Dewfall and its ecological significance in semi-arid coastal south-western Madagascar

Hanisch, Susan; Lohrey, Christian; Buerkert, Andreas

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.05.007

Cited by 54 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…However, due to turbulence, high wind speed above 4.7 m s −1 will also impede dew formation (Monteith, 1957). Thus, reported wind speed limits for dew formation are 4.0 m s −1 (Clus et al, 2008;Nilsson, 1996), 4.3 m s −1 (Zhuang & Zhao, 2014), 4.5 m s −1 , 4.7 m s −1 ), or 5.7 m s −1 (Hanisch et al, 2015;Lekouch et al, 2012 at 10-m height), with winds of 1-3 m s −1 usually providing the best conditions for dew formation. Although some reported lower thresholds for the high wind speed (1.9 m s −1 see Zhang et al, 2015, or 2.4 m s −1 see Long, 1958), most researchers found a similar threshold of 5 m s −1 .…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Measurements and ecological implications of non‐rainfall water in desert ecosystems—A review

Kidron

Starinsky

2019

Ecohydrology

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The current review focuses on the contribution of non-rainfall water (NRW) to arid and semiarid regions (with a focus on the Negev), where NRW may provide a constant source of water that may facilitate the survival of different organisms, especially microorganisms. Factors that determine the amounts of NRW and the contribution of NRW to plants and organisms are discussed. Nevertheless, although important, significant variation exists regarding the amounts of NRW, which may stem from improper use or inherent drawbacks of some of the measurement devices. This may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the possible role played by NRW. For instance, with prokaryotes (bacteria and cyanobacteria) requiring liquid water (≥0.1 mm) for growth, small inaccuracies in NRW around this threshold may either lead to the conclusion that NRW is sufficiently high to facilitate their growth, or rather, is too low to facilitate their growth. Arguing that some of the devices used to measure NRW may greatly overestimate the amounts, the possible contribution of NRW to soil bacteria and cyanobacterial biocrusts is analysed. We suggest that although NRW may assist the growth and survival of mosses and some types of lichens (mostly non-crustose), no conclusive findings were thus far reported regarding the use of dew for cyanobacteria growth. The use of dew by cyanobacterial crust for growth should be critically examined, and the possibility that NRW may even result in a negative carbon balance for cyanobacterial crusts should be considered.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Measurements and ecological implications of non‐rainfall water in desert ecosystems—A review

Kidron

Starinsky

2019

Ecohydrology

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“…The study region 1 stretches south from Toliara, the administrative centre of southwestern Madagascar, between the Onilahy and Linta Rivers. It is characterized by arid to semi-arid climatic conditions with an annual mean temperature of 24°C and irregular rainfall between <350 and 500 mm per year (Ministère de l'Environnement et Association Nationale pour la Gestion des Aires Protégées 1999), with high small-scale variation especially during the wet season (Hanisch et al 2015). The dry season usually lasts from April to November but is regularly extended until mid-to late December by absent rainfall events leading to an increased risk of famine (Wüstefeld 2004).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of GPS trajectories to assess spatio-temporal differences in grazing patterns and land use preferences of domestic livestock in southwestern Madagascar

Feldt

Schlecht

2016

Pastoralism

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In order to investigate spatial and temporal characteristics of the purely grazing-based livestock husbandry system in southwestern Madagascar, individual animals from 12 cattle and 12 goat herds that were equally distributed across four villages were fitted with GPS tracking collars and their behaviour during pasturing was directly observed to identify seasonal variations in land use and movement patterns along the regional altitude and vegetation gradient. Monitoring occurred at regular intervals of two months over a two-year period to capture inter-annual variability. Herds of both species from the inland limestone plateau covered longer distances and were found further away from their home corrals than those from the coastal plain. Patterns of feeding behaviour and utilization of grazing areas mostly reflected the spatial occurrence of specific land cover classes around the villages and differed significantly between seasons and sites. Seasonal water shortage was one of the key factors affecting dry season livestock movements on the plateau but played a minor role in the coastal plain where livestock keeping proved to be more limited by feed availability. While on transhumance, mobile cattle herds were vulnerable to disadvantages such as limited access to pastureland and water sources nearby their temporary homesteads. The recent problem of armed cattle raids along with emerging land use conflicts compel livestock owners to utilize fewer grazing areas, which threatens to destabilize the region's animal husbandry system.

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“…Dew, as an important input of water resources in a desert area, is condensed water of air moisture generated in near‐surface air at the temperature lower than the dew point temperature (Fischer, Veste, Bens, & Hüttl, ; Jacobs, Heusinkveld, & Berkowicz, ; Mchugh et al, ; Tomaszkiewicz, Najm, Beysens, Alameddine, & Elfadel, ). Therefore, the amount of dew has been anticipated to affect several ecological processes and functions including dune stability, biological soil crust, seed germination, plant survival, and biodiversity (Ben‐Asher, Alpert, & Ben‐Zvi, ; Hanisch, Lohrey, & Buerkert, ; Hill et al, ; Ratcliffe, ; Tomaszkiewicz et al, ; Zhuang & Zhao, ). However, our understandings whether and how amounts of dew affect variations in functional traits and demographic traits, which are potential indicators or factors for biodiversity and life history of a plant, remain unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…. Therefore, the amount of dew has been anticipated to affect several ecological processes and functions including dune stability, biological soil crust, seed germination, plant survival, and biodiversity (Ben-Asher, Alpert, & Ben-Zvi, 2010;Hanisch, Lohrey, & Buerkert, 2015;Hill et al, 2015;Ratcliffe, 2012;Tomaszkiewicz et al, 2015;Zhuang & Zhao, 2016). However, our understandings whether and how amounts of dew affect variations in functional traits and demographic traits, which are potential indicators or factors for biodiversity and life history of a plant, remain unclear.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The higher diurnal temperature difference and near-surface air moisture is conducive to the deposition of dew (Beysens, 1995;Garratt & Segal, 1988). In arid deserts, low heat capacity of sandy soil causes the diurnal temperature difference in the near-surface layer, thus leading to the deposition of a small amount of dew (Delgado-Baquerizo, Maestre, Rodríguez, & Gallardo, 2013;Hanisch et al, 2015;Heusinkveld, Jacobs, & Berkowicz, 1998;Hill et al, 2015;Jacobs, Heusinkveld, & Berkowicz, 2000;Zhuang & Zhao, 2016). Most of the previous studies indicated that the trace dew has little positive impact on the functions of plants because the water supply is offset by high evaporation in arid desert (Agam & Berliner, 1963;Burgess & Dawson, 2004;Fischer et al, 2012;Hao et al, 2012;Heusinkveld et al, 1998).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Experimental variations in functional and demographic traits of Lappula semiglabra among dew amount treatments in an arid region

Yang

Ali

et al. 2017

Ecohydrology

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In an arid region, water is the limiting factor for the performance of plants and, hence, the input of water significantly affects the ecological processes. Although the dew phenomenon often occurs in the desert, whether plants can absorb and utilise this water source is still unknown. In this study, we tested the effects of 3 amounts of dew, that is, total natural amount of dew, half amount of natural dew, and no amount of (zero) dew, in order to investigate variations in functional traits and demographic traits in relation to the life history of an ephemeral plant Lappula semiglabra. Results showed that variations in functional traits including plant height, crown area, leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate were significantly increased with increasing dew amount. Leaf water potential was significantly decreased, whereas root length and root diameter showed no significant differences among 3 amounts of dew. Demographic traits including survival rate, survival, total age, and mean life expectancy increased with increasing dew amount, whereas the vanish rate percentage, mortality rate, mortality, and fatal number decreased. In combination, our results showed that leaf and stem traits L. semiglabra related to dew absorption increased with increasing of dew amount, and hence, obtained more water, whereas root traits related to uptake of soil water remain unchanged. We conclude that leaves and stem of L. semiglabra can absorb and efficiently utilise dew as a water resource for better suitability in the arid desert region.

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Dewfall and its ecological significance in semi-arid coastal south-western Madagascar

Cited by 54 publications

References 47 publications

Measurements and ecological implications of non‐rainfall water in desert ecosystems—A review

Measurements and ecological implications of non‐rainfall water in desert ecosystems—A review

Analysis of GPS trajectories to assess spatio-temporal differences in grazing patterns and land use preferences of domestic livestock in southwestern Madagascar

Experimental variations in functional and demographic traits of Lappula semiglabra among dew amount treatments in an arid region

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