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Diversity
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Biodiversity in Arid Ecosystems
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Biodiversity in Arid Ecosystems

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2024 | Viewed by 8900

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Merav Seifan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, The Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, The Blausteind Institutes for Desert Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 849900, Israel
Interests: plant ecology; population ecology; community ecology; plant-animal interactions; pollination ecology; plan-herbivore interactions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

High diversity at all levels of organization is a fundamental requirement for healthy, stable, and well-functioning ecosystems. Consequently, the diversity of the living world is the focus of modern ecological, evolutionary, and conservation sciences. The arid and dryland regions cover a large portion of the terrestrial ecosystem and are home to a huge human population. Nevertheless, when it comes to research, arid areas are often considered negligible or marginal sites that are used mainly to compare more productive sites. This discrepancy between the relative spatial dominancy of the arid region and the amount of information accumulating in it calls for a change in our research focus.   Moreover, with the predictable global changes, aridity and dry conditions are expected to become more frequent worldwide. Therefore, focusing on the biodiversity of arid regions offers a unique opportunity to understand the forces that shape these regions, providing precious information to understand the processes now occurring in too many new areas.

In this Special Issue, we wish to focus on the unique diversity of the dry regions of the world at all organizational levels. We aim to reveal the fascinating aspects of arid sites and drylands, which are often considered relatively poor and sparse ecosystems. We particularly welcome studies that connect biodiversity and habitat conditions and those showing the dynamics of organisms in the face of dry conditions and their consequences for local and regional biodiversity.

Dr. Merav Seifan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Diversity 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

  • species diversity
  • dry condition
  • desert
  • aridity
  • intraspecific diversity
  • community ecology
  • interactions
  • trait variability

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1561 KiB  
Article
Implications of Ecological Drivers on Roan Antelope Populations in Mokala National Park, South Africa
by Nkabeng Thato Maruping-Mzileni, Hugo Bezuidenhout, Sam Ferreira, Abel Ramoelo, Morena Mapuru, Lufuno Munyai and Roxanne Erusan
Diversity 2024, 16(6), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16060355 - 19 Jun 2024
Viewed by 818
Abstract
Climate change has massive global impacts and affects a wide range of species. Threatened species such as the roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) are particularly vulnerable to these changes because of their ecological requirements. Attempts to address concerns about the roan’s vulnerability [...] Read more.
Climate change has massive global impacts and affects a wide range of species. Threatened species such as the roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) are particularly vulnerable to these changes because of their ecological requirements. Attempts to address concerns about the roan’s vulnerability have not been well documented in South African protected areas. This study identifies the landscape use and distribution of the roan as well as habitat and forage suitability changes to help inform management decisions for the conservation of roan. We used fine- and broad-scale data from Mokala National Park, South Africa that includes roan occurrence data, vegetation condition indices, vegetation (structure and plant species composition), elevation and temperature differences, and precipitation strata to construct a suitability framework using the Maximum Entropy (Maxent) and Random Forest statistical package. In Mokala National Park, roan occurred in the Schmidtia pappophoroides–Vachellia erioloba sparse woodland, Senegalia mellifera–Vachellia erioloba closed woodland, Senegalia mellifera–Vachellia tortilis open shrubland, Vachellia erioloba–V. tortilis closed woodland and Rhigozum obovatum–Senegalia mellifera open shrubland. The veld (vegetation) condition index (VCI) improved from 2019 (VCI < 50%) to 2021 (VCI > 60%), with the proportion of palatable grass species (Schmidtia pappophoroides and Eragrostis lehmanniana) also increasing. This study identified four key climatic conditions affecting roan distribution, namely annual mean daily temperature range, temperature seasonality, minimum temperatures of the coldest month, and precipitation of the wettest month. These results suggest that the conservation of roan antelope should consider these key variables that affect their survival in preferred habitats and foraging areas in anticipation of changing ecological conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Arid Ecosystems)
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14 pages, 3577 KiB  
Article
Insect Abundance and Richness Response to Ecological Reclamation on Well Pads 5–12 Years into Succession in a Semi-Arid Natural Gas Field
by Michael F. Curran, Jasmine Allison, Timothy J. Robinson, Blair L. Robertson, Alexander H. Knudson, Bee M. M. Bott, Steven Bower and Bobby M. Saleh
Diversity 2024, 16(6), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16060324 - 29 May 2024
Viewed by 895
Abstract
Natural gas extraction is a critical driver of the economy in western North America. Ecological reclamation is important to ensure surface disturbance impacts associated with natural gas development are not permanent and to assist native biota. Previous studies in semi-arid natural gas fields [...] Read more.
Natural gas extraction is a critical driver of the economy in western North America. Ecological reclamation is important to ensure surface disturbance impacts associated with natural gas development are not permanent and to assist native biota. Previous studies in semi-arid natural gas fields within Sublette County, Wyoming, USA have shown insects respond favorably to 1–3-year-old well pads undergoing reclamation compared to older successional reference vegetation communities dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. Wyomingensis). Here, we examined well pads which were initially seed 5, 8, 10, 11, and 12 years prior to our study. We used a free, image-based software called SamplePointv. 1.60 to quantify vegetation on these well pads and adjacent reference areas from cell phone camera photographs. Insects were collected with a sweep net and identified to the family and morphospecies level. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare both vegetation and insect communities between reclamation sites and their paired reference area. We found little statistical difference between vegetation communities across our study but found significantly more insect abundance on reclaimed well pads than reference areas in 3 of 5 years and significantly higher family and morphospecies richness on reclaimed well pads in 4 of 5 years. A total of 2036 individual insects representing 270 species from 71 families across 11 orders were identified across this study. A total of 1557 individuals (76.5%) were found on reclamation sites, whereas 479 (23.5%) were found in reference areas across the entire study. A total of 233 species (86.3% of total) were found on reclamation sites, whereas 121 species (44.8% of total) were found in reference areas across the entire study. A total of 67 families (94.4% of total) were found on reclamation sites, whereas 45 families (63.4% of total) were found in reference areas across the entire study. All 11 orders found in the study were found on reclamation sites, whereas 9 orders were found in reference areas across the entire study. Our results suggest reclamation of natural gas well pads within an old successional stand of sagebrush continues to support higher levels of insect biodiversity and abundance for at least 12 years. As insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth and because they provide a wide array of ecosystem services, our findings suggest ecological reclamation plays an important role in returning biodiversity and ecosystem functionality to a semi-arid and old successional sagebrush–steppe ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Arid Ecosystems)
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13 pages, 2191 KiB  
Article
Effects of Peri-Urbanization on Coastal Sage Scrub Ant Species in Baja California
by Alejandro E. Mieles, Margaret A. Voss and Estelí Jiménez-Soto
Diversity 2023, 15(9), 953; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15090953 - 24 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1329
Abstract
Increasing urbanization on the Baja California Peninsula threatens ant diversity. Reductions in ant species diminish ecosystem services provided to semiarid coastal scrub areas. Peri-urban areas in particular are at high risk of reductions in ant biodiversity due to development. To document and evaluate [...] Read more.
Increasing urbanization on the Baja California Peninsula threatens ant diversity. Reductions in ant species diminish ecosystem services provided to semiarid coastal scrub areas. Peri-urban areas in particular are at high risk of reductions in ant biodiversity due to development. To document and evaluate ant species diversity and richness in a rapidly developing area, nine sites were sampled within areas of coastal sage scrub (CSS) encircling the urban periphery of Ensenada, Baja California. Forty species and 17 genera of ants were collected, only one of which was non-native. Although the sampled area represents less than 1% of the peninsula and 3% of the State of Baja California, approximately one-third of the total species recorded for the peninsula and state were collected. Environmental variables (compass orientation, slope, and vegetation cover) were not significant determinants of species richness. Sandy soils were associated with the highest species abundance, richness, and functional diversity of feeding guilds. Despite limitations, our results present a historically significant snapshot of ant diversity in the sage scrub areas surrounding Ensenada. Sandy regions of semiarid coastal scrub are prime conservation management areas as they support the greatest functional diversity and have the highest potential to supply environmental services to the surrounding CSS ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Arid Ecosystems)
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16 pages, 2591 KiB  
Article
Spatial Turnover and Functional Redundancy in the Ants of Urban Fragments of Tropical Dry Forest
by Lina María Ramos Ortega and Roberto J. Guerrero
Diversity 2023, 15(7), 880; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070880 - 24 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1504
Abstract
Spatial and temporal variation in the diversity of ants in four urban fragments of the tropical dry forest in the city of Santa Marta was evaluated. The fragments were sampled four times in the dry and rainy season, from October 2019 to January [...] Read more.
Spatial and temporal variation in the diversity of ants in four urban fragments of the tropical dry forest in the city of Santa Marta was evaluated. The fragments were sampled four times in the dry and rainy season, from October 2019 to January 2020, using pitfall traps, mini-Winkler bags, baits, and manual collection. Both alpha and beta taxonomic diversity and their components were quantified. The functional groups were established based on proposals for Neotropical ant species. A total of 7 subfamilies, 37 genera, and 84 species were collected. Richness varied spatially from 33 to 61 species, but between the two seasons it was 72 and 76 species. Sites N01 and N02 had greater diversity than N03 and N04. In all the fragments, soil ants were dominated by Ectatomma ruidum, but litter ants showed a structure with less dominant species. The dissimilarity between fragments was 60–80%, attributable mainly to turnover (50–70%) but not to nestedness (10%). Seventeen functional groups were identified. Taxonomic diversity of ants in urban fragments in Santa Marta showed marked spatial variation, without influence from the seasons. Despite taxonomic turnover, there was broad similarity in functional groups between the fragments, indicating ecological equivalence of species between the ant assemblages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Arid Ecosystems)
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13 pages, 3429 KiB  
Article
Dry Climate Filters Gymnosperms but Not Angiosperms through Seed Mass
by Yang Qi, Hongyan Liu, Chongyang Xu, Jingyu Dai and Biao Han
Diversity 2023, 15(3), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030401 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3167
Abstract
In the context of climate change in recent years, the fate of woody plant seed has an important impact on forest regeneration. Seed mass is an important reproductive strategy of plants. There are huge differences between gymnosperms (mainly conifers) and angiosperms (flowering plants) [...] Read more.
In the context of climate change in recent years, the fate of woody plant seed has an important impact on forest regeneration. Seed mass is an important reproductive strategy of plants. There are huge differences between gymnosperms (mainly conifers) and angiosperms (flowering plants) in terms of reproduction and hydraulic strategies; however, little is known about changes in seed mass along climate aridity gradients between taxonomical groups such as gymnosperms and angiosperms, which limit our understanding on the fate of woody plants under warming-induced climate drying. We collected seed mass data from a total of 2575 woody plant individuals, including 145 species of gymnosperms and 1487 species of angiosperms, across different climatic zones in China. We mapped the distribution pattern of gymnosperm and angiosperm seed mass in China, with angiosperms being maximal near the 400 mm iso-precipitation line. Our phylogenetic analysis results show that seed mass exhibited significant phylogenic signals (p < 0.001) and was also strongly influenced by functional traits (growth type, fruit type, and dispersal mode). The results of linear regression and hierarchical partitioning analysis showed a stronger correlation between gymnosperm seed mass and environmental factors, and a higher independent aridity index effect on gymnosperm seed mass than angiosperm seed mass. The different patterns of seed mass along a climate aridity gradient between gymnosperms and angiosperms may point to different future fates for these two taxonomic groups, while the higher sensitivity of gymnosperm seed mass to environmental conditions may reduce their reproductive rate under the background of climate warming and drying. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Arid Ecosystems)
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