Long-Term Monitoring of Tree Population Dynamics in Desert Ecosystems: Integrating Field and Satellite Data

Sivan Isaacson (), Jhonathan E. Ephrath, Shimon Rachmilevitch, Dan G. Blumberg, Benny Shalmon, Ofir Katz and Shimrit Maman
Additional contact information
Sivan Isaacson: Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Mt. Masada 86910, Israel
Jhonathan E. Ephrath: French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Sede Boqer Campus, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8499000, Israel
Shimon Rachmilevitch: French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Sede Boqer Campus, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8499000, Israel
Dan G. Blumberg: Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
Benny Shalmon: Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Southern District, Eilat 88100, Israel
Ofir Katz: Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Mt. Masada 86910, Israel
Shimrit Maman: Homeland Security Institute, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Arid environments are characterized by rare rain events that are highly variable, as a result of which plant populations often exhibit episodic recruitment and mortality dynamics. However, direct records and observations of such events are rare because of the slow development of woody species. In this study, we described how a decrease in annual precipitation affected acacia tree population dynamics in two hydrological regime types: small wadis and salt flats. This study combines 15 years of continuous, yearly field monitoring of individual acacia trees and data from a historical Corona satellite image, which has extended the time scope of the research. Results indicate that the annual mortality of acacia trees in small wadis reflects the cumulative effective rain events in the preceding five years, whereas the population on the salt flats was not affected by annual rainfall fluctuations. Moreover, in small wadis, rain events of less than 8 mm did not increase acacia tree survival rates. The mortality pattern and dynamics of each plot was unique, suggesting unsynchronized mortality and recruitment episodes on a regional scale. Mortality in all plots was documented both in “old” trees (i.e., recognized in 1968) and “new” trees (not recognized in 1968), but varied highly between plots. More than 50% of the dead trees recorded at the sites had died during the previous dry period (2000–2010). Combining field monitoring and historical satellite image data provided a unique database of acacia population dynamics. This record revealed the response of the acacia population to climate fluctuations and a period of episodic mortality.

Keywords: acacia; climate fluctuations; hyper arid; remote sensing; trees episodic mortality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:8:p:1640-:d:1221688

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