Abstract
We studied the influence of runoff water and moisture regime on the microbial communities in desert soil along a hillslope in the northern Negev desert (Israel) during two winter seasons. Wetting of the soil by winter rainstorms had a pronounced influence on microbiological parameters. In most cases the first significant wetting of the season generated a strong burst in activity. This occurred at different timing according to the location of the sampling site with relation to runoff input. Field data and laboratory simulation experiments suggest that the effect of additional water throughout the season depends on the response of the vegetation to moisture distribution in time.
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