Decomposition along a rainfall gradient in the Judean desert, Israel

Abstract

The effect of a rainfall gradient, from a semiarid to extremely arid, on decomposition, were studied in the Judean desert, Israel. During the study period, the rainfall gradient obtained ranged from 308 mm to 24.4 mm. There was a annual mass loss of approximately 20% and 16% in the semi-arid and extremely arid regions, respectively. No significant correlation was found between the total rainfall and total mass losses. The data suggest that in an area where the conditions are not suitable for biological activity, the decomposition processes result from abiotic conditions, like temperature and radiation.

Properties of soil pockets on arid Nama Karoo inselbergs–the effect of geology and derived landforms

“…Radiation intensity differs between slopes of north-and south-facing orientation and has been suggested to affect ecological processes and as a result plant and animal communities (Steinberger et al, 1990;Parker, 1991;Broza & Nevo, 1996).…”

Decomposition of Avena sterilis litter under arid conditions

“…Despite the importance of such processes, most research studies have been conducted in humid ecosystems, where micro-organism biomass and nutrient availability are high (Melillo et al, 1982;Anderson et al, 1985;Hunt et al, 1988;Cochran, 1990;Taylor et al, 1991). However, some decomposition studies have been performed in arid and semi-arid ecosystems with extreme ranges of moisture availability and many other climatic factors, mostly in North American deserts (Elkins & Whitford, 1982;Parker et al, 1984;Schaefer et al, 1985;Whitford et al, 1988), with only a few studies in the Negev Desert of Israel Steinberger et al, 1990). The North American studies, especially those conducted in the Chihuahuan Desert, have elucidated several surprising features of the decomposition rate in deserts: (1) the rate of organic matter decomposition is high and almost equal to that reported for the wet tropics (Schaefer et al, 1985); (2) the rate of decomposition is not correlated with lignin content or actual evapotranspiration (Whitford et al, 1981;Santos et al, 1984;Schaefer et al, 1985); (3) there is no relationship between the litter decomposition rate and litter quality (Schaefer et al, 1985); and (4) soil fauna accelerate the decomposition of buried litter but not surface litter (Parker et al, 1984).…”

Vertical Distribution of a Soil Microbial Community as Affected by Plant Ecophysiological Adaptation in a Desert System

“…Rather, their abundance, activity, and trophic composition change along environmental gradients [42]. Soil systems are particularly known as being heterogeneous.…”