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.
Author(s): Siegmar-W. Breckle
Edition: 1
Year: 2008
Language: English
Pages: 475
Contents......Page 9
General Introduction – Desert Sand Dunes and Aims of the Book – Special Characteristics of the Nizzana Research Site......Page 25
References......Page 30
Part A: The North-Western Negev......Page 31
1.2 Late Geological History......Page 32
1.3 Discussion of Results......Page 36
1.4 Conclusions......Page 37
References......Page 38
2.1 Introduction......Page 39
2.2 Geo-Ecological Units in the Hallamish Sand Field......Page 41
2.4 Conclusions......Page 45
References......Page 46
3.1 The Sinai-Negev Dunefield......Page 47
3.2 Aeolian Sand Incursions into the North-Western Negev During the Upper Quaternary......Page 48
3.3 Wind Climate......Page 53
3.4 The Negev Dune Forms and Their Evolution......Page 55
3.5 The Effect of Destruction of Vegetation on the Morphology and Dynamics of the Sand Dunes......Page 62
3.6 Buried Channels......Page 64
References......Page 68
4.1 Introduction......Page 71
4.2 Climate Dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean and Adjacent Areas......Page 72
4.3 Characteristics of the Northern Negev Climate......Page 75
4.4 Conclusions......Page 83
References......Page 84
5.2 Methods......Page 86
5.3 Soil Distribution......Page 88
5.4 Ecological Conditions......Page 95
5.5 Conclusions......Page 97
References......Page 98
6.2 Factors Affecting Vegetation Growth on Sand Dunes......Page 99
6.3 The Effect of the Border on Bedouin Pasture Management......Page 102
6.4 The Effect of Bedouin Pressure on the Negev Sand Dunes......Page 103
6.5 Conclusions......Page 107
References......Page 108
Part B: Ecosystem Patterns......Page 110
7.2 Methods......Page 111
7.3 Results and Discussion......Page 112
7.4 Conclusions and Summary......Page 120
References......Page 121
8.1 Introduction......Page 122
8.2 Methods......Page 123
8.3 Results......Page 124
8.4 Discussion......Page 137
8.5 Conclusions......Page 139
References......Page 140
9.1 Introduction......Page 142
9.2 Study Sites and Methods......Page 143
9.3 Results......Page 145
9.4 Discussion......Page 156
9.5 Conclusions......Page 162
References......Page 163
10.3 Crust Types......Page 165
10.4 Species Diversity......Page 167
References......Page 170
11.1 Introduction......Page 172
11.2 Study Objectives......Page 173
11.3 Field and Remote Sensing Data......Page 174
11.4 Spatial Variability of Crust Properties Within the Sand Dune Ecosystem......Page 176
11.5 Mapping the Spatial Diversity of Surface Properties with High Spatial-Resolution Aerial Photographs......Page 179
11.6 Conclusions......Page 185
References......Page 186
Part C: Ecosystem Processes......Page 188
12.2 The Radiative Energy Budget and Temperatures on Sand Dune Slopes......Page 189
12.3 Precipitation......Page 192
12.4 Near-Ground Wind Conditions......Page 193
References......Page 196
13.2 Microclimatic Measurements......Page 197
13.3 Evapotranspiration Models and Their Application to Dewfall......Page 198
13.4 Zero Plane Model......Page 203
13.5 Application of the Zero Plane Model......Page 205
13.6 Model Validation......Page 210
13.7 Conclusions......Page 212
References......Page 213
14.2 The Research Site......Page 215
14.3 Methods......Page 216
14.4 Results......Page 217
References......Page 223
15.1 Introduction......Page 224
15.2 Study Sites and Methods......Page 225
15.3 Results......Page 228
15.4 Discussion......Page 233
15.5 Conclusions......Page 235
References......Page 236
16.1 Introduction......Page 238
16.2 Methods......Page 239
16.3 Soil Formation......Page 240
16.4 Salt Dynamics......Page 244
16.5 Spatial Variability of Soil Characteristics......Page 249
16.6 Conclusions......Page 250
References......Page 251
17.1 Introduction......Page 252
17.2 Field Instrumentation and Methodology......Page 253
17.3 Results......Page 255
17.4 Discussion......Page 259
17.5 Conclusions......Page 261
References......Page 262
18.1 Introduction......Page 263
18.3 Results of Field Studies......Page 265
18.4 The Effect of Subsurface Water Movement on Water Redistribution......Page 273
18.5 Conclusions......Page 278
References......Page 280
19.1 Introduction......Page 282
19.3 Dimensions of Atmospheric Deposition......Page 283
19.4 Element Groups and the Boundary Conditions of Atmospheric Input......Page 287
19.5 The Role of Vegetation Stands......Page 290
19.6 Conclusions......Page 293
References......Page 294
20.1 Introduction......Page 296
20.2 The Case of the Nizzana Research Area......Page 298
20.4 Methodology......Page 299
20.5 Results......Page 302
20.6 Discussion and Conclusions......Page 308
References......Page 312
21.1 Introduction......Page 315
21.2 Dew and Fog......Page 316
21.3 Physiological Activity of Biological Soil Crusts......Page 321
References......Page 326
22.1 Introduction......Page 329
22.2 Materials and Methods......Page 330
22.3 Results......Page 333
22.4 Discussion......Page 341
References......Page 344
23.1 Introduction......Page 347
23.2 Methods......Page 348
23.3 Results......Page 350
23.4 Discussion......Page 356
23.5 Conclusions......Page 358
References......Page 359
24.1 Introduction......Page 362
24.2 Material and Methods......Page 363
24.3 Results and Discussion......Page 364
24.4 Conclusions......Page 369
References......Page 372
25.1 Introduction......Page 375
25.3 Results......Page 376
25.4 Discussion......Page 379
References......Page 382
26.2 Standing Biomass......Page 384
26.3 Modelling Biomass Pattern......Page 386
26.5 Conclusions......Page 389
References......Page 390
27.1 Introduction......Page 391
27.2 Methods......Page 392
27.3 Results......Page 395
27.4 Discussion......Page 400
References......Page 404
28.1 Introduction......Page 407
28.2 Methods......Page 409
28.3 Results......Page 411
28.4 Discussion......Page 419
28.5 Conclusions and Summary......Page 424
References......Page 425
Part D: Research Perspectives / Synthesis and General Conclusions......Page 429
29.1 Introduction......Page 430
29.2 Aim of Study......Page 432
29.3 Methodology......Page 433
29.4 Results......Page 434
29.5 Discussion......Page 441
29.6 Implications for the Sensitivity of the Sandy Area to Changing Climatic Conditions......Page 442
29.7 Conclusions......Page 443
References......Page 444
30.1 Sand Deserts and Sand Dunes......Page 446
30.2 Desertifi cation – the Degradation of Sandy Desert Ecosystems and Threat to Adjacent Areas......Page 447
30.3 Designing Shelterbelts......Page 448
30.4 Stabilisation of Sand Dunes in the Aralkum......Page 450
30.5 Stabilisation of Sand Dunes in the Tengger Desert......Page 455
30.6 Restoration of Sand Dunes in Southern Africa......Page 458
30.7 Conclusions......Page 461
References......Page 462
A......Page 465
C......Page 466
D......Page 467
E......Page 468
H......Page 469
M......Page 470
O......Page 471
R......Page 472
S......Page 473
T......Page 475
Z......Page 476
C......Page 477
N......Page 478
V......Page 479
