Ebook: Arid Dune Ecosystems: The Nizzana Sands in the Negev Desert
- Tags: Ecology, Soil Science & Conservation, Biogeosciences, Climate Change, Geoecology/Natural Processes, Environmental Management
- Series: Ecological Studies 200
- Year: 2008
- Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
Sand dune dynamics plays a key role in many arid deserts. This volume provides a synthesis of a specific sand dune ecosystem, the Nizzana site in the Negev Desert. Describing its climate and geophysical/geochemical properties of soils, geological history, flora and fauna, and past/present land-use patterns, it elucidates ecological and geomorphological processes and their interrelations, based on long-term monitoring, in situ experiments and satellite imagery. Particular attention is drawn to the impact of the topsoil biological crust in controlling water availability at local/regional scales. The interdisciplinary approach adopted in this case study offers a good example of a highly complex and dynamic system, which could easily be applied to other sandy ecosystems.
This is a valuable source of information for soil ecologists and microbiologists, conservation biologists, desert ecologists and geographers, geomorphologists, soil scientists and climatologists, lecturers, policy makers and others interested in deserts and desertification.
Sand dune dynamics plays a key role in many arid deserts. This volume provides a synthesis of a specific sand dune ecosystem, the Nizzana site in the Negev Desert. Describing its climate and geophysical/geochemical properties of soils, geological history, flora and fauna, and past/present land-use patterns, it elucidates ecological and geomorphological processes and their interrelations, based on long-term monitoring, in situ experiments and satellite imagery. Particular attention is drawn to the impact of the topsoil biological crust in controlling water availability at local/regional scales. The interdisciplinary approach adopted in this case study offers a good example of a highly complex and dynamic system, which could easily be applied to other sandy ecosystems.
This is a valuable source of information for soil ecologists and microbiologists, conservation biologists, desert ecologists and geographers, geomorphologists, soil scientists and climatologists, lecturers, policy makers and others interested in deserts and desertification.
Sand dune dynamics plays a key role in many arid deserts. This volume provides a synthesis of a specific sand dune ecosystem, the Nizzana site in the Negev Desert. Describing its climate and geophysical/geochemical properties of soils, geological history, flora and fauna, and past/present land-use patterns, it elucidates ecological and geomorphological processes and their interrelations, based on long-term monitoring, in situ experiments and satellite imagery. Particular attention is drawn to the impact of the topsoil biological crust in controlling water availability at local/regional scales. The interdisciplinary approach adopted in this case study offers a good example of a highly complex and dynamic system, which could easily be applied to other sandy ecosystems.
This is a valuable source of information for soil ecologists and microbiologists, conservation biologists, desert ecologists and geographers, geomorphologists, soil scientists and climatologists, lecturers, policy makers and others interested in deserts and desertification.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-6
Geological Background of the Nizzana Area....Pages 9-15
Geo-Ecology of the North-Western Negev Sand Field....Pages 17-24
Formation and Geomorphology of the North-Western Negev Sand Dunes....Pages 25-48
The Regional Climatic Setting....Pages 49-63
Soil Characteristicsand Pattern of the Nizzana Research Site....Pages 65-77
Land Use and its Effect on the Mobilization and Stabilization of the North-Western Negev Sand Dunes....Pages 79-89
The Flora of the Nizzana Research Site....Pages 93-103
The Vegetation of the Nizzana Research Site....Pages 105-124
A Glance on the Fauna of Nizzana....Pages 125-147
Biological Crusts....Pages 149-155
Land Cover in the Nizzana Sandy Arid Ecosystem. Mapping Surface Properties with Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing Data....Pages 157-172
Topoclimate and Microclimate....Pages 175-182
Evapotranspiration, Transpiration and Dewfall....Pages 183-200
Morphological Changes at Active Dune Crests....Pages 201-209
Aeolian Sand Transport and Vegetation Cover....Pages 211-224
Soil Processes and Salt Dynamics in Dune Soils....Pages 225-238
Runoff and Erosion Processes Within a Dune System....Pages 239-249
Effects of Surface Runoff and Subsurface Flow on the Spatial Variability of Water Resources in Longitudinal Dunes....Pages 251-269
Atmospheric Input of Nutrient Elements and Dust into the Sand Dune Field of the North-Western Negev....Pages 271-284
Succession Stages in the Recovery Processes of the Topsoil Crust in a Disturbed Sandy Arid Area....Pages 285-303
Dew Formation and Activity of Biological Soil Crusts....Pages 305-318
Nitrogen Input Pathways into Sand Dunes: Biological Fixation and Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition....Pages 319-336
Vascular Plant Response to Microbiotic Soil Surface Crusts....Pages 337-351
Ion Relations of Plants and Soil Patterns....Pages 353-365
Temporal and Spatial Variability of Plant Water Status and Leaf Gas Exchange....Pages 367-375
Standing Biomass and its Modelling....Pages 377-383
Effects of Shrubs on Annual Plant Populations....Pages 385-400
Demography of Annual Plants: The Role of Habitat Heterogeneity and Competition....Pages 401-422
Sensitivity of a Sandy Area to Climate Change Along a Rainfall Gradient at a Desert Fringe....Pages 425-440
General Conclusions – Sand Dune Deserts, Desertification, Rehabilitation and Conservation....Pages 441-459
Back Matter....Pages 461-475
Sand dune dynamics plays a key role in many arid deserts. This volume provides a synthesis of a specific sand dune ecosystem, the Nizzana site in the Negev Desert. Describing its climate and geophysical/geochemical properties of soils, geological history, flora and fauna, and past/present land-use patterns, it elucidates ecological and geomorphological processes and their interrelations, based on long-term monitoring, in situ experiments and satellite imagery. Particular attention is drawn to the impact of the topsoil biological crust in controlling water availability at local/regional scales. The interdisciplinary approach adopted in this case study offers a good example of a highly complex and dynamic system, which could easily be applied to other sandy ecosystems.
This is a valuable source of information for soil ecologists and microbiologists, conservation biologists, desert ecologists and geographers, geomorphologists, soil scientists and climatologists, lecturers, policy makers and others interested in deserts and desertification.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-6
Geological Background of the Nizzana Area....Pages 9-15
Geo-Ecology of the North-Western Negev Sand Field....Pages 17-24
Formation and Geomorphology of the North-Western Negev Sand Dunes....Pages 25-48
The Regional Climatic Setting....Pages 49-63
Soil Characteristicsand Pattern of the Nizzana Research Site....Pages 65-77
Land Use and its Effect on the Mobilization and Stabilization of the North-Western Negev Sand Dunes....Pages 79-89
The Flora of the Nizzana Research Site....Pages 93-103
The Vegetation of the Nizzana Research Site....Pages 105-124
A Glance on the Fauna of Nizzana....Pages 125-147
Biological Crusts....Pages 149-155
Land Cover in the Nizzana Sandy Arid Ecosystem. Mapping Surface Properties with Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing Data....Pages 157-172
Topoclimate and Microclimate....Pages 175-182
Evapotranspiration, Transpiration and Dewfall....Pages 183-200
Morphological Changes at Active Dune Crests....Pages 201-209
Aeolian Sand Transport and Vegetation Cover....Pages 211-224
Soil Processes and Salt Dynamics in Dune Soils....Pages 225-238
Runoff and Erosion Processes Within a Dune System....Pages 239-249
Effects of Surface Runoff and Subsurface Flow on the Spatial Variability of Water Resources in Longitudinal Dunes....Pages 251-269
Atmospheric Input of Nutrient Elements and Dust into the Sand Dune Field of the North-Western Negev....Pages 271-284
Succession Stages in the Recovery Processes of the Topsoil Crust in a Disturbed Sandy Arid Area....Pages 285-303
Dew Formation and Activity of Biological Soil Crusts....Pages 305-318
Nitrogen Input Pathways into Sand Dunes: Biological Fixation and Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition....Pages 319-336
Vascular Plant Response to Microbiotic Soil Surface Crusts....Pages 337-351
Ion Relations of Plants and Soil Patterns....Pages 353-365
Temporal and Spatial Variability of Plant Water Status and Leaf Gas Exchange....Pages 367-375
Standing Biomass and its Modelling....Pages 377-383
Effects of Shrubs on Annual Plant Populations....Pages 385-400
Demography of Annual Plants: The Role of Habitat Heterogeneity and Competition....Pages 401-422
Sensitivity of a Sandy Area to Climate Change Along a Rainfall Gradient at a Desert Fringe....Pages 425-440
General Conclusions – Sand Dune Deserts, Desertification, Rehabilitation and Conservation....Pages 441-459
Back Matter....Pages 461-475
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