Journal of Arid Environments最新文献

{"title":"Overlooked stories beneath the rocks: Rodents as potential columnar cactus seed dispersers in the campo rupestre ecosystem","authors":"Leonardo Guimarães Lessa ,&nbsp;Dayana Maria Teodoro Francino ,&nbsp;Christian Nathan da Silva Oliveira ,&nbsp;Ítalo António Cotta Coutinho ,&nbsp;Tiago Vinicius Fernandes","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although small rodents are typically considered seed predators, recent evidence indicates they may also serve as endozoochoric dispersers for small-seeded plants. In this context, <em>Thrichomys apereoides</em> (Rodent) is one of the main consumers of <em>Cipocereus minensis</em> fruits, an endemic cactus within the <em>campo rupestre</em> ecosystem, a high-elevation rocky grassland. However, the full extent of its potential as a seed dispersal agent for this plant remains unknown. We investigated the effects of seed scarification following gut passage by <em>T. apereoides</em> on cactus seeds, evaluating the gut passage effects on seed fate (germinability and viability). We also explore possible mechanisms involved in germination changes by evaluating the morphological changes in seeds after gut passage. We found that 92 % of seeds found in <em>T. apereoides</em> feces appeared undamaged. However, we observed a divergent effect of gut passage on seed fate: while it had no effect on the seed viability, it reduced seed germination from 11.9 % (Seeds without pulp, extracted directly from ripe fruits) to 4.3 %. An anatomical analysis of seeds reveals that while the seed coat is thick and resistant to gut passage, microfissures in some seeds allow for embryo digestion. Despite those limitations, our results provide the first evidence for the potential contribution of <em>T. apereoides</em> dispersing viable seeds of <em>C. minensis</em>, a vital process to seed bank formation and plant establishment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105388"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143839187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Habitat associations of desert bighorn sheep in Sonora, Mexico","authors":"Juan Manuel Segundo Galán ,&nbsp;Erik Joaquín Torres-Romero ,&nbsp;Louis C. Bender","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Desert bighorn (<em>Ovis canadensis mexicana</em>) have declined throughout Mexico, necessitating actions to inform habitat management and guide population restorations. We used a generalized resource-area-dependence analysis and univariate modeling of home range sizes to identify habitat quality for, and distribution v. availability (i.e., “habitat use”) analyses to further identify habitat associations of, 37 satellite/GPS collared adult desert bighorn in Sonora, Mexico. We found that sarcocaul shrubland and greater terrain ruggedness were most associated with desert bighorn home ranges. Sarcocaul shrubland was the only vegetation type related to home range size (i.e., habitat quality) of desert bighorn (adult females), and was also the only vegetation type significantly overrepresented in home ranges of both sexes. Similarly, greater terrain ruggedness was consistently associated with both sexes. Our results reflected availability of preferred foods and greater security for desert bighorn in Sonora. Our individual-based, telemetry-based data provide a rigorous basis for evaluating habitat potential and planning population restorations of bighorn in Mexico, and provide a quantitative guide for conservation of desert bighorn habitat and populations in Sonora and throughout arid Mexico.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105386"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143839186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does sample size of leaf osmotic potential significantly affect the evidence of its association with cotton yield?","authors":"Xuejun Dong ,&nbsp;Dale A. Mott ,&nbsp;Quan Zhou ,&nbsp;Benjamin M. McKnight","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leaf osmotic potential at full turgor (<em>π</em>₀) has been used frequently to indicate turgor loss point of plant leaves. However, even a rapid measurement of <em>π</em>₀ using osmometry is time-consuming, if numerous leaf samples need to be measured. Because of this, researchers tend to use a small sample size to determine <em>π</em>₀ and relate it to indices of crop performance. Yet the statistical and agronomic significance of using a small sample size of <em>π</em>₀ to indicate crop performance is not known. We address this question using field measurements and statistical resampling. Six mature leaf samples were collected at the peak bloom stage from each of the 54 cotton plots in Texas, USA in 2024. The <em>π</em>₀ of the collected leaves were measured using an osmometer. Seed cotton yields from the field plots were measured near the end of cotton season. To test the effect of sample size on the evidence of the association between <em>π</em>₀ and cotton yield, 1–6 resamples of <em>π</em>₀ were randomly drawn with replacement from the original 6 measurements per plot for the 54 plots. The resampled data of <em>π</em>₀ were then used as independent variable to predict cotton yield. We found that, considering the labor and cost, sampling 3 leaves per plot would be adequate for the linear regression between <em>π</em>₀ and cotton yield.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105387"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143829136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plant mycorrhization is resilient to land use change in a thornscrub in northwestern Mexico","authors":"Gabriela Blanco-Valenzuela ,&nbsp;Fernanda Núñez S Palomares ,&nbsp;Andrés Ochoa-Meza ,&nbsp;Francisco Molina-Freaner ,&nbsp;Ana Armenta-Calderon ,&nbsp;M. Cristina Peñalba ,&nbsp;Clara Tinoco-Ojanguren","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105384","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105384","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land-use change, such as the conversion of thornscrub to buffelgrass (<em>Cenchrus ciliaris</em>) pastures, poses a significant threat to natural plant communities in northwestern Mexico. However, its effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associations with native plant species remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the impact of such conversion on AMF associations in four native plant species by comparing soil and root samples from a natural thornscrub and a buffelgrass pasture in Sonora, Mexico, during both wet and dry seasons. Mycorrhizal variables measured included root mycorrhizal colonization, visual density, root hair density, spore density, spore viability, AMF spore morphotype diversity, and soil nutrient content. Most mycorrhizal variables did not differ significantly between the two habitats. When significant differences were observed, values tended to be higher in the pasture, possibly reflecting the more stressful conditions of this habitat. A total of 27 AMF spore morphotypes were identified, with a greater number found in the pasture (22) compared to the thornscrub (7); only two morphotypes were shared between the two habitats. These findings suggest that AMF associations in thornscrub are resilient to buffelgrass conversion, with increased mycorrhization and spore density likely linked to the stress conditions of the pasture and dry season.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105384"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143829137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing aeolian sand spectral index using multispectral imagery and machine learning models: A representative case study in Iraq","authors":"Ahmed H. Al-Sulttani ,&nbsp;Ehsan Ali Al-Zubaidi ,&nbsp;Furkan Rabee ,&nbsp;Ghadeer F. Al-Kasoob ,&nbsp;Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud ,&nbsp;Hashem Shafik Shakir ,&nbsp;Zaher Mundher Yaseen","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aeolian and drifting sand are major environmental problems in arid and semi-arid regions such as Iraq, as they pose an increasing risk of land degradation and desertification due to climate change and human activities. A spectral index was proposed and studies to detect aeolian sand and monitor changes in the Najaf-Samawah Field in Iraq region. The research evaluated several machine learning (ML) models performed on a binary classification of Landsat OLI data. Different libraries, including LibSVM, LibLINEAR, and generalized linear model (GLM), were used to develop an accurate spectral aeolian and drifting sand index (DSI) in two forms with a complete equation (DSI-C) and the simplified and reduced equation (DSI-R). The Landsat OLI reflectance values generated 15 Normalized Differences (ND), and nine ML models were implemented. The most highly weighted NDs were selected from the 15 trained NDs. The accuracy assessments with other spectral sand indices showed that the DSI-C and DSI-R have significant accuracy and results in detecting aeolian sand. The study presented a simple methodology product for mapping aeolian sand. Quantitatively, the proposed DSI-R attained an overall accuracy, average Kappa, and average F-score of 93.617 %, 87.233 %, and 93.331 %, respectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105382"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143829135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Megathyrsus maximus invasion and NPK fertilizer addition on the regeneration of native plants in dry seasonal forests","authors":"Larisse Bianca Soares Pereira ,&nbsp;Henarmmany Oliveira ,&nbsp;Layla Fernanda Sousa e Costa ,&nbsp;Kleber Napoleão Nunes de Oliveira Barros ,&nbsp;Flávia Carolina Lins Silva ,&nbsp;Marcus Vinícius Loss Sperandio ,&nbsp;Cláudia Ulisses","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The modification of natural landscapes for agriculture is common in Brazilian semiarid regions. The cultivation of exotic species and the use of chemical fertilization, without prior soil analysis, negatively impact fertility and contribute to the abandonment of these areas. Nutritional imbalance favors invasion and consequently hinders succession processes. In this study, we investigated the impact of nutritional enrichment combined with invasion on native plants. The field experiment was completely randomized, in a 4 × 2 factorial (nutrient x invasion) and 6 replicates. Samples of soil and native leaves were collected and evaluated chemically and biochemically, respectively. The interaction between nutrients and <em>M. maximus</em> invasion did not alter soil chemistry due to leaching, high resource uptake, and soil activity. The presence of <em>M. maximus</em> increased competition under natural nutritional conditions, affecting the total soluble carbohydrate content in <em>C. prasiifolia</em> and the pigment and proline content in <em>P. varians</em>, as well as the enzymatic activity in response to oxidative stress in <em>P. varians</em> and <em>S. maculata.</em> Abandoned pastures with different soil nutritional conditions may favor the invasion of <em>M. maximus</em> in dry areas, outcompeting native species, compromising their establishment and development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105383"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental spring planting and attribution of ponderosa pine seedling survival in a hot and dry subregion of the southwestern United States","authors":"Matthew D. Petrie","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105381","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105381","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Artificial regeneration (i.e., seedling planting) will be required to maintain dry coniferous forests in the southwestern United States (SWUS). I conducted a 3-year (2022–2024) spring planting experiment in one burned and three unburned ponderosa pine forests in southern Nevada, USA, a location with notably hot and dry summers. Instrumented experimental sites supported the mechanistic assessment of meteorological and environmental controls on survival. Low precipitation, low soil moisture, and high air and soil temperatures distinguished very low seedling survival (<span><math><mo>&lt;</mo></math></span>20 %), which occurred in the burned forest and in unburned forests during low precipitation years, often in the first 40 days following planting. Lower (≤40 %) versus higher (<span><math><mo>&gt;</mo></math></span>65 %) survival was distinguished by precipitation, different forest environments, and 10–30 day variation in planting date. Higher survival (36–100 %) in 2023 continued through 2024, especially for earlier planted seedlings. Thus, alterations to the timing of spring planting may provide benefits to seedling survival. This experiment underscores the influence of meteorological and environmental variation on artificial regeneration, and portends to increasing survival restriction – and reliance on precipitation events – as warm seasons in SWUS forests increasingly resemble those of southern Nevada.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105381"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143808446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Consequences of human conflicts on aquatic ecosystems in drylands areas: Future management perspective","authors":"Luciana G. Barbosa ,&nbsp;Ilia Ostrovsky ,&nbsp;Manuela Morais ,&nbsp;Elena Anufriieva ,&nbsp;Gema Parra ,&nbsp;Egor Zadereev ,&nbsp;Antonio Camacho ,&nbsp;Antje Schwalb ,&nbsp;Simonetta Bagella ,&nbsp;Rosemberg F. Menezes ,&nbsp;Luz Marina Soto ,&nbsp;Carlos López ,&nbsp;Maria Ilheu ,&nbsp;Eduardo A. Morales ,&nbsp;Abdullah A. Saber ,&nbsp;Hichem Kara ,&nbsp;Peter Riad ,&nbsp;Gizachew Teshome ,&nbsp;Nickolai Shadrin","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105375","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105375","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aquatic ecosystems in dryland regions are among the most vulnerable globally, facing escalating threats from climate change, population growth, and human conflicts. Historically, water disputes have been a significant driver of tension. Over the past three decades, at least 59 water-related conflicts have occurred in drylands, predominantly in Asia and Africa, with approximately 50 % of these conflicts directly linked to water scarcity. The primary ecological consequences include the loss of hydrological connectivity, declining biodiversity, heightened water scarcity and pollution, and the degradation of physical habitats. The lack of conservation efforts during and after conflicts further destabilizes these fragile aquatic ecosystems, eroding their resilience. Such environmental disruptions reduce water availability and quality and pose serious risks to human health, food security, and socioeconomic stability. Moreover, the destruction of water infrastructure and ecosystem degradation caused by conflicts undermine progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to clean water, health, and biodiversity conservation. Addressing these challenges necessitates enhanced transboundary water governance, robust climate adaptation strategies, and the development of international legal frameworks to mitigate the long-term ecological impacts of human conflicts in dryland regions. This review explores the direct and indirect environmental effects of human conflicts on aquatic ecosystems in drylands, supported by critical case studies that underscore the urgency of these issues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143800205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Introducing the REPAIR framework for sustainable environmental restoration: Lessons from lake urmia, Iran","authors":"Hamid Farahmand ,&nbsp;Massoud Tajrishy ,&nbsp;Mohammad Taghi Isaai ,&nbsp;Mohammad Ghoreishi ,&nbsp;Mohammadreza Mohammadi","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105369","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105369","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Achieving long-term sustainability in environmental restoration requires integrating behavioral science into policy design, yet cognitive biases that shape agricultural decisions remain overlooked. This study introduces the REPAIR framework, a novel interdisciplinary approach that addresses these biases to improve water management strategies. Using a qualitative case study of 148 farmers in Mahabad, Iran, we apply a grounded theory approach to identify key biases—such as confirmation bias, status quo bias, and the bandwagon effect—that reinforce unsustainable irrigation practices and limit farmers' responsiveness to ecological risks. The REPAIR framework (Revenue, Experience, Participation, Availability, Insight, and Relationship) provides structured interventions, incorporating incentive structures, experiential learning, and collective action mechanisms. By integrating insights from Ostrom's Design Principles and behavioral decision-making theories, REPAIR enhances policy effectiveness in common-pool resource governance. This study underscores the necessity of embedding behavioral science into environmental restoration, offering a scalable, evidence-based tool for policymakers and conservation practitioners. To conclude, addressing cognitive biases is not just complementary to ecological restoration—it is fundamental to ensuring lasting environmental and socio-economic resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105369"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143746681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimation of savanna rangeland productivity: Linking allometric traits to above-ground biomass of palatable grass species in sub-Saharan Africa","authors":"Arnim Marquart ,&nbsp;Katja Geissler ,&nbsp;Niels Blaum","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105380","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105380","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Estimating above-ground biomass (AGB) of grasses as a proxy for savanna productivity is vital for land management. Allometric theory suggests plant size metrics can predict biomass across species and ecosystems. However, relationships can be influenced by environmental factors and vary between species. This study quantifies AGB and allometric relationships of five palatable grass species in semi-arid Namibian savannas. To assess how environmental factors influence allometric relationships, we compare them with equations from other drylands and climatic zones. Our approach provides a baseline for non-destructive AGB estimations of palatable grasses in African savannas, supporting large-scale AGB estimation via remote sensing.</div><div>For each species, we measured AGB, height, canopy-, and basal area of 100 individuals. Allometric relationships were calculated across and separately for each species using power regression models. In all models, basal area was the best AGB predictor. Including both basal and canopy area improved predictions. Adding height slightly enhanced predictions but differed between species-specific models. Our comparison within drylands and across climate zones showed similar patterns in allometric relationships, but differences in scaling exponents and coefficients highlight the need for site-specific, but not necessarily species-specific models. Our findings suggest opportunities and challenges for using size measures determined by remote sensing. Large-scale AGB prediction of grasses using canopy area is feasible but less precise than using basal area. Including height improves AGB predictions but changes the allometric coefficient to species-specific values, requiring species differentiation. In conclusion, our findings could enhance AGB estimation precision for sustainable land management in southern Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"229 ","pages":"Article 105380"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143738236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}