Lichenometric dating of debris-flow deposits in the Scottish Highlands

Debris-flow deposits, dated by lichenometry, indicate that the majority of hillslope debris flows in Scotland have occurred within the last 500 years. Progressive weathering and climatic change can be discounted as the prime cause of the increase in the incidence of debris flows. The timing of the increase suggests that it is related to landuse changes in the Scottish Highlands during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Both burning and overgrazing can be cited as potential causal factors.     

The extent of desertification on Saudi Arabia

Desertification is the process that turns productive deserts into non-productive deserts as a result of poor land-management. Desertification reduces the ability of land to support life, affecting wild species, domestic animals, agricultural crops and humans. The reduction in plant cover that accompanies desertification leads to accelerated soil erosion by wind and water. South Africa is losing approximately 300–400 million tons of topsoil every year. As vegetation cover and soil layer are reduced, rain fall impact and run-off increases. This paper discusses the extent of desertification, its potential threat to sustained irrigated agriculture and possible measures adopted to control ongoing desertification processes to minimize the loss of agricultural productivity in an arid country such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     

Demographic consequences of chronic anthropogenic disturbance on three populations of the endangered globose cactus Coryphantha werdermannii

Cacti are thought to be highly vulnerable to chronic anthropogenic disturbance (CAD). To assess its effects, we modeled the dynamics of three populations of the endangered cactus Coryphantha werdermannii exposed to different intensities of disturbance. Because no seedlings germinated and survived in the less-disturbed site, we analyzed two different scenarios: If the same, average germination probability was used for all sites, the population growth rates (λ) decreased with disturbance, but λ remained unchanged if a very low germination probability was assigned to the less-disturbed site and the observed probabilities were used for the remaining populations. Retrospective analysis showed that different demographic processes affected λ as a result of increasing disturbance: The unsuccessful establishment of seedlings in the preserved site diminished λ. The damage caused by livestock to reproductive structures in the site with intermediate disturbance was responsible for a reduction in λ. In the most disturbed site, the reduced individual growth rates that seemingly resulted from land degradation caused a decrease in λ. No simple management strategy can be proposed because different threats require attention depending on disturbance intensity. CAD had both positive and negative effects on λ, conferring this species with a certain degree of tolerance.     

First evidence of scavenging behaviour in the herbivorous lizard Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis

In this study, we provide the first evidence of scavenging behaviour in the spiny-tailed agamid lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis), a species which heretofore has been considered a strict desert herbivore. We examined 294 faecal samples collected in the desert of Qatar and found that 84% of the faeces (n = 247) contained exclusively plant material. Grains of barley (Hordeum vulgare) were present, suggesting that Uromastyx can benefit from the food provided to livestock when wild plants are scarce. We also found remains of invertebrates, vertebrates and stones in the lizard faeces. The type of vertebrate remains found suggests scavenging behaviour and some flexibility in feeding behaviour where food resources are scarce. Overgrazing by camels and goats in the area may affect food availability for Uromastyx populations, suggesting the need for conservation measurements in the Qatar desert.     

2000—2016年中亚天山植被变化及气候分异研究

利用MODIS-NDVI产品生成中亚天山2000—2016年植被覆盖度,利用线性回归法和偏相关法分析了中亚天山植被时空变化特征及驱动因子。结果表明:中亚天山植被生长及变化趋势具有显著的区域分异性,纬度分区上,中天山和北天山西部植被覆盖度较高的草原、农田和森林在2000—2016年呈现退化趋势;南天山和北天山东部植被覆盖度较低的荒漠、草原和灌丛在同期表现出改善趋势,而中国境内的东天山与境外的西天山相比具有较低的植被覆盖度以及总体改善的变化趋势。中亚天山气候在2000—2016年显示出"暖湿化"特征,温度升高幅度(5. 9%)远大于降水增加幅度(1. 3%),温度、降水与植被覆盖度的显著相关比例为18. 0%和42. 6%,降水是中亚天山植被变化的主要气候驱动因素。以巴音布鲁克草原为代表的东天山部分草原受到过度放牧的影响而退化严重,建议加强植被退化区的生态修复与保护力度。     

Impact of soil erosion associated factors on available feed resources for free-ranging cattle at three altitude regions: Measurements and perceptions

The study was conducted to assess the status and trends of soil erosion and relate the perceptions of farmers on cattle productivity and botanical indicators to measured ecological conditions of rangelands in three altitude regions of southwest Ethiopia. A total of 342 farmers were interviewed. In addition, the ecological condition of rangelands was assessed. Severe soil erosion, ranked as the primary restriction to free-ranging livestock, occurred predominantly in the lower altitude region (LAR) (P < 0.05). More farmers in LAR witnessed an inadequacy of palatable plant biomass, grazable pasture as well as increased gully formation and expansion, which are strong indicators of soil erosion (P < 0.001). In addition to a decrease in grass cover and productivity of cattle, botanical composition, species richness and grazing capacity of herbaceous plants, less fodder trees and shrubs were observed (P < 0.05). There was a corresponding increase in the percentage of bare ground and soil erosion status along the degradation gradients (P < 0.05). The reported shift in botanical composition, and especially encroachment of invading plant species, can be attributed to soil erosion (P < 0.001). The results suggest that erosion is associated with reduced availability of feed resources and is related to altitude variation.     

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF GULLIES IN AN AGROPASTORAL AREA IN SARDINIA, ITALY

1 INTRODUCTION Many studies on soil erosion by water have been carried out in the Mediterranean area, since erosion is considered as one of the most important land degradation processes in these environments (UNEP, 1994). Those studies mainly focused on r…     

Long-term decline of the populations of Fucales (Cystoseira spp. and Sargassum spp.) in the Albères coast (France, North-western Mediterranean)

Only five of fourteen species of Fucales reported at the end of the XIXth century are currently present in the Albères Coast (France, NW Mediterranean). According to historical data there has been a steady decrease of all the populations since the 1940s. Seven taxa now extinct (Cystoseira crinita, Cystoseira barbata, Cystoseira foeniculacea f. tenuiramosa, Cystoseira spinosa, Cystoseira spinosa var. compressa, Sargassum hornschuchii and Sargassum vulgare) were considered frequent and some of them were the dominant and engineering species in several phytobenthic assemblages. Moreover, only one of the five species left, shows no signs of regression (Cystoseira compressa), two are considered as rare (Cystoseira caespitosa, Cystoseira zosteroides), and one is very rare (Cystoseira elegans). Cystoseira mediterranea, a species that was reported to make a continuous belt along the shores of the Albères coast, has almost disappeared from some areas. Overgrazing by sea urchins, outcompetition by mussels, habitat destruction, scientific research sampling and, probably, human trampling and chemical pollution are to be blamed for the decline of populations thriving in shallow waters. Deep-water species have been affected by an increase in water turbidity and, probably, chemical pollution and direct plant destruction attributed to net fishing. If degradation of the environmental conditions continues, the remaining Cystoseira species will face a most unwelcome prospect. Even after the removal of the causes that led to its die-off, natural restoration of extinct species seems not to be possible because the decline has also affected populations from nearby areas and zygotes are unable to disperse over long distances. Urgent management actions have to be designed in order to improve the current situation of the populations of Fucales in the Albères coast.