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Cavernicolous populations of the spider wasp Ageniella evansi Townes, 1957 (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) nest deep within limestone caves at Colossal Cave Mountain Park near Tucson, Arizona, USA. These remarkable populations are the only truly cavernicolous pompilid wasps currently known. As many as 79 females were documented nesting simultaneously within Arkenstone Cave. The facts that the wasps do not nest near cave entrances but only deep within the interior of the caves, are philopatric to each occupied cave and have been present each year for decades confirm their cavernicolous behaviour as subtroglophiles. Studies conducted for over 30 years revealed many insights into the behaviour of these wasps in addition to their nesting deep within limestone caves, including: intraspecific and interspecific competition, plasticity in host selection, precision solar navigation, evidence that some form of communal nesting may be present and behaviour suggestive of rudimentary cognition in the species. This study demonstrates the importance of assessing all animals found in caves as potential ecological elements and not focusing solely on exotic troglobiotic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the biology and ecology of the desert millipede Orthoporus ornatus (Girard, 1853) is scarce despite its key role in soil biogeochemistry and prevalence on Sonoran Desert roads. The variation in the population structure of the desert millipede was described, analyzed, and discussed in conjunction with the abundance and size of females and males over a period of several years. The millipedes were sampled at night by vehicles that travelled at 20-25 km/h on a two-lane road during the summers from 2013 to 2022. The abundance was recorded in each sampling, and the millipedes were collected for laboratory measurements. The individuals that were measured were later released at the capture sites. Regression analyses were performed between the abundance of millipedes and their biological characteristics, including their weight and body sizes, number of legs and body segments. Regression analyses were also used to examine correlations between abundance and climatic variables. The results indicate that the females had larger variables, such as body size. The greatest abundance and size were related to the rainy months, high average temperatures, and relative humidity, which were considered favorable for the activity of the species in the Sonoran Desert. Resumen Información sobre la biología y ecología del milpiés del desierto Orthoporus ornatus (Girard, 1853) es escasa a pesar de jugar un papel clave en la biogeoquímica del suelo y ser una especie común en los caminos del Desierto de Sonora. Discutimos, describimos y analizamos la variación en la estructura poblacional del milpiés del desierto a lo largo de varios años de estudio; comparamos la abundancia y el tamaño de hembras y machos. Durante los veranos de 2013 a 2022 realizamos muestreos nocturnos en vehículo circulando a 20-25 km/h en una carretera de dos carriles. En cada muestreo registramos la abundancia y recolectamos milpiés para medirlos en el laboratorio. Los individuos medidos fueron liberados posteriormente en los sitios de captura. Con estos datos, realizamos análisis de regresión entre la abundancia de milpiés y las características biológicas: peso y tamaño corporal, número de patas y segmentos corporales; también realizamos análisis de regresión entre la abundancia y las variables climáticas. Los resultados indican que las hembras mostraron mayores variables como mayor tamaño corporal. La mayor abundancia y tamaño estuvieron relacionados con los meses de lluvia, altas temperaturas promedio y humedad relativa, variables consideradas favorables para la actividad de la especie en el Desierto Sonorense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breeding system and pollination ecology of Tamarix taklamakanensis, an endangered shrub occurring in sand dunes in the Taklamakan Desert, were examined by seven pollination treatments and observational studies in natural populations in 2019. The results showed that T. taklamakanensis exhibits an outcrossed breeding system that is dominated by insect‐pollination. It is largely self‐incompatible, with infrequent occurrence of anemophily, but relies strictly on pollinators in outcrossing. The pollen vitality could last about six days versus the stigma receptivity last about one day. Two effective pollinators were detected, and the peaks of visitation were 10:30–13:30, 16:30–17:30 and 18:30–19:30 h. Seed set by artificial cross‐pollination was significantly higher than natural pollination rates, and seed set for a population with high insect visitation rates was significantly higher than a population with low visitation rate, suggesting that pollen limitation is an important constraint on seed production for this species. Adverse weather conditions and habitat fragmentation were speculated to be the primary factors affecting the insect visitation of T. taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2008, the American University in Cairo (AUC) moved from its downtown campus in Tahrir Square to the center of New Cairo. Through an analysis of AUC's historical land acquisitions at Cairo's urban periphery, this article examines how the university sought to influence land use over the past century. We argue that AUC's relatively recent role in New Cairo is an expression of the institution's century-long aspirations to acquire land on Cairo's periphery for a permanent suburban style campus. Drawing on the tools of political ecology and critical university studies, we trace how a suburban desert campus is consistently envisioned as a mechanism for the institution to play a significant role in influencing land politics and use in and beyond its campus. We highlight two key ways that AUC has historically situated itself in the city's development. First, purchasing land in order to relocate to the outskirts of the city has been central to AUC's strategy for accumulating wealth to ensure its long-term presence in Egypt. Second, acquiring large tracts of land for a suburban desert campus has been instrumental to AUC's educational mission to shape its student body, Egyptian society, and the political ecology of desert land in Egypt. Through archival research, we show how AUC's relationship to land positions the university as a significant institutional force in Cairo's rapidly urbanizing desert periphery. This situated case study contributes to an emerging body of scholarship examining the fraught historical and contemporary relationship between universities, land, environmental knowledge, and uneven urbanization in the Middle East and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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). There is a general paucity of information about this species, and no published data on the seed bank for any species in the genus. Our objective with this study was to provide insight into the established seed bank density for this species. We processed 500 soil samples from various locations near individual cacti and potential neighboring nurse plants. We found that the species had a detectable seed bank of a size similar to other members of the Cactaceae family. Seed bank densities were the highest immediately adjacent to, and downslope from, parent plants. Our data indicate that areas within 20 cm of seed-producing cacti contain by far the greatest density of seeds. These areas should be given special consideration in future management plans for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study primarily sought to select the best index for elaborating on dust activities, analyze the temporal and spatial changes of the index’s trend, and examine the relationship of the index with environmental factors in Iranian dry regions. To this end, the study examined the data collected on dust concentration, dust storm index, the number of dusty days (NDD), the pollution caused by dust storms, and the frequency of all dust events over a period of 18 years (2001-2018) using the MODIS-aerosols optical depth (AOD) product. Moreover, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between the indices and AOD data sets. On the other hand, the trend of the best index annual changes in twenty-eight Iranian urban areas was analyzed using the Mann-Kendall method. Also, the most important environmental factors controlling dust activities in high-risk areas were identified using the random forest model. The results of the study indicated a strong correlation between NDD and AOD in Iranian dry regions (r= 0.7; p-value= 0.001). It was also found that the trend of NDD’s annual changes significantly increased in Torbat Heydarieh, Nehbandan, and Anar (Z>+1.96). However, the trend significantly decreased in Chabahar and Iranshahr (Z>│-1.96│. Generally, the results indicated an insignificant decreasing trend of annual NDD changes across the entire Iranian arid regions from 2001 to 2018 (Z= -0.45). on the other hand, the random forest model suggested that air pressure and wind speed exerted the greatest influence on dust activities that occurred in Iran’s high-risk area throughout the study period. Therefore, it could be argued that the findings of this study can help better monitor dust events and reduce their environmental risks in Iranian dry areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Resistance to environmental salinity in rangeland plant species has different mechanisms, and one of the most effective factors in this field is different phenological stages. In The current study salinity tolerance of one rangeland's species (Agropyron desertorum) at different phenological stages was examined. The treatments included five saline irrigation levels: 0.50 (Well water as control), 2, 4, 8 and 10 dS m-1 and three phenological stages at which salinity was applied: Germination, (2-leaf), flowering and before seeding. Growth parameters, ions accumulation and oxidative effects in this rangeland's spices were evaluated. According to the results, the effect of salinity varied from phenological stages and a significant reduction in plant shoot and root dry weights, root length, height, and potassium (shoot and root) concentration was observed under salinity stress. Also, tissue sodium concentration and antioxidant enzymes activities were enhanced due to salt stress.The negative effects on growth parameters and biochemical attributes were quite evident in higher levels of salinity. The salt stress at the early phenological stage had a more severe effect on plant growth than that applied at the later phenological stages. Based on Van-Genuchtan and Hoffman equation, the salt tolerance threshold analysis worked out as 50% reduction of Agropyron desertorum that were 6.50, 7.98 and 10.00 dS m-1 at germination, (2-leaf), flowering and before seeding, respectively. However, the plants were able to recover in terms of accumulation of ion and antioxidant enzymes as well as those without stress when salt stress was introduced at the seed germination stage. Overall, Agropyron desertorum has been shown to have a sensitivity at early phenology and relatively tolerance in subsequent phases of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As complex climatic events, dust storms could be managed by considering their nature and attributes. Therefore, this study sought to investigate interactions between the aerosol optical depth index and climatic land surface characteristics using data mining and zoning techniques in dust-prone regions of the Yazd province, Iran. To this end, the required data was collected from several climatic products of the University of Idaho and Modis Sensor for the 2000–2017 period using Google Earth Engine. Moreover, the image of the maximum dust was processed using AOD Modis and ENVI 5.1 software. Then, the underlying correlation between the variables was identified through various data mining techniques. In addition, the ROC curve was used for cross-validation, and different metrics were applied to assess the model, including Square Root of Error, Absolute Normalized Error, Classification Error, Absolute Error, and Crucial Class Fraction Ratio. Finally, the best data mining approach was used to determine the location and zoning of dust-prone regions. The findings of the study indicated that the decision tree outperformed the Bayesian theory with 89.53% accuracy and that it performed better than the nearest neighbor with an accuracy of 61.3% and 81.31%, respectively. As for the validation of the models, the decision tree methods, nearest neighbor search, and Bayesian network theory showed 74.21%, 64.39%, and 55.42% values, respectively. Moreover, in regions with crucial harvest and dust ranges, wind speed and soil surface moisture were found to have the most significant role. On the other hand, the zoning of dustprone regions revealed that 888,067067 Km2 of areas were covered with the highest concentrations of dust, most of which were located in the central and eastern parts of Yazd province, with the AOD values being 0.465, 0.309, 0.162, and 0.065 for the ranges of 0-0.036, 0.036-0.072, 0.072-0.107, and 0.107-0.3, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This studio course engages the thresholds, constructs, and narratives of the Negev/Naqab Desert and uses critical architectural practice to counter settler colonial perceptions of emptiness and unsettle the legacies of technocratic infrastructures while confronting the Western and Eurocentric gaze that genericizes desert ecologies and cultures. The work seeks fulsome desert imaginaries, inclusive of erased and marginalized histories and cultures and spatializes conditions of migration, erasure, and power through a series of exercises that engage the depth of the desert. Students work in open-ended, hybrid approaches to create deep cartographies and layered perspectival readings that reveal the interdependent cultural and climatic worlds of the Negev/Naqab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid renewable energy transition has facilitated the development of large, ground‐mounted solar energy facilities worldwide. Deserts, and other sensitive aridland ecosystems, are the second most common land‐cover type for solar energy development globally. Thus, it is necessary to understand existing diversity within environmentally sensitive desert plant populations to understand spatiotemporal effects of solar energy siting and design. Overall, few population genomic studies of desert plants exist, and much of their biology is unknown. To help fill this knowledge gap, we sampled Mojave milkweed (Asclepias nyctaginifolia) in and around the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station (ISEGS) in the Mojave Desert of California to understand the species' population structure, standing genetic variation, and how that intersects with solar development. We performed Restriction‐site Associated Sequencing (RADseq) and discovered 9942 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Using these data, we found clear population structure over small spatial scales, suggesting each site sampled comprised a genetically distinct population of Mojave milkweed. While mowing, in lieu of blading, the vegetation across the solar energy facility's footprint prevented the immediate loss of the ISEGS Mojave milkweed population, we show that the effects of land‐cover change, especially those impacting desert washes, may impact long‐term genetic diversity and persistence. Potential implications of this include a risk of overall loss of genetic diversity, or even hastened extirpation. These findings highlight the need to consider the genetic diversity of impacted species when predicting the impact and necessary conservation measures of large‐scale land‐cover changes on species with small population sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saharan ungulates have suffered from poaching across their range leading to population declines. Low abundance and habitat inaccessibility have limited the availability of empirical data on desert ungulate ecology in the wild. Our objective was to evaluate temporal and spatial distribution, and home‐range sizes of wild dorcas gazelles (Gazella dorcas) and slender‐horned gazelles (Gazella leptoceros) under natural conditions using observations from 14,398 camera‐days collected between April 2019 and October 2021 in the 7,700‐ha fenced area of Jbil National Park (Jbil NP), Tunisia. We individually identified gazelles in Jbil NP using unique horn morphology. Both gazelle species exhibited nocturnal activity patterns in summer, but diurnal activity patterns dominated in winter. We also detected both species more frequently in the plains than in mountains. Water presence was influential in determining distribution only for dorcas gazelles. Minimum convex polygons (MCPs) were 2,062 ha for both the male and female of the most frequently detected dorcas gazelle pair and 1,527 ha for another solitary male. For slender‐horned gazelles, MCPs were 2,280 ha and 2,041 ha, respectively, for a male and a female detected in Jbil NP. The decline and rarity of gazelles in the Sahara Desert have limited the sample size of our observed populations. Our study provides hitherto unknown data on wild populations of rapidly declining gazelle species and contributes to ongoing conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay employs the land register of a late nineteenth-century Hindi census conducted in the princely state of Marwar (Rajasthan) to examine the durability of the tax-free (sasan) land grant regime over the course of three centuries. It evaluates the privilege sasan grants inured on their holders until the mid-twentieth century, when a series of a structural land reforms all but overnight changed the ways in which grant holders and their kin interacted with land and state authorities. The essay reads processes of land grant donation and maintenance across a wide social, economic, and ecological spectrum. In so doing, it challenges historiographical assumptions of religion as a fundamental grant donation motive in the region, as well as the idea that land relations were primarily defined by revenue extraction in early modern and colonial north India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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). There is a general paucity of information about this species, and no published data on the seed bank for any species in the genus. Our objective with this study was to provide insight into the established seed bank density for this species. We processed 500 soil samples from various locations near individual cacti and potential neighboring nurse plants. We found that the species had a detectable seed bank of a size similar to other members of the Cactaceae family. Seed bank densities were the highest immediately adjacent to, and downslope from, parent plants. Our data indicate that areas within 20 cm of seed-producing cacti contain by far the greatest density of seeds. These areas should be given special consideration in future management plans for this species.

Abstract A rapid renewable energy transition has facilitated the development of large, ground‐mounted solar energy facilities worldwide. Deserts, and other sensitive aridland ecosystems, are the second most common land‐cover type for solar energy development globally. Thus, it is necessary to understand existing diversity within environmentally sensitive desert plant populations to understand spatiotemporal effects of solar energy siting and design. Overall, few population genomic studies of desert plants exist, and much of their biology is unknown. To help fill this knowledge gap, we sampled Mojave milkweed (Asclepias nyctaginifolia) in and around the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station (ISEGS) in the Mojave Desert of California to understand the species' population structure, standing genetic variation, and how that intersects with solar development. We performed Restriction‐site Associated Sequencing (RADseq) and discovered 9942 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Using these data, we found clear population structure over small spatial scales, suggesting each site sampled comprised a genetically distinct population of Mojave milkweed. While mowing, in lieu of blading, the vegetation across the solar energy facility's footprint prevented the immediate loss of the ISEGS Mojave milkweed population, we show that the effects of land‐cover change, especially those impacting desert washes, may impact long‐term genetic diversity and persistence. Potential implications of this include a risk of overall loss of genetic diversity, or even hastened extirpation. These findings highlight the need to consider the genetic diversity of impacted species when predicting the impact and necessary conservation measures of large‐scale land‐cover changes on species with small population sizes.

The Singing Sand Mountain and Crescent Spring Scenic Spot in Dunhuang, Northwest China is a world-renowned desert attraction that is also an integral component of the Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark. This scenic area underwent a 30-year transformation, i.e., from a severe sand risk with spring water threatened by sand burial due to dune deformation, to restoration of the original sand flow field and mitigation of the sand burial problem. The current paper summarizes the research on the intensive monitoring of the dynamic change of star dunes near the spring, observation of wind and sand flow movement, and then restoring the harmonic vibration of the sand particles (singing sand) that were previously silenced. The existing and prospective impacts of anthropogenic and natural forces on the deformation of the sand dunes are investigated by integrated methods, guiding the implementation of mitigating measures with significant ameliorative effects. Contrast to common sand control practices that aim to reduce wind speed and stop blown sands, our research highlights the importance of maintaining the natural wind flow field in stabilizing surrounding dunes. These mitigation measures consist of removing excessive vegetation and newly constructed buildings to recover the original wind flow field and sand transport activity. Such research and mitigation efforts ensure the scientific protection and restoration of the special desert landform, and contribute to the mutual enhancement of the conservation and exploitation of this desert scenic spot and similar sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soft rock in Mu Us Sandy Land has rich resources and high content of clay minerals. The combination of soft rock with sand can play a certain role in sand fixation and promote the green development of ecological environment. In this paper, the aeolian sandy soil in Mu Us Sandy was taken as the research object, and it was mixed with soft rock to form composite soil. The four volume ratios of soft rock to sand were respectively 0:1, 1:5, 1:2 and 1:1. And CK, P1, P2 and P3 were used to represent the above four volume ratios in turn. By means of quantitative fluorescent PCR and high throughput sequencing, 16S rRNA gene abundance and community structure were investigated. The results showed that the soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in 0-30cm soil layer were higher. Compared with CK, the SOC of P2 was improved by 112.77% and that of P1 was 88.67%. The content of available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK) was higher in 30-60cm soil layer, and P3 was more effective. The abundance of 16S rRNA gene in the mixed soil bacteria ranged from 0.03×109 to 0.21×109 copies g-1 dry soil, which was consistent with the changes of nutrients. Under different soil layers, the three dominant bacteria in the mixed soil were the same, namely Phylum Actinobacteriota, Phylum Proteobacteria and Phylum Chloroflexi, and there were more unique genera in each soil layer. Both bacteria ɑ and β diversity showed that the community structure of P1 and P3 in 0-30cm soil layers was similar, and that of P1 and P2 in 30-60cm soil layers was similar. AK, SOC, AN (ammonium nitrogen), TN and NN (nitrate nitrogen) were the main factors contributing to the differentiation of microbial community structure under different compound ratios and soil layers, and Phylum Actinobacteria has the largest correlation with nutrients. The results showed that the soft rock could improve the quality of sandy soil, and that the growth of microbial growth was dependent on the soil physicochemical characteristics. The results of this study will be helpful to the study of the microscopical theory for the control of the wind-blown sand and the ecology of the desert. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xerophytes in desert improve their fitness under stress through the development of stems and branches. However, little is known about changes in the structure and function of endophytic microorganisms in response to interactions between desert plants and their environment. In this study, we analyzed the lignification indices of young and mature branches during their development in a typical desert xerophyte, Nitraria tangutorum, and combined 16S and ITS high-throughput sequencing techniques to draw the following conclusions. Nitraria tangutorum accumulated more lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose content during lignification. In addition, the number of OTUs and diversity of endophytic bacteria and fungi were reduced. Both endophytic bacteria and fungi were governed by stochastic processes during the development of stems and branches of Nitraria tangutorum and were significantly affected by lignification indices. Meanwhile, the development of stems and branches increased the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria and Ascomycota, and the dominant bacterial genera were mostly positively correlated with the lignification indices. In addition, stem and branch lignification reduced endophytic microbial interactions in the relationship between the endophytic bacterial and fungal networks of Nitraria tangutorum. Functional prediction analysis further revealed that lignification of Nitraria tangutorum branches changed the metabolic function of endophytic bacteria. The results of this study indicate that plant endophytic microorganisms play an important role in resisting and adapting to adversity and provide support for related studies on microbial ecology in desert areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are notoriously hazardous for human populations of the hyperarid Peruvian coast. Yet, ENSO climate fluctuations are fundamental to the ecology of desert plant and animal resources that have been incorporated into human subsistence economies for millennia. We examine marine shellfish exploitation among early complex societies in southern coastal Peru at the end of the first millenium BCE to better understand the subsistence vulnerability of communities in arid environments with variable resource availability and productivity. We analyze new shellfish data from Jahuay, a shoreline fishing settlement in the Topará Quebrada occupied amidst new regional social hierarchies and intensifying inner-valley agriculture. We compare mollusk taxonomic diversity and taxa rank order with published assemblages from four near-contemporaneous sites to assess local and regional trends in resource exploitation. At Jahuay, a unique focus on foraging plentiful Donax obesulus clams resistant to ENSO effects may reflect a local buffering strategy to ensure a resource supply through interannual and decadal climate oscillations. Our comparative results suggest regional reliance on intertidal resource patches, especially rocky habitats, for consumable shellfish. The relative convenience of gathering sessile intertidal taxa that form dense settlements may partly explain their regional popularity. The potential to dry and exchange mollusk meat as a protein source likely enhanced diet diversification while supporting economic and social relationships between communities. Overall, our findings imply that mollusks and intertidal foraging landscapes were important within a broad-spectrum subsistence strategy suited to maintaining and coordinating food availability in a dynamic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plateau Meteorology is the property of Plateau Meteorology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Taklimakan Desert, known for extreme aridity and unique ecological challenges, maintains a delicate life balance beneath its harsh surface. This study investigates intricate dynamics of soil animal communities within this desert ecosystem, with a particular focus on vertical profile variations beneath four dominant shrub species (AS- Alhagi sparsifolia , KC- Karelinia caspia , TR- Tamarix ramosissima , CC- Calligonum caput-medusae). Utilizing comprehensive soil sampling and metagenomics techniques, we reveal the diversity and distribution patterns of soil animal communities from the soil surface down to deeper layers (0–100 cm). Our research outcomes have unveiled that Nematoda and Arthropoda emerge as the most predominant classes of soil animals across all studied shrubs. Specifically, Nematoda exhibited notably high abundance in the KC area, while Arthropoda thrived predominantly in the TR region. We also observed a linear decrease in Nematoda populations as soil depth increased, consistent among all shrub species. Moreover, the highest Shannon diversity within soil animal communities was recorded in the KC area, underscoring a trend of declining alpha diversity in the AS region and an increase in other shrub areas as soil depth increased. Notably, the zones dominated by CC and TR displayed the highest levels of beta diversity. Our correlation analysis of soil animals and environmental factors has pinpointed soil water content, available phosphorus, and available potassium as the most influential drivers of variations in the top-classified soil animal communities. This study provides insights into soil animals in deserts, supporting future research to preserve these fragile deserts and enhance our understanding of life below the surface in challenging ecosystems. • This study explores soil animals in a desert ecosystem, focusing on four dominant shrub species. • Nematodes and Arthropods are the main soil animals, with Nematoda more abundant in KC and decreasing with soil depth. • Arthropoda thrive in the TR region. KC has the highest diversity, while CC and TR have high beta diversity. • Soil water content, phosphorus, and potassium drive soil animal variations. • The research sheds light on soil animals in arid ecosystems, aiding future desert conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations are beginning to increase globally after centuries of decline. While protective legislations and policy implementations have been driving this increase, evidence suggests that these work because of a general rise in public acceptance of wolves. As people have become more knowledgeable of the important ecological roles played by wolves, protection has gained increasing community support, with human-wolf coexistence now being achieved in some areas. However, this is not universal, and some subspecies remain endangered. This is the case for the little-known Arabian wolf (Canis lupus arabs), which inhabits arid regions of the southern Levant and Arabian Peninsula: a geopolitically diverse region crossing multiple jurisdictions with disparate cultures, legislations, and attitudes towards wildlife and conservation. Here we review global efforts within the wolf conservation sphere to explore potential opportunities and challenges in the Middle East, acknowledging and accounting for the unique geopolitical complexity of this region. We bring together what is known about this wolf's taxonomic status, distribution, ecology, and conservation across eleven countries in which it resides, collating decades of legislation, governmental, and non-governmental conservation efforts, and summarising literature pertinent to the Arabian wolf. Cross-border collaborations remain challenging in the Middle East, but we identify practical and culturally-based solutions that may improve coexistence and conservation goals, building upon areas where coexistence already occurs. We write this review in the hope that it will highlight the synergies, opportunities, and obstacles that require more serious deliberation and collaboration to conserve one of the region's remaining apex predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many extreme arid ecosystems, insects constitute major faunal components and are key contributors in nutrient cycling. Previous research on xerophily in insects has focused on adult forms. This study investigates skeletomuscular and behavioural adaptations of the Kalahari sandworm beetle larvae (Gonopus tibialis Fabricius) for dwelling in the sand. Microcomputed tomography enabled cuticle thickness distribution analysis, revealing structural reinforcements of the mandibular edge, the middle part of the head, and the ventral side of the front legs. Laboratory observations and the analysis of muscular system allowed for the definition and functional description of the elements of the digging apparatus of the sandworm larvae. Obtained results point to the crucial role of the head and mandibles in the digging process. These observations are important for understanding desert ecology and pose a challenge to develop newer excavation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desert Research Center (DRC) is one of the oldest scientific institutions dedicated to the study of the desert environment. DRC has got many specializations distributed in four research divisions, comprising 23 scientific departments that are further divided into 45 research units for the fine scientific specialties. In addition to the presence of 10 regional research stations distributed in the desert governorates of Egypt, including a station on the northwest coast, a station in Siwa Oasis, Shalatin, Toshki, New Valley, five stations in the Sinai Peninsula and to the Center for Sustainable Development of Matrouh Resources. Desert Research Centre aims to explore the natural resources in the Egyptian desert, and to develop plans to invest these resources to achieve sustainable development in order to preserve the rights of future generations This bibliography was compiled in order to shed the light on the role of DRC in the science of microbiology in Egypt since 1950. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

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Under drought stress, desert riparian forest plants are highly self-regulating and have their own unique water use and regulation strategies, which can respond positively in several aspects such as physiology, ecology, and individual phenotypes when coping and adapting to the stresses brought by external environmental changes. In addition, as an important component of arid zone ecosystems, desert riparian forest plants maintain the cycling process of energy and material in desert areas. Therefore, it is of great ecological value to study the role played by desert riparian forest plants in desertification control and biodiversity conservation in arid zones. The purpose of this study is to provide basic data and scientific basis for the conservation, and restoration of desert riparian forests in the inland river basin of arid zone. In this paper, the physiological and ecological responses of desert riparian plants under drought stress were analyzed by reviewing the literature and focusing on the key scientific issues such as drought avoidance mechanisms, water use, and water redistribution, and the relationship between interspecific water competition and resource sharing of desert riparian plants. The results showed that: (1) In the inland river basin of arid zone, desert riparian plants show a mutual coordination of increasing soluble sugars, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreasing peroxidase (POD), to form a unique drought avoidance mechanism, and improve their drought tolerance by changing leaf stomatal conductance resulted from regulating abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinin (CTK) content. (2) Desert riparian forest plants have their own unique water use and regulation strategies. When the degree of drought stress increased, Populus euphratica enhanced the water flow of dominant branches by actively sacrificing the inferior branches to ensure and improve the overall survival chances of the plant, while Tamarix ramosissima weaken hydraulic conductance, and increase subsurface material inputs by reducing plant height to cope with drought stress. (3) The root systems of desert riparian plants have hydraulic uplift and water redistribution functions, and, in the hydraulic uplift process of P. euphratica and T. ramosissima root systems, there is a possibility of assisting with other species in water utilization and the existence of a resource sharing mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated whether seed mass, handling time, handling efficiency and profitability account for (a) preferences in controlled experiments and (b) field‐diet composition of four bird species of the Monte desert, Argentina. The question of whether birds maximise their energy intake rates while feeding on seeds is assessed. We used feeding experiments with six native seed species of 0.07–0.75 mg (i.e. the seed‐size range consumed in nature), which account for 0.59–0.84 of the field diet of the four birds. We measured seed‐handling times and used published information on bird preferences and diets, and on seed chemistry, for further calculations. Bird preferences were always positively related to seed mass and also to seed profitability in the two intermediate‐sized birds. Diet composition correlated positively with seed mass and negatively with seed profitability in three species, but some birds also showed a flexible behaviour eating the most attractive seeds according to their availability. This behaviour is not genuinely opportunistic because it only focuses on a restricted fraction of the total seed species present in the field. Contrary to expectations of species coexistence due to resource partitioning, small and large birds showed similar feeding efficiencies when eating the smaller and the larger seeds. The positive association between seed mass and profitability in several studies suggests that most birds can maximise their energy reward, on average and in the long‐term, by preferring the larger seeds. A combination of potential feeding optimisation with certain flexibility in the field may characterise the feeding ecology of desert seed‐eating birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new amalgamation of weather stations in and around Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California has allowed for objective climate analysis regionalization at a much finer scale than past studies. First, it sets a baseline for many regions within the park's boundaries that were not subject to direct observations. Second, these new observations are key to understanding shifting microclimate regimes in a desert ecosystem prone to the effects of climate change. Principal component analysis was used to regionalize the climate network based on monthly temperature and precipitation climate observations and standardized anomalies. Both the observation values and standardized climate anomalies identified regional boundaries. In general, these boundaries align with traditional ideas and past studies of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts based on elevation (specifically the 1000-m contour) for the National Park Service. Standardized anomaly values identified a boundary based on seasonal precipitation, whereas observation values identified a boundary based on elevation. The boundary line within the park is similar for both data approaches, with the boundary running along the higher western one-third of the park. Conversely, the two methods differ significantly in the Coachella Valley, where low elevations and low precipitation meet winter-dominated seasonal precipitation. This study highlights the importance and opportunity of field observations to create climatological and ecological regionalization, and it also constructs a baseline to monitor and manage shifting desert regions in the future. Significance Statement: This study identifies a high-resolution climate boundary zone in Joshua Tree National Park between the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. The new transition zone presents the seasonal and elevational temperature and precipitation components of the two deserts, connecting with the unique ecology of the deserts. This finding highlights just one study opportunity of new field observation networks in arid or topographically diverse regions. It also provides a baseline for climate change as a resource for environmental management groups to better understand and preserve our natural spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Climate change is dramatically restructuring agriculture and damaging crops, food security, and human health, especially in deserts. To radically redesign food systems to buffer against climatic disruptions, we focus on agroecological function, human health, and community well‐being. Using arid North America (“Aridamerica”) as a laboratory for the future, we employed 18 criteria to select 17 desert plant genera with high potential as food crops. When integrated into perennial polycultures modeled after arid ecosystems and traditional knowledge, desert plants can stabilize yields, produce disease‐preventing foods, and generate rural livelihoods. We envision food systems that can reduce disparities while enhancing resilience in a hotter, drier world. Summary Climate disruptions and water scarcity are threatening food security and human well‐being. We provide a framework for selecting a more diverse set of arid‐adapted food crops to reduce food system vulnerabilities to climate change, climate‐related illness, and economic disparities in arid lands. We constructed a list of candidate crops based on the diets of the Comcaac, O'odham, and Pima Bajo peoples of the Sonoran Desert. Representative genera were then screened for traits related to agroecological functionality, human health, community well‐being, and agronomic suitability. Of the 154 species (86 genera) used by these Sonoran Desert Indigenous cultures, 101 species (80 genera) were more broadly used in Aridamerica, suggesting wide acceptability and value of desert plants for arid‐adapted agriculture in North America. We highlight 17 genera with high potential to simultaneously improve agricultural resilience, human health, and community prosperity in the face of climate change, over a third of which are water‐use efficient crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) succulents. Assembling these candidate crops into perennial polycultures coupled with solar energy and rainwater harvesting systems can maximize yield reliability while minimizing fossil fuel, agrichemical, and surface and groundwater use. Now is the time to invest in desert‐adapted farming and food systems, with climate change already accelerating damages to agricultural landscapes. Biomimicry and traditional knowledge can aid in designing co‐located food, water, and energy provisioning systems adapted to arid climates and scarce resources that improve agroecological and human health. Adopting such designs will require transdisciplinary integration of plant, environmental, social, and health sciences.

The Lut Desert, southeastern Iran, regularly has the largest contiguous area of surface temperatures above 65°C compared to anywhere else on Earth. Despite these harsh conditions, some specialized species thrive in this extreme habitat. Misonne's spider gecko, Rhinogecko misonnei de Witte, 1973 (Reptilia, Squamata, Gekkonidae) is an endemic species that is native to the central part of the Lut Desert. This research aimed to explore the dietary gut content and ecology of Misonne's spider gecko populations inhabiting the Lut Desert. A DNA metabarcoding approach was applied to obtain data from the stomach content of six collected specimens. A total of 147,451 amplicon reads representing a total of 94 OTU (=Operational Taxonomic Units) for the CO1‐5P barcode region were sequenced. Of 94 OTUs, 50 (53.2%) identically matched ≥97% with BOLD and/or NCBI database and were identified at the genus level. Blasting in both databases revealed the presence of three phyla including Chordata (55.23%), Arthropoda (44.72%), and Annelida (0.05). 99.54% of Chordata DNA belonged to Rhinogecko misonnei mainly coming from stomach tissue of the examined specimens. Within the arthropods, 87.64% of the OTUs matched Insecta and 12.08% Arachnida. Our findings indicate that Rhinogecko misonnei is a generalist gecko that feeds on a variety of food items. About 81% of Rhinogecko food items in the central Lut are migratory insects that come from adjacent areas of the Lut District, although the arachnid food items originate from the central Lut. This study emphasizes the importance of the insect fauna of adjacent areas of the Lut Desert for the stability of the Desert food web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Egyptian Journal of Botany is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, we focused on integrating remote sensing techniques and MaxEnt modeling to develop a restoration approach to determine and rank hotspots for revegetation and restoration planning of native desert plant communities. The results showed that the distribution of suitable habitats for native desert communities varied according to climatic, bioclimatic, soil, and topographic factors. Cyperus species occur in deep loose soil, while Rhanterium species predominate on gypsums or calcareous soils growing in areas that contain a thin layer of gravel. Communities such as Cyperus and Haloxylon were not influenced by the wet seasons, making them suitable for restoration because of their resiliency to grow under harsh and drought seasons. Based on the results, a vegetation restoration approach was designed, which classifies the locations into three categories: community management sites (appropriate sites for one community), restoration sites (appropriate sites for two communities), and prioritized restoration sites (appropriate sites for more than three communities). Limited sites were ranked as prioritized restoration sites, making it essential to consider these locations as optimum hotspot sites for future restoration and revegetation. We concluded that the integrated approach helped develop a detailed vegetation community map that ranked suitability habitats based on several environmental factors, which could be used as biological indicators for restoration planning. The vegetation restoration approach is also functional for regional‐scale studies to identify and rank hotspot locations for revegetation and restoration planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to investigate whether host plant species and lifestyles, and environmental conditions in the desert affect endophytic fungi composition. Endophytic fungal communities from parasitic plant Cynomorium songaricum and its host Nitraria tangutorum were investigated from three sites including Tonggu Naoer, Xilin Gaole, and Guazhou in Tengger and Badain Jaran Deserts in China using the next-generation sequencing of a ribosomal RNA gene region. Similarity and difference in endophytic fungal composition from different geographic locations were evaluated through multivariate statistical analysis. It showed that plant genetics was a deciding factor affecting endophytic fungal composition even when C. songaricum and N. tangutorum grow together tightly. Not only that, the fungal composition was also greatly affected by the local environment and rainfall. However, the distribution and richness of fungal species indicated that the geographical distance exerted little influence on characterizing the fungal composition. Overall, the findings suggested that plant species, parasitic or non-parasitic lifestyles of the plant, and local environment strongly affected the number and diversity of the endophytic fungal species, which may provide valuable insights into the microbe ecology, symbiosis specificity, and the tripartite relationship among parasitic plant, host, and endophytic fungi, especially under desert environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]