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An arthropod community beyond the dry limit of plant life

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Abstract

Water availability, which enables plant growth and animal activity, regulates dryland ecosystem function. In hyper-arid ecosystems, rain cannot support vascular plant growth. Therefore, hyper-arid vegetation is restricted to the lower topography, where runoff accumulates. Typically, food resources originating from areas of dense vegetation are dispersed across the desert floor, enabling animal life in areas lacking vascular plant growth. However, certain regions, such as the hyper-arid upper topography, may be devoid of plant-derived food resources. The present study examined arthropod activity in the upper topography of a hyper-arid desert, in comparison with arthropod activity in the lower topography. Pitfall traps were utilized to compare arthropod activity along unvegetated ridges with activity in parallel, vegetated riverbeds. Surprisingly, the study revealed dense arthropod communities in the barren upper topography. Arthropods collected in the upper topography represented 26% of total arthropod abundance. In addition, the overlap between arthropod identity in the ridges and wadis (i.e., riverbeds) was low, and certain arthropods were strongly affiliated with the ridges. The upper topographic communities included high numbers of silverfish (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae), malachite beetles (Psiloderes), and predatory mites (Acari: Anystidae), and these arthropods were present at various life stages. It remains unclear how arthropod communities can persist in the unvegetated upper topography of the hyper-arid study area. These results raise the possibility that other food sources, independent from vascular plants, may play a significant role in the life history of hyper-arid arthropods.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Ms. Amelia LIBERATORE for her counsel throughout the project and assistance in the field, Mr. Shmuel BERMAN for his knowledge of local topography, Mr. Gabriele FRANZINI for his expertise in Melyrid beetles, and Dr. Jawad HASAN-SHOQEIR for his ongoing support throughout the project. Ms. Elli GRONER is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology. We also thank Ms. Michelle FINZI for reviewing and editing this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, D.N. Eilot, 88840, Israel

    Benjamin Davidson

  2. Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, 12604, United States of America

    Benjamin Davidson

  3. Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Mitzpe Ramon, 8060000, Israel

    Elli Groner

  4. Ben Gurion University, Eilat, 88556, Israel

    Elli Groner

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  1. Benjamin Davidson
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Correspondence to Benjamin Davidson.

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Davidson, B., Groner, E. An arthropod community beyond the dry limit of plant life. J. Arid Land 13, 629–638 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-021-0009-1

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