Arid Ecosystems

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This volume includes papers from a workshop at the University of Kiel, Germany, focused on the "Importance of Physical Factors in Arid Ecosystems Research," along with ongoing projects discussed at the meeting that have since developed. The contributions are organized into four main categories: soils, soil organisms, vegetation, and ecology. Many studies are based on research conducted in the Negev desert of Israel at AERC experimental stations—Avdat, Nizzana, and Sede Boker—while others are from the eastern Sahara. Blume et al. explore soil formation and ecology of sand dunes, while Alaily and Pohlmann analyze arid soilscape structures using Landsat data. Amit and Harrison examine biogenic influences on calcic soil formation, and Singer discusses mineralogical similarities and differences in hot and cold deserts. The role of animals in desert ecosystems is highlighted by Steinberger and Shachak et al., while Yechieli et al. focus on microbial contributions. Holzapfel et al. assess site conditions affecting desert vegetation, and El-Kady et al. study land use impacts. Pollination of desert plants is explored by Küchmeister et al. and Wolf and Shmida, with Schreiber et al. synthesizing years of interdisciplinary desert ecology research. This volume aims to engage those in geo-ecology.