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Land
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Desert Ecosystems and Landscapes: Structure, Functioning and Threats
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Desert Ecosystems and Landscapes: Structure, Functioning and Threats

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Landscape Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 February 2024) | Viewed by 10986

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ofir Katz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Mt. Masada, Tamar Regional Council, 86910 Tamar, Israel
2. Eilat Campus, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Hatmarim Blv, 8855630 Eilat, Israel
Interests: plant ecology; desert ecosystems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A key characteristic of desert ecosystems and landscapes is adaptations to aridity and other associated stresses, from the organismal to the landscape scale. The challenge of conserving desert ecosystems and landscapes while satisfying humanity’s increasing demand for land and food is pivotal in many countries experiencing an expansion of human activities into deserts or desertification. Resolving this conflict calls for a deeper understanding of how desert ecosystems and landscapes are structured, how they function, and of the threats they face – but no less also in integrating knowledge of these three issues.

This Special Issue explores novel multi-, inter- and supra-disciplinary approaches into the study of desert ecosystems and landscapes. It focuses on understanding the structure and functioning of desert ecosystems and landscapes – preferably from an ecological perspective – to predict and mitigate the natural and human-made changes these ecosystems and landscapes may undergo in the foreseen future. Ideally, manuscripts will address at least two of the following three themes:

  • Structure: Physical structure, community assembly, food webs, connectivity, biodiversity, etc.
  • Functioning: Biogeochemical cycles, feedback networks, productivity, ecosystem services, etc.
  • Threats: Climate change, desertification, disturbances, land-use changes, conservation, etc.

Manuscripts that discuss the consequences of desertification are also acceptable if they have a strong emphasis on understanding desert (rather than non-desert) ecosystems and landscapes. Manuscripts that deal primarily with physiology, animal behavior, planning or policy are acceptable only if they demonstrate innate and clear analyses of the structure and/or functioning of desert ecosystems and landscapes.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ofir Katz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • desert
  • ecosystem functioning
  • ecosystem services
  • climate change
  • land-use change

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 4553 KiB  
Article
Should Desert and Desertification Regions Be Confused? New Insights Based on Vegetation Quality and Its Inter-Decadal Variations
by Luguang Jiang and Ye Liu
Land 2023, 12(9), 1734; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091734 - 06 Sep 2023
Viewed by 931
Abstract
As the most unique ecosystem on the Earth’s surface, desert and desertification region cannot be confused. The current research on spatial distinction of desert and desertification region is still lacking. Based on NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) data from 1998 to 2020, we [...] Read more.
As the most unique ecosystem on the Earth’s surface, desert and desertification region cannot be confused. The current research on spatial distinction of desert and desertification region is still lacking. Based on NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) data from 1998 to 2020, we aimed to distinguish the differences between desert and desertification region. Improvement and degradation of vegetation quality in China have coexisted in the past 20 years. Within the low value classification in 1998, the regions where vegetation quality remained High increase were mainly concentrated in Loess Plateau. Within the medium value classification in 1998, the High increase classifications were mainly distributed in the west of the Taihang Mountains, north of the Qinling–Daba Mountains, east of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, and the Northeast Plain. Within the high value classification in 1998, the High increase classification was distributed in the south of the Yangtze River. In 1998 and 2020, China had a total area of 2.50 million km2 of desert regions, accounting for 26% of China’s land area. After 20 years of large-scale ecological protection, desert regions have hardly undergone significant changes. Desertification regions decreased from 2.80 million km2 to 1.67 million km2, a decrease of 40.3%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Desert Ecosystems and Landscapes: Structure, Functioning and Threats)
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21 pages, 5351 KiB  
Article
Impact of Land Cover on Wind Erosion in Arid Regions: A Case Study in Southern Tunisia
by Mohamed Taieb Labiadh, Jean Louis Rajot, Saâd Sekrafi, Mohsen Ltifi, Badie Attoui, Abderrazak Tlili, Moustapha Hlel, Gilles Bergametti, Thierry Henry des Tureaux and Christel Bouet
Land 2023, 12(9), 1648; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091648 - 22 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1018
Abstract
Wind erosion is a worldwide phenomenon for which several recent studies have shown that the intensity is expected to evolve because of climate and land use changes. Identifying the areas where wind erosion is the most active and its associated drivers may help [...] Read more.
Wind erosion is a worldwide phenomenon for which several recent studies have shown that the intensity is expected to evolve because of climate and land use changes. Identifying the areas where wind erosion is the most active and its associated drivers may help to define efficient solutions to protect the environment from this hazard. The south of Tunisia is a region highly prone to wind erosion and presents a variety of landscapes and land uses in a relatively small area. Thus, from November 2012 to June 2016, six sites were instrumented to monitor wind erosion in the most extended land uses existing in southern Tunisia. The main results are that wind erosion: (i) is nil in the oasis, (ii) is weak (<120 kg m−1 yr−1) in the olive grove even if the surface is be ploughed up to eight times a year, (iii) is moderate (~1000 kg m−1 yr−1) in the barley field, for which the sowing date is a driving parameter of wind erosion seasonality, (iv) can occur in the Chott El Jerid except when it is flooded, (v) is the most intense in rangelands on sand (~2500 kg m−1 yr−1) and on flatbeds (>3000 kg m−1 yr−1). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Desert Ecosystems and Landscapes: Structure, Functioning and Threats)
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16 pages, 8425 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Monitoring of Tree Population Dynamics in Desert Ecosystems: Integrating Field and Satellite Data
by Sivan Isaacson, Jhonathan E. Ephrath, Shimon Rachmilevitch, Dan G. Blumberg, Benny Shalmon, Ofir Katz and Shimrit Maman
Land 2023, 12(8), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081640 - 21 Aug 2023
Viewed by 791
Abstract
Arid environments are characterized by rare rain events that are highly variable, as a result of which plant populations often exhibit episodic recruitment and mortality dynamics. However, direct records and observations of such events are rare because of the slow development of woody [...] Read more.
Arid environments are characterized by rare rain events that are highly variable, as a result of which plant populations often exhibit episodic recruitment and mortality dynamics. However, direct records and observations of such events are rare because of the slow development of woody species. In this study, we described how a decrease in annual precipitation affected acacia tree population dynamics in two hydrological regime types: small wadis and salt flats. This study combines 15 years of continuous, yearly field monitoring of individual acacia trees and data from a historical Corona satellite image, which has extended the time scope of the research. Results indicate that the annual mortality of acacia trees in small wadis reflects the cumulative effective rain events in the preceding five years, whereas the population on the salt flats was not affected by annual rainfall fluctuations. Moreover, in small wadis, rain events of less than 8 mm did not increase acacia tree survival rates. The mortality pattern and dynamics of each plot was unique, suggesting unsynchronized mortality and recruitment episodes on a regional scale. Mortality in all plots was documented both in “old” trees (i.e., recognized in 1968) and “new” trees (not recognized in 1968), but varied highly between plots. More than 50% of the dead trees recorded at the sites had died during the previous dry period (2000–2010). Combining field monitoring and historical satellite image data provided a unique database of acacia population dynamics. This record revealed the response of the acacia population to climate fluctuations and a period of episodic mortality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Desert Ecosystems and Landscapes: Structure, Functioning and Threats)
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11 pages, 6040 KiB  
Article
Effects of Cattle Traffic on Sclerocactus wrightiae
by David Lariviere, Val Anderson, Robert Johnson, Tyson Terry and Thomas Bates
Land 2023, 12(4), 853; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040853 - 08 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1198
Abstract
Cattle grazing has been a historic use of rangelands in Utah since pioneer settlement in the mid-1800’s. Wright fishhook cactus is a small globose cactus endemic to an area of 280,000 ha in south–central Utah and was listed as endangered in October of [...] Read more.
Cattle grazing has been a historic use of rangelands in Utah since pioneer settlement in the mid-1800’s. Wright fishhook cactus is a small globose cactus endemic to an area of 280,000 ha in south–central Utah and was listed as endangered in October of 1979, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). By 2010, concerns were expressed that soil compaction in proximity to the cactus posed a threat to this species, though there were no empirical data to support such concerns. In order to assess the impact of cattle traffic on Wright fishhook cactus, we used an imprint device to simulate a cow track’s impact. We applied a treatment of either zero, one, or four hoof imprints within 15 cm evenly of 146 cacti within the same population cluster on the same day. We monitored subsequent plant survival as well as reproductive success. Each cactus in the study was visited multiple times and all developed seed was collected. We found that cattle traffic of any amount had no effect on plant survival or seed production and, therefore, concluded that cattle traffic poses no threat to Wright fishhook cactus. The status of this cactus yields no justification for changing the historic land management use of cattle grazing on these rangelands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Desert Ecosystems and Landscapes: Structure, Functioning and Threats)
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13 pages, 2205 KiB  
Communication
Changes in Vegetation Coverage and Migration Characteristics of Center of Gravity in the Arid Desert Region of Northwest China in 30 Recent Years
by Xuewu Li, Hailili Zulkar, Daoyang Wang, Tingning Zhao and Wentong Xu
Land 2022, 11(10), 1688; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101688 - 29 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1434
Abstract
Vegetation coverage is important in global landscape change patterns, but research on temporal and spatial dynamic changes and analysis of vegetation landscape pattern is relatively lacking. The present study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes of vegetation coverage in the arid desert region [...] Read more.
Vegetation coverage is important in global landscape change patterns, but research on temporal and spatial dynamic changes and analysis of vegetation landscape pattern is relatively lacking. The present study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes of vegetation coverage in the arid desert region of Northwest China and analyze the characteristics of its center of gravity migration. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and pixel binary model were used to calculate the vegetation coverage to analyze the vegetation distribution characteristics and vegetation migration in the arid desert area in Northwest China in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2015 and 2020. The results showed that from 1990 to 2020, the proportion of light and severe vegetation coverage in the arid desert region of Northwest China increased, while the proportion of medium vegetation coverage decreased. The distribution types of medium- and high-grade vegetation generally migrate to the southeast and south, which may be mainly due to the humid climate conditions and higher population density in this direction. The vegetation center of gravity migration is mainly concentrated in the southeast-south direction. Vegetation degradation occurs in the northwest region, and vegetation improvement is the main trend in the southeast and south region. The direction of vegetation migration may be affected by precipitation and soil humidity. This study provides a theoretical basis and has certain guiding significance for desertification control, ecological sustainable management, ecological restoration, and protection in the arid desert region of Northwest China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Desert Ecosystems and Landscapes: Structure, Functioning and Threats)
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20 pages, 2865 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Impact of a Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Facility on a Down Gradient Mojave Desert Ecosystem
by Dale A. Devitt, Lorenzo Apodaca, Brian Bird, John P. Dawyot, Jr., Lynn Fenstermaker and Matthew D. Petrie
Land 2022, 11(8), 1315; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081315 - 15 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2103
Abstract
A field study was conducted in the Mojave Desert (USA) to assess the influence of a large photo voltaic facility on heat and water transport into an adjacent creosote (Larrea tridentata) bursage (Ambrosia dumosa) plant community. Air temperature, plant [...] Read more.
A field study was conducted in the Mojave Desert (USA) to assess the influence of a large photo voltaic facility on heat and water transport into an adjacent creosote (Larrea tridentata) bursage (Ambrosia dumosa) plant community. Air temperature, plant physiological status, soil water in storage and precipitation were monitored over a two to four year period. A service road built 27 years before the construction of the PV facility decoupled the wash system at the site leading to a significant decline in soil moisture, canopy level NDVI values and mid-day leaf xylem water potentials (p < 0.001) down gradient from the PV facility. Measurements along a 900 m gradient suggested that plants closer to where the wash was decoupled were placed under significantly greater stress during the higher environmental demand summer months. Air temperatures measured at three 10 m meteorological towers revealed warmer night time temperatures at the two towers located in close association with the solar facility (Inside Facility—IF and Adjacent to facility—AF), compared to the Down Gradient Control tower (DGC). As the warmer air was displaced down gradient, the temperature front advanced into the creosote—bursage plant community with values 5 to 8 °C warmer along an east west front just north of tower AF. Based on our research in Eldorado Valley, NV, USA, a down gradient zone of about 300 m was impacted to the greatest extent (water and heat), suggesting that the spacing between solar facilities will be a critical factor in terms of preserving high quality habitat for the desert tortoise and other species of concern. Greater research is needed to identify habitat zones acceptable for animal populations (especially the desert tortoise) within areas of high solar energy development and this should be done prior to any fragmentation of the ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Desert Ecosystems and Landscapes: Structure, Functioning and Threats)
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Review

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16 pages, 2147 KiB  
Review
Functional Restoration of Desertified, Water-Limited Ecosystems: The Israel Desert Experience
by Shayli Dor-Haim, David Brand, Itshack Moshe and Moshe Shachak
Land 2023, 12(3), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030643 - 09 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1733
Abstract
Ecological restoration has recognized explicitly the recovery of ecosystem functions. The emphasis on ecosystem functions in restoration efforts can be defined as functional restoration. Functional restoration, i.e., rehabilitation of ecosystem functions, is particularly applicable to highly degraded landscapes such as desertified areas, where [...] Read more.
Ecological restoration has recognized explicitly the recovery of ecosystem functions. The emphasis on ecosystem functions in restoration efforts can be defined as functional restoration. Functional restoration, i.e., rehabilitation of ecosystem functions, is particularly applicable to highly degraded landscapes such as desertified areas, where restoration to the original state is impossible. This review paper produced a general conceptual model of the fundamental processes that regulate ecosystem functions in water-limited ecosystems. The Israeli Negev Desert was used as a case study to test the model results in the field. We developed general guiding principles for functional restoration of degraded landscapes that integrate functional restoration methods and include four successive steps: (1) identifying the fundamental processes that regulate ecosystem functions in alternative states; (2) detecting drivers leading to degraded states; (3) functional restoration: changing the state of the degraded landscape; and (4) monitoring the impact of the restoration effort and assessing its success in terms of ecosystem services. Our case study, the Negev, provided us with insights on how to reverse desertification in water-limited systems by restoring source–sink networks as a subset of functional restoration. The four suggested steps of functional restoration are essential for ecosystem recovery in the Anthropocene. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Desert Ecosystems and Landscapes: Structure, Functioning and Threats)
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