"Xeric" redirects here. For the comic book grant foundation, see Xeric Foundation.
Deserts and xeric shrublands are a biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature.[1] Deserts and xeric (ancient Greek xērós, “dry") shrublands form the largest terrestrial biome, covering 19% of Earth's land surface area.[2] Ecoregions in this habitat type vary greatly in the amount of annual rainfall they receive, usually less than 250 millimetres (10 in) annually except in the margins. Generally evaporation exceeds rainfall in these ecoregions. Temperature variability is also diverse in these lands. Many deserts, such as the Sahara, are hot year-round, but others, such as East Asia's Gobi, become quite cold during the winter.[1]
Desertic region at the M'Sila Province, AlgeriaExtent of deserts and xeric shrublands
Temperature extremes are a characteristic of most deserts. High daytime temperatures give way to cold nights because there is no insulation provided by humidity and cloud cover. The diversity of climatic conditions, though quite harsh, supports a rich array of habitats. Many of these habitats are ephemeral in nature, reflecting the paucity and seasonality of available water.[1] Woody-stemmed shrubs and plants characterize vegetation in these regions. Above all, these plants have evolved to minimize water loss. Animal biodiversity is equally well adapted and quite diverse.[1]
The Nama Karoo in South Africa is a xeric shrubland that receives between 100 and 500 millimetres (4 and 20 in) of rain a year.[3]
The conversion of productive drylands to desert conditions, known as desertification, can occur from a variety of causes. One is human intervention, including intensive agricultural tillage or overgrazing[4] in areas that cannot support such exploitation. Climatic shifts such as global warming or the Milankovitch cycle (which drives glacials and interglacials) also affect the pattern of deserts on Earth.
Xeric shrublands can experience woody plant encroachment, which is the thickening of bushes and shrubs at the expense of grasses.[5] This process is often caused by unsustainable land management practices, such as overgrazing and fire suppression, but can also be a consequence of climate change. As a result, core ecosystem services of the shrublands are affected, including its biodiversity, productivity and groundwater recharge.[6] Woody plant encroachment can be an expression of land degradation.[7]
^ abcdefg This article incorporates text available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license. World Wide Fund for Nature. "Deserts and Xeric Shrubland Ecoregions". from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
^Lockwood, M. Managing Protected Areas: A Global Guide. p. 199.
^Hogan, C. Michael (2009). "Overgrazing". In Draggan, Sidney; Cleveland, Cutler J. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington, D.C.: National council for Science and the Environment.
^Eldridge, David J.; Bowker, Matthew A.; Maestre, Fernando T.; Roger, Erin; Reynolds, James F.; Whitford, Walter G. (July 2011). "Impacts of shrub encroachment on ecosystem structure and functioning: towards a global synthesis: Synthesizing shrub encroachment effects". Ecology Letters. 14 (7): 709–722. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01630.x. PMC3563963. PMID 21592276.
^Archer, Steven R.; Andersen, Erik M.; Predick, Katharine I.; Schwinning, Susanne; Steidl, Robert J.; Woods, Steven R. (2017), Briske, David D. (ed.), "Woody Plant Encroachment: Causes and Consequences", Rangeland Systems, Springer Series on Environmental Management, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 25–84, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-46709-2_2, ISBN978-3-319-46707-8, S2CID 133015720
^Schlesinger, William H.; Reynolds, James F.; Cunningham, Gary L.; Huenneke, Laura F.; Jarrell, Wesley M.; Virginia, Ross A.; Whitford, Walter G. (1990-03-02). "Biological Feedbacks in Global Desertification". Science. 247 (4946): 1043–1048. Bibcode:1990Sci...247.1043S. doi:10.1126/science.247.4946.1043. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 17800060. S2CID 33033125.
^Cowling, RM; Hilton-Taylor, C (1994). "Patterns of plant diversity and endemism in southern Africa: An overview". In Huntley, BJ (ed.). Botanical diversity in southern Africa. Pretoria, South Africa: National Botanical Institute. pp. 31–52.
^Hernandez, HM; Barcenas, RT (1995). "Endangered cacti in the Chihuahuan Desert: I. Distribution patterns". Conservation Biology. 9 (5): 1176–1188. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1995.9051169.x-i1. PMID 34261239.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deserts and xeric shrublands.
Online community focused on the study of xeric plant species
Desert Plants: List, Names and Adaptations
October 17, 2023
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Xeric redirects here For the comic book grant foundation see Xeric Foundation Deserts and xeric shrublands are a biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature 1 Deserts and xeric ancient Greek xeros dry shrublands form the largest terrestrial biome covering 19 of Earth s land surface area 2 Ecoregions in this habitat type vary greatly in the amount of annual rainfall they receive usually less than 250 millimetres 10 in annually except in the margins Generally evaporation exceeds rainfall in these ecoregions Temperature variability is also diverse in these lands Many deserts such as the Sahara are hot year round but others such as East Asia s Gobi become quite cold during the winter 1 Desertic region at the M Sila Province AlgeriaExtent of deserts and xeric shrublandsTemperature extremes are a characteristic of most deserts High daytime temperatures give way to cold nights because there is no insulation provided by humidity and cloud cover The diversity of climatic conditions though quite harsh supports a rich array of habitats Many of these habitats are ephemeral in nature reflecting the paucity and seasonality of available water 1 Woody stemmed shrubs and plants characterize vegetation in these regions Above all these plants have evolved to minimize water loss Animal biodiversity is equally well adapted and quite diverse 1 Contents 1 Degradation 1 1 Desertification 1 2 Woody plant encroachment 2 Ecoregions 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDegradation EditDesertification Edit Main article Desertification nbsp The Nama Karoo in South Africa is a xeric shrubland that receives between 100 and 500 millimetres 4 and 20 in of rain a year 3 The conversion of productive drylands to desert conditions known as desertification can occur from a variety of causes One is human intervention including intensive agricultural tillage or overgrazing 4 in areas that cannot support such exploitation Climatic shifts such as global warming or the Milankovitch cycle which drives glacials and interglacials also affect the pattern of deserts on Earth Woody plant encroachment Edit Main article Woody plant encroachment Xeric shrublands can experience woody plant encroachment which is the thickening of bushes and shrubs at the expense of grasses 5 This process is often caused by unsustainable land management practices such as overgrazing and fire suppression but can also be a consequence of climate change As a result core ecosystem services of the shrublands are affected including its biodiversity productivity and groundwater recharge 6 Woody plant encroachment can be an expression of land degradation 7 Ecoregions EditSee also List of desert and xeric shrubland ecoregions The World Wide Fund for Nature highlights a number of desert ecoregions that have a high degree of biodiversity and endemism 1 The Nama Karoo of Namibia has the world s richest desert fauna 8 The Chihuahuan desert and Central Mexican matorral are the richest deserts in the Neotropics 9 The Carnarvon xeric shrublands of Australia are a regional center for endemism 1 The Sonoran and Baja deserts of Mexico are unusual desert communities dominated by giant columnar cacti 1 Madagascar spiny forests Atacama DesertSee also EditDesert Area of land where little precipitation occurs Hydric soil soil typePages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Mesic Habitat with a moderate supply of moisture Rain shadow Leeward side of a mountain range Sagebrush steppe Grassland ecosystem Shrub steppe Ecoregion characterized by semi arid grassland and or shrubland plainsPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback Temperate grasslands savannas and shrublands Terrestrial biome Xeriscaping gardening or landscaping in xeric environments Xerocoles animals adapted to xeric environments Xerophytes plants adapted to xeric environmentsReferences Edit a b c d e f g nbsp This article incorporates text available under the CC BY SA 3 0 license World Wide Fund for Nature Deserts and Xeric Shrubland Ecoregions Archived from the original on 2012 04 25 Retrieved 2019 05 29 Lockwood M Managing Protected Areas A Global Guide p 199 Nama Karoo WWF Retrieved 2018 12 19 Hogan C Michael 2009 Overgrazing In Draggan Sidney Cleveland Cutler J eds Encyclopedia of Earth Washington D C National council for Science and the Environment Eldridge David J Bowker Matthew A Maestre Fernando T Roger Erin Reynolds James F Whitford Walter G July 2011 Impacts of shrub encroachment on ecosystem structure and functioning towards a global synthesis Synthesizing shrub encroachment effects Ecology Letters 14 7 709 722 doi 10 1111 j 1461 0248 2011 01630 x PMC 3563963 PMID 21592276 Archer Steven R Andersen Erik M Predick Katharine I Schwinning Susanne Steidl Robert J Woods Steven R 2017 Briske David D ed Woody Plant Encroachment Causes and Consequences Rangeland Systems Springer Series on Environmental Management Cham Springer International Publishing pp 25 84 doi 10 1007 978 3 319 46709 2 2 ISBN 978 3 319 46707 8 S2CID 133015720 Schlesinger William H Reynolds James F Cunningham Gary L Huenneke Laura F Jarrell Wesley M Virginia Ross A Whitford Walter G 1990 03 02 Biological Feedbacks in Global Desertification Science 247 4946 1043 1048 Bibcode 1990Sci 247 1043S doi 10 1126 science 247 4946 1043 ISSN 0036 8075 PMID 17800060 S2CID 33033125 Cowling RM Hilton Taylor C 1994 Patterns of plant diversity and endemism in southern Africa An overview In Huntley BJ ed Botanical diversity in southern Africa Pretoria South Africa National Botanical Institute pp 31 52 Hernandez HM Barcenas RT 1995 Endangered cacti in the Chihuahuan Desert I Distribution patterns Conservation Biology 9 5 1176 1188 doi 10 1046 j 1523 1739 1995 9051169 x i1 PMID 34261239 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deserts and xeric shrublands Index to Deserts amp Xeric Shrublands at bioimages vanderbilt edu Xeric World Online community focused on the study of xeric plant species Desert Plants List Names and Adaptations Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Deserts and xeric shrublands amp oldid 1177362243, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
