Arid Dune Ecosystems: The Nizzana Sands in the Negev Desert

Siegmar-W. Breckle (Curatore)

Aaron Yair (Curatore)

Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG, 2008

Sand dune dynamics plays a key role in many arid deserts. This volume provides a synthesis of a specific sand dune ecosystem, the Nizzana site in the Negev Desert. Describing its climate and geophysical/geochemical properties of soils, geological history, flora and fauna, and past/present land-use patterns, it elucidates ecological and geomorphological processes and their interrelations, based on long-term monitoring, in situ experiments and satellite imagery. Particular attention is drawn to the impact of the topsoil biological crust in controlling water availability at local/regional scales. The interdisciplinary approach adopted in this case study offers a good example of a highly complex and dynamic system, which could easily be applied to other sandy ecosystems. This is a valuable source of information for soil ecologists and microbiologists, conservation biologists, desert ecologists and geographers, geomorphologists, soil scientists and climatologists, lecturers, policy makers and others interested in deserts and desertification.

• Curatore: Siegmar-W. Breckle, Aaron Yair
• Editore: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG
• Collana: Ecological Studies
• Anno: 2008
• Rilegatura: Hardback
• Pagine: 475 p.
• Dimensioni: 235 x 155 mm
• EAN: 9783540754978

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