with particles between 20 μm and 80 μm accounting for 83.73 % of the total particle number. Volume proportion of dustfall particles with particle size of 60–150 μm was 72.41 %. Mineralogical analysis of dustfall particles using the Intelligent Scanning Electron Microscope Environmental Particle Analysis System (IntelliSEM EPAS) revealed that calcite was the dominant component (31.15 %), followed by quartz (18.52 %), chlorite (11.84 %), kaolinite (8.11 %), smectite (6.28 %), and illite (5.25 %). Halite was identified as the primary salt component, making up 9.52 % of detected particles. Vertical dust profiles derived by the ground-based Mie-scattering lidar indicated that large amounts of irregular dust floated in the tropospheric atmosphere over the Taklimakan Desert, causing a high depolarization ratio of more than 0.6 within 5 km of the surface. These dust aerosols suspended in the upper air with long periods were attributed to the frequent windblown dust weather over the Tarim Basin in spring, resulting in high ambient particulate concentration and dust deposition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105443"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144604708","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-07-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105444
Sana Basharat , Farooq Ahmad , Mansoor Hameed , Zahida Parveen , Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad , Muhammad Waseem , Ansa Asghar , Sana Fatima , Liu Pingwu , Mehwish Noor , Syed Mohsan Raza Shah , Muhammad Ashraf
Cenchrus biflorus Roxb., a resilient C4 grass species, thrives across hyperarid and hypersaline environments due to its remarkable structural and functional plasticity. This study investigated ecotypic variations in morpho-anatomical and physiological traits among populations collected from ecologically distinct sites in Pakistan, including saline deserts, arid plains, and semi-arid regions. Morphological adaptations such as reduced leaf area, enhanced root biomass, and increased leaf number were evident under arid stress. Anatomical modifications—including thickened epidermis and endodermis, enlarged cortical and parenchymatous regions, narrow metaxylem vessels, and high trichome and bulliform cell densities—contributed to water conservation and ion regulation. Physiological resilience was linked to elevated levels of osmoprotectants (proline, glycine betaine, soluble sugars), stress enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase), antioxidants, and photosynthetic pigments. Ion homeostasis was maintained through restricted Na+ uptake and compartmentalization. Multivariate analyses revealed strong associations between environmental variables (temperature, salinity, soil nutrients) and trait expression. The findings highlight the critical role of phenotypic plasticity in the ecological success of C. biflorus, underscoring its potential utility in arid land restoration and climate-resilient forage development.
{"title":"Ecological resilience of Gallon's curse (Cenchrus biflorus Roxb.) in hyperarid and hypersaline environments","authors":"Sana Basharat , Farooq Ahmad , Mansoor Hameed , Zahida Parveen , Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad , Muhammad Waseem , Ansa Asghar , Sana Fatima , Liu Pingwu , Mehwish Noor , Syed Mohsan Raza Shah , Muhammad Ashraf","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cenchrus biflorus</em> Roxb., a resilient C<sub>4</sub> grass species, thrives across hyperarid and hypersaline environments due to its remarkable structural and functional plasticity. This study investigated ecotypic variations in morpho-anatomical and physiological traits among populations collected from ecologically distinct sites in Pakistan, including saline deserts, arid plains, and semi-arid regions. Morphological adaptations such as reduced leaf area, enhanced root biomass, and increased leaf number were evident under arid stress. Anatomical modifications—including thickened epidermis and endodermis, enlarged cortical and parenchymatous regions, narrow metaxylem vessels, and high trichome and bulliform cell densities—contributed to water conservation and ion regulation. Physiological resilience was linked to elevated levels of osmoprotectants (proline, glycine betaine, soluble sugars), stress enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase), antioxidants, and photosynthetic pigments. Ion homeostasis was maintained through restricted Na<sup>+</sup> uptake and compartmentalization. Multivariate analyses revealed strong associations between environmental variables (temperature, salinity, soil nutrients) and trait expression. The findings highlight the critical role of phenotypic plasticity in the ecological success of <em>C. biflorus</em>, underscoring its potential utility in arid land restoration and climate-resilient forage development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105444"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144604833","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}
Recognized as a Nature-based Solution (NbS), artificial pasture cultivation (APC) provides a viable alternative forage source for livestock production while supporting the restoration and conservation of natural grasslands. However, its successful implementation relies crucially on coordinated efforts between government and local institutions, yet empirical studies examining their interplay remain scarce. Given that herders' adoption of APC is a rational decision-making process shaped by subjective cognition, this study develops an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework to evaluate how policy intervention and peer collaboration influence adoption. Using survey data from 363 herder households in Qinghai Province, China, SEM is employed and the results show that policy intervention and peer collaboration significantly improve herders’ behavior intention and actual implementation of APC practice. Government policies predominantly reinforce subjective norms and perceived behavioral control via regulatory measures and financial incentives, while peer collaboration leverages weak-tie organizational networks to facilitate knowledge dissemination and reciprocal support. These findings imply that effective NbS promotion requires context-specific policy designs that combine complementary instruments. In cases where NbS adoption involves high costs or substantial production adjustments, integrating policy implementation with existing local collaborative networks can enhance implementation effectiveness.
{"title":"Synergistic pathways to promote nature-based Solutions: How policy and peer collaboration shape herder decisions on artificial pasture cultivation in Qinghai, China","authors":"Dayuan Xing , Liqun Shao , Xiangwei Zhang , Haibin Chen , Han Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105452","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recognized as a Nature-based Solution (NbS), artificial pasture cultivation (APC) provides a viable alternative forage source for livestock production while supporting the restoration and conservation of natural grasslands. However, its successful implementation relies crucially on coordinated efforts between government and local institutions, yet empirical studies examining their interplay remain scarce. Given that herders' adoption of APC is a rational decision-making process shaped by subjective cognition, this study develops an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework to evaluate how policy intervention and peer collaboration influence adoption. Using survey data from 363 herder households in Qinghai Province, China, SEM is employed and the results show that policy intervention and peer collaboration significantly improve herders’ behavior intention and actual implementation of APC practice. Government policies predominantly reinforce subjective norms and perceived behavioral control via regulatory measures and financial incentives, while peer collaboration leverages weak-tie organizational networks to facilitate knowledge dissemination and reciprocal support. These findings imply that effective NbS promotion requires context-specific policy designs that combine complementary instruments. In cases where NbS adoption involves high costs or substantial production adjustments, integrating policy implementation with existing local collaborative networks can enhance implementation effectiveness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105452"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144779333","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105434
Carlos Zuleta-Ramos , Jaime R. Rau
The Lesser grison, Galictis cuja, is a carnivorous mammal widely distributed in South America. However, its conservation status and natural history are poorly understood throughout much of its range. In Chile, it is found in all regions of the country from deserts in the north to temperate rainforests in the south. This species is characterized as Rare in most of the habitats where it has been recorded. This study analyzed the diet of G. cuja in the Huasco coastal desert of the Coquimbo Region, northern Chile. Sixty-three fecal samples were collected in September 2010 (spring), which were then analyzed and categorized using keys and reference collections. Its diet was generalist, consisting of imago arthropods, larvae, and pupae, which represented 75 % of the prey consumed. Coleoptera of the family Tenebrionidae were the most frequently found trophic category in the diet. However, the Lesser grison also consumes wild rodents, which accounted for 25 % of its diet, with the Darwin leaf-eared mouse Phyllotis darwini (about 50 g) being the most frequent prey item. This suggests that their diet in this arid ecosystem is generalist, which could also be related to the resources available in a fluctuating environment.
{"title":"Food habits of the Lesser grison Galictis cuja (Molina, 1782) in the Huasco coastal desert, Los Choros, northern Chile","authors":"Carlos Zuleta-Ramos , Jaime R. Rau","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105434","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105434","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Lesser grison, <em>Galictis cuja</em>, is a carnivorous mammal widely distributed in South America. However, its conservation status and natural history are poorly understood throughout much of its range. In Chile, it is found in all regions of the country from deserts in the north to temperate rainforests in the south. This species is characterized as Rare in most of the habitats where it has been recorded. This study analyzed the diet of <em>G. cuja</em> in the Huasco coastal desert of the Coquimbo Region, northern Chile. Sixty-three fecal samples were collected in September 2010 (spring), which were then analyzed and categorized using keys and reference collections. Its diet was generalist, consisting of imago arthropods, larvae, and pupae, which represented 75 % of the prey consumed. Coleoptera of the family Tenebrionidae were the most frequently found trophic category in the diet. However, the Lesser grison also consumes wild rodents, which accounted for 25 % of its diet, with the Darwin leaf-eared mouse <em>Phyllotis darwini</em> (about 50 g) being the most frequent prey item. This suggests that their diet in this arid ecosystem is generalist, which could also be related to the resources available in a fluctuating environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105434"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144779542","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}
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