Ecology of Desert Systems

Front Matter
Copyright
Preface
Acknowledgments
Conceptual Framework, Paradigms, and Models
	Introduction
	Pattern and Process
	Definition of Ecosystem
	Landscape Units
	Defining Deserts
	Causes of Aridity of Global Deserts
	The Pulse-Reserve Paradigm/Model
	The Soil Resource
	Rooting Patterns
	Long-Term Legacy Effects
	Legacies in Ecological Time
	Conceptual and Simulation Models
		Precipitation and Soil Layers
	Ecosystem Processes
	Problems of Scaling
	References
	Further Reading
Landforms, Geomorphology, and Vegetation
	The Soil Template
	Desert Mountains and Hillslopes
	Piedmonts, Alluvial Fans, and Bajadas
	Ephemeral Streams (Arroyos and Wadis)
	Basins and Flatlands
	Desert Pavements and Stony Surfaces
	Rivers and Floodplains
	Sand Dunes and Sand Features
	Less Abundant Geomorphic Structures
		Lava Flows
		Gypsum Soils
		Salt Pans, Salars, Salt Playas, and Saline Springs
	Animals and Geomorphology
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Characterization of Desert Climates
	Climate Drivers
	Rainfall Variables
	Seasonality
	Spatial Effects
	Predictability
	Intensity, Duration, Frequency, and Return Time
	Fog and Water Vapor Deposition (Dew)
	Microclimate
	Global Warming and Climate Change
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Wind and Water Processes
	Wind Erosion
		Saltation
		Vegetation
		Wind and Dead Plant Materials
	Water—Redistribution of Rainfall
		Interception and Stemflow
		Throughfall
	Splash Erosion—Kinetic Energy of Raindrops
	Infiltration and Run-Off
		Vegetation Effects
		Run-Off
		Biological Soil Crusts
		Physical Crusts
		Animals
		Rocks and Stones
	Exchanges Among Landscape Units
		Ephemeral Streams (Arroyos, Dry Washes, Wadis)
	Exchanges Within Landscape Units
		Rills
		Steep Hillslopes
	Modeling Overland Flow and Ephemeral Channel Flow
	Episodic Events
	Ephemeral Ponds and Lakes
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Patch—Mosiac Dynamics
	Seeds: Germination and Establishment Sites
	Single Species Patches
	Intraspecific Morphological Variation
	Mosaics and Multispecies Patches (Nurse Plants)
	Competition Versus Facilitation
	Animal-Produced Patches
	Temporal Dynamics and Feedbacks
	Summary
	References
Adaptations
	Avoidance of Extremes
		Annual Plants
		Drought Deciduous Perennials
		Halophytes
		Cyanobacteria
		Amphibians
		Reptiles
		Mammals
		Birds
		Arthropods
	Physiological and Morphological Adaptations
		Perennial Plants
			Endophytes
		Reptiles
		Invertebrates
		Large Mammals
		Small Mammals
			Animals That Feed on Halophytes
		Herbivores and Granivores
		Carnivorous Mammals
		Birds
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Primary Production
	Measurement of Net Primary Production
	Comparison of Production Estimates With Mesic Ecosystems
	Rain Use Efficiency
	Belowground Productivity
	Models of Annual Aboveground Net Primary Production
		Simulation Models
	Landscape Relationships
	Productivity in Extreme Deserts
	Productivity Linked to Rainfall
	Productivity of Species and Functional Groups
	Experimental Studies
	Remote Sensing of ANPP
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Consumers and Their Effects
	Secondary Production
		Animal Effects on Ecosystems
	Ecosystem Engineers
		Do Species Matter?
	Pollination
	Seed Dispersal
	Chewers and Browsers
		Mammal Browsers and Compensatory Growth
		Girdling Insects
		Herbivory: Browsers and Grazers
	Top-Down; Bottom-Up Regulation of Consumers
		Foliage-Feeding Insects
	Food Webs
	Surface-Active Arthropods
	Large Herbivores
	Granivory
	Predators
		Lizards
		Snakes
		Mammals and Birds
	Belowground Food Webs
	Ephemeral Ponds and Lakes
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling
	Nutrient Limitations
	Decomposition
		Sources and Characteristics of Decomposable Material
		Surface Litter and Actual Evapotranspiration (AET)
		Photodegradation
		Biotic Decomposition
		Spatial Variation
		Decomposition of Buried Litter and Roots
		The Role of Microfauna in Decomposition and Mineralization
		The Role of Termites
		Decomposition in Hyperarid Environments
		Models of Decomposition Processes in Deserts
	Nutrient Cycles
		Landscape Patterns of Nutrient Distribution
		Animal Effects
		Roots and Symbionts
	Resorption
	Nitrogen Cycle
		Nitrogen Fixation
			Cryptogamic Crusts—Cyanobacteria
			Root Nodules and N-Fixation
			Rhizosheaths
		Nitrogen Losses
		Mineralization of Organic Nitrogen and Nitrogen Immobilization
	Other Potentially Limiting Nutrients
	Mycorrhizae and Dark Septate Fungi
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Nonnative, Exotic, or Alien Species
	Alien Plants
	Great Basin Invasives: Cheat Grass
		Other Great Basin Invasives
	Hot Desert Invasive Plants
	A River Flood-Plain Exotic Invasive
	Nonnative Plants in Australia
	Other Forage Exotics
	Mesquites (Prosopis spp.)
	The Invasive Syndrome
	Control, Restoration, and Management of Invasive Exotics
	Invasive Alien Animals
		Eurasian Invasions in the Americas
	Feral Ungulates
	Solutions?
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Anthropogenic Climate Change in Deserts
	What is Climate Change?
	Climate Models and Predictions
		Climate Models Generally
		Desert-Specific Model Predictions
		Climate Change “Press”
		Increasing Atmospheric CO2 Effects
		The Role of Deserts in Carbon Sequestration
		Climate Change and Uncoupled Biogeochemistry
		Precipitation
		Precipitation-Hydrology Interactions
	Faunal Effects
		Amphibians
		Reptiles
		Mammals
		Birds
		Humans
		Invertebrates
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Desertification
	History of Desertification
		Case Histories—Southwestern United States and Australia
	Ecosystem and Landscape Consequences of Desertification
	Effects on Animals and Animal Feedbacks
	Climate Effects of Desertification
		Dust Storms
		Wind Erosion
	Social and Economic Consequences of Desertification
		Livestock Production
	The Dryland Development Paradigm
	Effects of Desertification on Biodiversity
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
Rehabilitation of Degraded Landscapes
	Stabilizing Sand Dunes
	Rehabilitation of Shrub Infested Rangeland
	Restoring a Functional Soil
	Degraded Croplands
	Nurse Plants and Patches
	Keystone Species
	Symbiotic Microbes
	Restoring Ecosystems on Mined Lands
	Summary
	References
Monitoring and Assessment
	Definitions
	Existing Assessment and Monitoring Systems
	Landscape Function Analysis
	A Quantitative Approach to Monitoring and Assessment
	Indicators
	Remote Sensing
	Summary
	References
	Further Reading
The Human Footprint (Roads; Urbanization; Energy Developments)
	Roads and Transportation Corridors
	Urbanization
		Urban Heat Island Effects
		Dust Storms
		Atmospheric Gasses
		Human Subsidies and Wildlife
		Effects on Plants and Vegetation
		Effects on Animals—Trophic Effects
		Biodiversity
		Exurban Developments
	Fossil Fuel Developments Plus Electric Power Generation
	Sustainable Energy Development
	Summary
	References
Glossary
Index
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