The construction of vehicular roads likely affects the distribution of natural resources. Although the effects of roads on different ecosystem aspects have been extensively studied, studies in arid and, particularly, in hyper-arid ecosystems are scarce. In drylands, where water is the main limiting factor, the effect of roads on the redistribution of water may have strong subsequent effects on the ecosystem, especially when roads cross natural water flow paths. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied the effects of a road that runs across a slope on the distribution of plants and animals in a hyper-arid environment. Changes in shrub cover, below and above the road, were quantified by remote sensing and image classification, while plant-associated arthropods were vacuum-sampled from shrub canopies and from open (inter-shrub) areas. We found that the spatial distribution of shrubs, a vital resource facilitating many other organisms, was affected by the road, with an increase in the shrub cover immediately above the road and a decrease below it. Arthropod abundance generally followed shrub cover, but the exact pattern depended on the specific group sampled. While some arthropod groups (e.g., aphids, parasitic wasps and barklice) thrived under the disturbed conditions above the road, other arthropod groups (e.g., mites and true bugs) were less abundant in the disturbed patches. Our results highlight the strong effects of human-made structures on the distribution of flora and fauna in arid ecosystems.

中文翻译：

---

道路对超干旱生态系统中植物和相关节肢动物重新分布的影响

车辆道路的建设可能会影响自然资源的分布。尽管已经广泛研究了道路对不同生态系统方面的影响，但对干旱特别是超干旱生态系统的研究却很少。在旱地，水是主要的限制因素，道路对水的再分配的影响可能会对生态系统产生强烈的后续影响，尤其是当道路穿过自然水流路径时。为了填补这一知识空白，我们研究了穿越斜坡的道路对超干旱环境中动植物分布的影响。道路下方和上方的灌木覆盖变化通过遥感和图像分类进行量化，而与植物相关的节肢动物则从灌木冠层和开阔（灌木间）区域进行真空采样。我们发现，作为促进许多其他生物的重要资源的灌木的空间分布受到道路的影响，道路上方的灌木覆盖增加，而道路下方的灌木覆盖减少。节肢动物的丰度通常遵循灌木覆盖，但确切的模式取决于采样的特定组。虽然一些节肢动物群（例如，蚜虫、寄生蜂和树虱）在道路上方的受干扰条件下茁壮成长，但其他节肢动物群（例如，螨虫和真正的虫子）在受干扰的斑块中数量较少。我们的研究结果强调了人造结构对干旱生态系统中动植物分布的强烈影响。道路上方的灌木覆盖增加，下方的灌木覆盖减少。节肢动物的丰度通常遵循灌木覆盖，但确切的模式取决于采样的特定组。虽然一些节肢动物群（例如，蚜虫、寄生蜂和树虱）在道路上方的受干扰条件下茁壮成长，但其他节肢动物群（例如，螨虫和真正的虫子）在受干扰的斑块中数量较少。我们的研究结果强调了人造结构对干旱生态系统中动植物分布的强烈影响。道路上方的灌木覆盖增加，下方的灌木覆盖减少。节肢动物的丰度通常遵循灌木覆盖，但确切的模式取决于采样的特定组。虽然一些节肢动物群（例如，蚜虫、寄生蜂和树虱）在道路上方的受干扰条件下茁壮成长，但其他节肢动物群（例如，螨虫和真正的虫子）在受干扰的斑块中数量较少。我们的研究结果强调了人造结构对干旱生态系统中动植物分布的强烈影响。螨虫和真正的虫子）在受干扰的斑块中较少。我们的研究结果强调了人造结构对干旱生态系统中动植物分布的强烈影响。螨虫和真正的虫子）在受干扰的斑块中较少。我们的研究结果强调了人造结构对干旱生态系统中动植物分布的强烈影响。