An analysis of vegetation and species diversity patterns in sand dune and gravel desert ecosystem

Abstract

This study provides an analysis of vegetation and environmental relationships as well as diversity patterns in sand dunes and gravel desert plains of northern Badrud, Iran. A total of 63 species representing 49 genera and 15 families were recorded. The largest families were Asteraceae (22.2 %) and Chenopodiaceae (19.0 %). Therophytes (66.67 %) were the dominant life form. Chronological analysis showed 57.14 % Irano-Turani elements. Data from 60 1.5 × 2 m 2 quadrats, selected systematically randomized along three transects, were collected. Both two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and cluster analysis using Ward's method resulted in the recognition of three communities: an Artemisia sieberi community in the center plain with a Shannon-Wiener diversity index of 0.3, a Stipagrostis plumosa -Schismus arabicus community on the lower sand dunes with a Shannon-Wiener diversity index of 0.7, and a Haloxylon ammodendron community on the higher sand dunes with a Shannon-Wiener diversity index of 0.2. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), and multi-response permutation procedure (MRPP), confirmed the separation of TWINSPAN groups as well as the heterogeneity of the Artemisia sieberi -Schismus arabicus community, suggesting a distinct group with Artemisia sieberi and Schismus arabicus as the dominant species. Vegetation environmental analysis by means of multivariate techniques of principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that very coarse gravel has a strong negative effect on diversity and a negative effect on species cover percentage. Bare ground showed a highly positive effect on diversity variables. Soil analysis suggests final seral stages of succession towards severe desertification.

Impact of Human Settlements on Diversity of Range Vegetation

“…In the current study among a total of nine families, about five of them were only represented by a single species per family. This is consistent with various studies that have noted this common feature of desert vegetation, often considered as a signal of species adaptation in xeric conditions [40][41][42].…”

Do Anthropogenic Activities Affect Floristic Diversity and Vegetation Structure More Than Natural Soil Properties in Hyper-Arid Desert Environments?

“…Topographically, three major types of habitats can be recognized: open desert habitat, mountain habitat, and wadi habitat, in addition to small patchy and scattered habitats in the oases and salt marshes [23]. Different arrays of floristic and ecological investigations (phytogeographical affinities, correlations between diverse edaphic factors, vegetation analysis, and species diversity) in various microhabitats using multivariate analysis techniques were achieved in the arid desert of Egypt [22,24], Saudi Arabia [25], Negev Desert of Israel [26], China [27], Pakistan [28], Sonoran Desert of the USA [29], and Iran [30]. The application of advanced multivariate statistical techniques in vegetation-environment studies is important to obtain a real picture of the available plant resources in any area.…”

Haloremediation for Amelioration of Salinity

“…They prevent coast erosion, and protect against the force of the impact of waves, winds, and hurricanes. They also can promote succession in plant community on arid, semiarid, or hyper arid environment (Abdi and Afsharzadeh 2016). Halophyte species represent a source of food and shelter for a large number of aquatic and terrestrial animal species (Feller et al 2010).…”