Arthropod Diversity in Arid and Desert Ecosystems
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 31
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Deserts—distinctive and extensive biomes—harbor a wealth of rare and endemic genetic resources; however, the countless forms of life they shelter, particularly arthropods, remain largely unknown and are too often relegated to the margins of scientific discourse.
Although deserts cover a significant proportion of Earth’s land, vast tracts are yet to be systematically surveyed; the composition of their faunal communities and the spatiotemporal dynamics of their ecological diversity are still poorly understood. Arthropods are key to invertebrate life in arid and desert ecosystems, serving as decomposers, predators, and the prey that sustains countless vertebrates. Arthropod diversity is the bedrock upon which the health and stability of desert habitats rest. Increasingly intensifying human activities, compounded by accelerating climate change, are reshaping these environments at an unprecedented pace and scale, directly threatening arthropod diversity and the ecological functions it sustains, thereby undermining the health and stability of entire arid and desert ecosystems. Consequently, any endeavor to exploit desert or arid land resources must be paralleled by a commitment, without delay or exceptions, to study and safeguard the arthropod diversity of these habitats.
We invite submissions that address the faunal composition, eco-geographic distribution patterns, and monitoring and conservation of arthropod diversity in arid and desert ecosystems. We will accept reviews as well as short or extensive research papers that cover the above topics.
Dr. Jiliang Liu
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- arthropods
- diversity
- arid and desert ecosystems
- human activities
- climate change
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