An experimental test of lignocellulosic fabrics for potential use in artificial habitat construction in deserts.

Abstract

Climate change has profound effects on drylands, where vegetation like shrubs provide microclimatic refugia for animals. However, prolonged drought and higher temperatures are reducing the resilience of vegetation. Artificial habitat constructions, such as shelters, may function similarly to shrubs in providing climatic refuge. Natural fabrics, including lignocellulosic fabrics, have gained popularity in conservation due to their biodegradability, lightweight, and strength. In this study, we tested the effects of natural fabric canopies on key desert microclimatic variables, including temperature, relative humidity (RH), and light intensity/radiation to select the best-suited fabric for microclimatic amelioration of resident fauna in future field experiments. We used 0.45 m2 microsites of burlap, canvas, and nursery fabrics angled to the ground at three repetitions per fabric and paired them with data loggers for 30 days to record near-surface air temperature, RH, and radiation. We compared uncovered and similarly illuminated 0.45 m2 areas to serve as the control. We saw that the control was consistently the warmest microsite, while burlap and cotton canvas were the coolest. However, burlap offered a lower amplitude of temperature variation compared to cotton canvas. The lowest mean radiation was experienced under burlap and it functioned similarly to cotton canvas when controlling light regimes. We found that nursery fabric showed the highest humidity levels with the lowest variation, while cotton canvas had the lowest humidity and the highest variation. Yet, the high variation in temperature for nursery fabrics suggests it is not ideal for deployment in the field for sheltering resident fauna. Natural fabrics for small shelters could support conservation and management, as they can be deployed, are ecologically friendly, and serve as a stop-gap solution for early restoration efforts in sites while vegetation is re-established post-disturbance.