Desert Ecology Research Articles

Nutritional Assessment Based on Mid-upper Arm Circumference Among Tribal Preschool Children of Three Distinct Ecological Zones of India

Undernutrition among infants and children retards the physical and cognitive growth and increases susceptibility to infections and diseases. Educational attainment and productivity of children get adversely affected by undernutrition, NFHS (2019–2020) and IIPS (2021) found the prevalence of undernutrition indicators to be high among the under-five children of the nation and tribal children to be in a more vulnerable condition. Mean mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a quick, simple and precise screening tool to use in large-scale community-based nutritional programme. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition based on MUAC among three tribes of three distinct ecological zones of India, namely Bhil Tribe (Desert ecology), Dhodia tribe (Coastal ecology) and Kinnaura tribe (Himalayan ecology). The present cross-sectional study consists of 985 tribal children (509 boys and 476 girls) belonging to the age group 0–1 through 5+ years (below six years). Z-score was computed using WHO (2006) recommended age and sex-specific cutoff points for MUAC and the prevalence of undernutrition was assessed for children of below five years of age. MUAC has been found to have significant age difference among all communities ( p < .001). Prevalence of undernutrition was found to be the highest among the Bhil tribe, the one residing in the desert ecology (41.03%) followed by Dhodia (18.06%) and Kinnaura tribe (12.16%). Among Bhil and Kinnaura children, prevalence of undernutrition was higher among the girls, while the Kinnaura boys manifested higher prevalence of undernutrition in comparison to their counterpart. Significant ( p < .01) sex difference in undernutrition prevalence was found only in case of Bhil tribe (boys: 33.33%, girls: 48.02%). The prevalence of undernutrition significantly differs among the tribes of three distinct ecological zones ( p < .001). The nutritional status of the tribal children, particularly that of the Bhil children, was unsatisfactory. To improve the nutritional wellbeing of the tribal population of the nation, studies at regular intervals focusing on the causes responsible for nutritional status are needed.

Update to Floral Diversity at Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE) Campus Along with New Distribution of Salsola Oppositifolia Desf. in Kachchh

This study explores the biodiversity dynamics within the prestigious Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE) campus in Bhuj, India, over the span of eight years. Fieldwork conducted during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods revealed a significant increase in plant species, genera, and families compared to previous assessments. The taxonomic diversity analysis revealed 239 plant species representing 180 genera and 62 families, with trees, herbs, and shrubs contributing prominently. Fabaceae appeared as the dominant family, followed by Poaceae and Malvaceae. Comparative analysis with previous studies established changes in species composition, notably an increase in tree species and a decrease in herbs. Of particular interest is the discovery of the second distribution of Salsola oppositifolia Desf. on the campus, a plant species first recorded in India in 2022 from Great Rann of Kachchh. The study highlights the crucial role of urban green spaces in supporting biodiversity. With 239 plant species thriving within the campus's urban infrastructure, this study highlights the potential of urban forestry in promotion biodiversity conservation and ecological resilience. Future research directions include exploring the ecological roles of vegetation and development public awareness about the multi-layered benefits of plants beyond oxygen production.

Подбор кормовых кустарников для реставрации деградированных полупустынных пастбищных экосистем

Abstract. The purpose. the study is aimed at the introduction and adaptive assessment of perennial fodder plants from the collection of the Uzbek Research Institute of Karakul Breeding and Desert Ecology for use in the restoration of arid degraded pasture ecosystems in the semi-desert zone of southern Russia. Methods. An assessment was made of adaptive capabilities, including: response to drought, frost resistance, productivity, nutritional value of fodder shrubs of the families Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Polygonaceae, Asteraceae from the collection of the Uzbek Research Institute astrakhan breeding and desert ecology in modern conditions of climate aridization on light chestnut soils of the Astrakhan region. Results. The studies were carried out in arid climatic conditions on infertile soils (humus content – 0.91–1.2 %). In the second year of vegetation, the plant height was 0.82–1.29 m, which will contribute to the retention of snow on the pasture. All studied fodder shrubs had a significantly high energy feed unit index - 0.802–0.972 and a green mass yield of 5.7–38.7 t/ha, respectively, a smaller weight (5.7 t/ha) during the growing season was increased by Haloxylon aphyllum. Scientific novelty. All the studied introduced shrubs showed a high adaptive life potential in the arid semi-desert conditions of the study region, including high drought resistance, undemanding soil fertility, a long growing season (200–230 days) and high energy capacity, which exceeded the energy feed unit of the natural grass stand by 0.07–0.24. The use of these shrubs in the restoration of degraded pastures will increase their species diversity, productivity and nutritional value. All this will make it possible not only to increase the fodder capacity of reclaimed pastures, but also to improve their reclamation state, due to snow retention.

Nutritional potential of fruit bark and leaves of Terminalia catappa

erminalia catappa (TC) is a large tropical tree in the lead wood tree family, Combretaceae, native to Asia, Australia, the Pacific, Madagascar and Seychelles. This tree is a vital part of the cultural heritage of United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to natural desert ecology. T. catappa is considered as one of the highly valued trees in many arid areas in the world. It is commonly used as a shade giving tree but its seeds are edible and tasty. Even though it has been used in traditional medicine for wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine, reproductive systems and anti-cancer properties, in recent years there has been an interest in Terminalia catappa due to its medicinal and nutritional value. Terminalia catappa is an important underutilized fruit tree which has emerged as a good source for the treatment of various ailments and malnutrition. Thus, in the future a higher demand could be anticipated for various products from this tree.

Fossoriality in desert-adapted tenebrionid (Coleoptera) larvae

In many extreme arid ecosystems, insects constitute major faunal components and are key contributors in nutrient cycling. Previous research on xerophily in insects has focused on adult forms. This study investigates skeletomuscular and behavioural adaptations of the Kalahari sandworm beetle larvae (Gonopus tibialis Fabricius) for dwelling in the sand. Microcomputed tomography enabled cuticle thickness distribution analysis, revealing structural reinforcements of the mandibular edge, the middle part of the head, and the ventral side of the front legs. Laboratory observations and the analysis of muscular system allowed for the definition and functional description of the elements of the digging apparatus of the sandworm larvae. Obtained results point to the crucial role of the head and mandibles in the digging process. These observations are important for understanding desert ecology and pose a challenge to develop newer excavation techniques.

Maxent Modeling for Identifying the Nature Reserve of Cistanche deserticola Ma under Effects of the Host (Haloxylon Bunge) Forest and Climate Changes in Xinjiang, China

Cistanche deserticola Ma is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant exclusively parasitizing on the roots of Haloxylon ammodendron (C. A. Mey.) Bunge and H. Persicum Bunge ex Boiss and the primary cultivated crop of the desert economy. Its wild resources became scarce due to over-exploitation and poaching for economic benefits. To protect the biological diversity of the desert Haloxylon–Cistanche community forest, the optimal combination of desert ecology and economy industry, and their future survival, this paper examines the conservation areas of wild C. deserticola from the perspective of hosts’ effects and climate changes. To identify conservation areas, the potential distributions generated by MaxEnt in two strategies (AH: abiotic and hosts factors; HO: hosts factors only) compare the model’s performance, the niche range overlap, and the changing trend in climate changes. The results show the following: (1) The HO strategy is more suitable for prediction and identifying the core conservation areas in hosts and climate changes (indirectly affected by host distributions) for C. deserticola. (2) The low-suitable habitat and the medium-suitable habitat are both sensitive to the climate changes; the reduction reaches 48.2% (SSP585, 2081–2100) and 26.6%(SSP370, 2081–2100), respectively. The highly suitable habitat is always in growth, with growth reaching 27.3% (SSP585, 2081–2100). (3) Core conservation areas and agriculture and education areas are 317,315.118 km2 and 319,489.874 km2, respectively. This study developed a predictive model for Maxent under climate change scenarios by limiting host and abiotic factors and inverted the natural habitat of C. deserticola to provide scientific zoning for biodiversity conservation in desert Haloxylon–Cistanche community forests systems, providing an effective reference for decision makers.

Lack of knowledge on ecological determinants and cryptic lifestyles hinder our understanding of Terfezia diversity.

Developing below the soil surface desert, truffles are hard to find. Within Terfezia genus, at least 18 species are described and many are endemic to the Mediterranean basin. Ecological and geographic information are key factors for species diagnosis, and so far Terfezia species are believed to be linked to either acidic or basic soils or to specific plant hosts. Thus, we have looked at Terfezia diversity within a relatively homogeneous geographical area in Portugal that is suitable for these species and that covered different soils and different dominant host species. We analyzed the observed intraspecific variability within the context of species ecological preferences (e. g. edaphic and putative host). One of our major findings was the discovery of T.grisea in acid soils in association with Tuberariaguttata, a puzzling information since, until now, this species was only found in alkaline soils. We also report on the linkage of different Terfezia lineages within species and ecologic parameters such as soil texture, soil pH and plant host. Additionally, by placing the collected specimens on the most recent genus phylogeny based on the ITS region, we also updated the number of known Terfezia species occurring in Portugal from three to ten. Terfeziadunensis is here reported for the first time for Portugal. Overall, our results show that the exploration of undersampled sites reveals itself as a good strategy to disclose unknown aspects of desert truffle diversity and ecology. These aspects are of prime importance when considering the economic value of the desert truffles for rural populations in the Mediterranean basin.

Microbial Hotspots in Lithic Microhabitats Inferred from DNA Fractionation and Metagenomics in the Atacama Desert.

The existence of microbial activity hotspots in temperate regions of Earth is driven by soil heterogeneities, especially the temporal and spatial availability of nutrients. Here we investigate whether microbial activity hotspots also exist in lithic microhabitats in one of the most arid regions of the world, the Atacama Desert in Chile. While previous studies evaluated the total DNA fraction to elucidate the microbial communities, we here for the first time use a DNA separation approach on lithic microhabitats, together with metagenomics and other analysis methods (i.e., ATP, PLFA, and metabolite analysis) to specifically gain insights on the living and potentially active microbial community. Our results show that hypolith colonized rocks are microbial hotspots in the desert environment. In contrast, our data do not support such a conclusion for gypsum crust and salt rock environments, because only limited microbial activity could be observed. The hypolith community is dominated by phototrophs, mostly Cyanobacteria and Chloroflexi, at both study sites. The gypsum crusts are dominated by methylotrophs and heterotrophic phototrophs, mostly Chloroflexi, and the salt rocks (halite nodules) by phototrophic and halotolerant endoliths, mostly Cyanobacteria and Archaea. The major environmental constraints in the organic-poor arid and hyperarid Atacama Desert are water availability and UV irradiation, allowing phototrophs and other extremophiles to play a key role in desert ecology.

Insights on comparative bacterial diversity between different arid zones of Cholistan Desert, Pakistan.

The present study was conducted to analyze bacterial diversity profile of Cholistan desert located in Pakistan. The study investigates the influence of physicochemical parameters of soil on distribution of different bacteria at all taxonomic levels and also study the distribution pattern between different desert environments, particularly rhizospheric and bulk desert sands. Species richness showed phyla Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi as the dominant OTUs in all the samples. Besides the two phyla, the rhizospheric soils with root remnants were dominated by Firmicutes, Deinococcus-Thermus, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteri, while phylum Thermotogae was present in significant quantity in rhizosheaths devoid of roots. In non-rhizospheric desert soils, a considerable number of OTUs belonged to phyla Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes and Acidobacteria. An important finding from this study is that a bulk portion of the OTUs were assigned to unclassified taxa, indicating a large repertoire of unexplored taxa in the desert ecology of Pakistan. Distribution of taxonomic groups among various regions of the desert was collaborating well with the physicochemical parameters of the sites. The findings of this study establish the fundamental relationships between desert ecosystem, specific native plant and the total bacterial flora. This is the first study of microbial community analysis of any desert in Pakistan and thus, will serve as a future platform to explore further on desert ecosystem functioning by employing the ever-changing biotechnological tools.

Spatio-temporal remote sensing of vertical and seasonal chlorophyll-a:b ratio in Tamarix ramosissima

ABSTRACTRemotely sensed spectral reflectance data have provided avenues for large-scale non-destructive estimation of temporal and spatial variations of physiological processes in plants. This study established the potential for tracking (chlorophyll) chl-a:b ratio in Tamarix ramosissima based on -leaf-scale photochemical reflectance index (PRI) at Fukang Station of Desert Ecology in the hinterland of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, northwest China. Leaves were sampled on a monthly basis over a 3-year growing period. T. ramosissima tolerance to the fragile arid conditions revealed higher coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.6) between chl-a:b ratio and N content at each light condition. This implied a higher potential for irradiance acclimation through plasticity in photosynthetic apparatus, and hence an important attribute for colonizing wider desert ecological range. PRI was negatively correlated to chl-a:b ratio regardless of season but was more sensitive to changes in light condition. The modified PRI (PRImod, R510–R570 nm) performed better than the original PRI (PRI, R531–R570 nm) with R2 improvement in all data sets of this species. These results implied that seasonality and leaf age, within canopy resource variation and the individual species must be considered when applying PRImod to estimate chl-a:b ratio. Application of empirical indices avails a non-destructive timely leaf-level, species and site-specific avenue of detecting vegetation status in arid ecosystems. Remote estimation of chl-a:b ratio obtained at leaf scale in this study could be scaled to ecosystem and global scale by effective estimation of spatial distribution and seasonal variation using other pigment-related vegetation index such as the normalized difference vegetation index, or combination of PRI and the water band index.

A phylogenetic test of adaptation to deserts and aridity in skull and dental morphology across rodents

Understanding how organisms adapt to aridity is a central theme in traditional desert ecology research. However, many of the pioneering studies were conducted before detailed phylogenies were available to provide evolutionary context and before the accumulation of accurate bioclimatic and species distribution data to provide geographic and environmental context. We tested the desert-adaptive value of changes in skull and dental morphology in rodents after phylogenetic correction. In addition, we estimated that across the evolutionary history of more than 2,400 rodent species, transitions between mesic and desert habitats have been very frequent, with a directional bias toward the mesic-to-desert transition. This suggested that derived desert specialization is an “evolutionary deadend” that limits further evolution. After correcting for the strong phylogenetic signal, we still find a significant and strong correlation between habitat aridity and specializations associated with auditory sensitivity (auditory bulla inflation) and respiratory water retention (nasal passage elongation) but not in characters associated with dietary specialization (lower incisor shape). No other significant associations were found between habitat or aridity and any other cranial, jaw, or dental traits. Bullar hypertrophy is among the strongest patterns of convergent cranial desert adaptation in rodents and indicates that adaptation plays a similar role in shaping the evolution of this structure in different desert rodent clades.

A Destructive Leaf Spot and Blight Caused by Alternaria kareliniae sp. nov. on a Sand-Stabilizing Plant, Caspian Sea Karelinia.

Leaf spots and stem lesions causing widespread mortality of Caspian Sea karelinia (Karelinia caspia) were observed in desert regions of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Fifteen samples were collected from five widely distributed counties of Tarim and Junggar Basins in 2016. The pathogen was identified using morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses based on combined partial sequences from seven genes (Alt a 1, ATPase, calmodulin, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, internal transcribed spacer, RNA polymerase II, and translation elongation factor 1), and placed as a new species: Alternaria kareliniae sp. nov. in section Dianthicola. The fungus has a small conidium (24.3 to) 29.1 to 64.8 (to 75.8) by (9.3 to) 12.4 to 16.5 (to 21.7) μm with a long beak (130 to) 183.9 to 350.4 (to 378.2) μm, as well as four to eight transverse septa, which differs significantly from other species of Alternaria section Dianthicola. On potato carrot agar, it grew significantly more slowly than others of this section. Pathogenicity tests showed that the fungus could infect leaves and stems of K. caspia and cause the same symptoms as those observed in the field. The fungus was reisolated from inoculated leaves and stems of the host. The disease in desert regions appears to be increasing, and it may have future negative implications for desert ecology in these areas. Future research should concentrate on elucidating the disease cycle and disease management alternatives.

Raymond Edward Ryckman

This is a photograph of Raymond Edward Ryckman, PhD, (Figure) a medical entomologist. His studies of triatomine bugs, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Chagas disease formed a rich library of information about vectors and hosts of T. cruzi, including the behavioral ecology of the vectors and the role of pack rats for sustaining T. cruzi in natural habitats. Figure Raymond Edward Ryckman Ryckman was born June 19, 1917, on a farm in southern Wisconsin, USA; fascinated at an early age by insects, he built an observation beehive and was eager to show the colony to visitors. He was drafted during World War II and served 4 years at the Presidio Army Base hospital in San Francisco, California, USA. After receiving a bachelor of science degree in zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1950, Ryckman was recruited to teach at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. Soon after arriving at Loma Linda, he was approached by the Army Surgeon General’s office and asked to research the dynamics of plague transmission, with regard to the Army’s interest in troop health and safety in Southeast Asia. Ryckman used the natural plague system in southern California to study squirrel and flea population dynamics and potential insecticides. The innovative methods he used included electric-fence enclosures, ferrets trained to place devices within squirrel burrows, and crucible tongs used to gently handle unmanageable squirrels (1–3). His research played a major role in the understanding of the dynamics of plague transmission and control. After the Army Surgeon General’s plague grant ended, Ryckman returned to the University of California, Berkeley, where he completed his master’s thesis on Cimicidae (bed bugs) and forged ahead with PhD studies under Dr. Robert Usinger. His research explored the systematics, hybridization, and reproduction of the triatomine Triatoma protracta—vector of T. cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease (4). He completed his PhD research while fulfilling teaching requirements at Loma Linda University. He educated hundreds of medical and graduate students at the School of Medicine at Loma Linda University until his retirement in 1987. In addition to being a triatomine researcher, he was a naturalist eager to investigate organisms that captured his interest, generally incidental to studies of triatomines. During his career he published articles about cactiphilic flies (5) and lizard mites (6). After his retirement, he continued to write, co-authoring a book about Edmund C. Jaeger, a naturalist who studied the desert ecology of the southwestern United States (7). Ryckman traveled throughout Central and South America, generally returning with field-collected triatomines to start new colonies. His family frequently traveled with him, and he published several articles with his sons (8–10). Ryckman credits his wife with careful and patient review of his manuscripts before submission. He authored or co-authored ≈115 publications, most of which were 1- or 2-author publications. Later in Ryckman’s career, his focus turned to the publication of bibliographies. Before Internet and electronic searching were available, bibliographies were valuable sources of information for researchers, and their collation was a time-intensive, although perhaps underappreciated, achievement. In Ryckman’s words, “A bibliographic monograph is the summation of our historical, cultural, and scientific heritage in a given field of endeavor” (11). His career capstone was the publication of bibliographies “concerned with the world literature to the Triatominae and Triatominae-borne pathogens and clinical Chagas’ disease” (12). Careful curation was achieved with the help of assistants, requests via reprint request cards, use of a shopping cart to transport journals between the university library and copy shop, and use of a punch card system to organize articles. Compiled over 16 years and containing >23,000 publications, these bibliographies are a unique contribution to the field of Chagas disease research (11–13). The hard copy (print) collection resides at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In addition to a legacy of bibliographies and publications, Ryckman’s collection of >25,000 insects is available for study at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis. This collection includes the triatomine specimens that resulted from Ryckman’s many colonies of triatomines and other insects. In honor of his contributions to the study of Chagas disease vectors, Ryckman was honored with an eponym in 1972: Triatoma ryckmani, a rare species from Central America (14). As an authority on triatomine ecology and Chagas disease, a patient teacher and mentor, an international scholar, and a family man, Raymond E. Ryckman is an admirably well-rounded scientist.

Creating and exploring a desert ecology site on the OpenSim world with middle-school students

Abstract Using participant observation methods, I explored middle-school students’ visual literacy introduction to the OpenSim Virtual World, which was hosted by the University of British Columbia. Using their school name theme of the Sonoran Desert, they drew and uploaded their favourite desert creatures and plants on square easel forms/prims, built some dome-structured caves as an installation site, and added pop-up notecards about animal symbolic meanings, as a kind of visual/verbal literacy. Besides overcoming initial technical problems and experimenting with the Build/Design tools, they contacted biology information sites, to learn about desert conditions, animal plight (poaching/predator/prey/pesticide problems), plant acclimatization, and differing opinions about intervention. When students are guided and given appropriate digital art tools, they can create new worlds and explore ecological problems.

Raymond Edward Ryckman

This is a photograph of Raymond Edward Ryckman, PhD, (Figure) a medical entomologist. His studies of triatomine bugs, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Chagas disease formed a rich library of information about vectors and hosts of T. cruzi, including the behavioral ecology of the vectors and the role of pack rats for sustaining T. cruzi in natural habitats. Figure Raymond Edward Ryckman Ryckman was born June 19, 1917, on a farm in southern Wisconsin, USA; fascinated at an early age by insects, he built an observation beehive and was eager to show the colony to visitors. He was drafted during World War II and served 4 years at the Presidio Army Base hospital in San Francisco, California, USA. After receiving a bachelor of science degree in zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1950, Ryckman was recruited to teach at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. Soon after arriving at Loma Linda, he was approached by the Army Surgeon General’s office and asked to research the dynamics of plague transmission, with regard to the Army’s interest in troop health and safety in Southeast Asia. Ryckman used the natural plague system in southern California to study squirrel and flea population dynamics and potential insecticides. The innovative methods he used included electric-fence enclosures, ferrets trained to place devices within squirrel burrows, and crucible tongs used to gently handle unmanageable squirrels (1–3). His research played a major role in the understanding of the dynamics of plague transmission and control. After the Army Surgeon General’s plague grant ended, Ryckman returned to the University of California, Berkeley, where he completed his master’s thesis on Cimicidae (bed bugs) and forged ahead with PhD studies under Dr. Robert Usinger. His research explored the systematics, hybridization, and reproduction of the triatomine Triatoma protracta—vector of T. cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease (4). He completed his PhD research while fulfilling teaching requirements at Loma Linda University. He educated hundreds of medical and graduate students at the School of Medicine at Loma Linda University until his retirement in 1987. In addition to being a triatomine researcher, he was a naturalist eager to investigate organisms that captured his interest, generally incidental to studies of triatomines. During his career he published articles about cactiphilic flies (5) and lizard mites (6). After his retirement, he continued to write, co-authoring a book about Edmund C. Jaeger, a naturalist who studied the desert ecology of the southwestern United States (7). Ryckman traveled throughout Central and South America, generally returning with field-collected triatomines to start new colonies. His family frequently traveled with him, and he published several articles with his sons (8–10). Ryckman credits his wife with careful and patient review of his manuscripts before submission. He authored or co-authored ≈115 publications, most of which were 1- or 2-author publications. Later in Ryckman’s career, his focus turned to the publication of bibliographies. Before Internet and electronic searching were available, bibliographies were valuable sources of information for researchers, and their collation was a time-intensive, although perhaps underappreciated, achievement. In Ryckman’s words, “A bibliographic monograph is the summation of our historical, cultural, and scientific heritage in a given field of endeavor” (11). His career capstone was the publication of bibliographies “concerned with the world literature to the Triatominae and Triatominae-borne pathogens and clinical Chagas’ disease” (12). Careful curation was achieved with the help of assistants, requests via reprint request cards, use of a shopping cart to transport journals between the university library and copy shop, and use of a punch card system to organize articles. Compiled over 16 years and containing >23,000 publications, these bibliographies are a unique contribution to the field of Chagas disease research (11–13). The hard copy (print) collection resides at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In addition to a legacy of bibliographies and publications, Ryckman’s collection of >25,000 insects is available for study at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis. This collection includes the triatomine specimens that resulted from Ryckman’s many colonies of triatomines and other insects. In honor of his contributions to the study of Chagas disease vectors, Ryckman was honored with an eponym in 1972: Triatoma ryckmani, a rare species from Central America (14). As an authority on triatomine ecology and Chagas disease, a patient teacher and mentor, an international scholar, and a family man, Raymond E. Ryckman is an admirably well-rounded scientist.

The Ecological Society of America: Founders, Founding Stories, Foundations

The Ecological Society of America: Founders, Founding Stories, Foundations

Date Palm Tree’s Defense Mechanisms from Viral Infection and Solar Ultraviolet Radiation

A comprehensive review of scientific literature has uncovered no reported cases of date palm trees infected by a virus and no viral infections have been reported by farmers. In spite of the hot and humid environment they inhabit, the abundance of viral infestations in the soil, other plants and organisms surrounding the trees and the frequency of importation and transplantation of these trees into the region. Such conditions should cause the date palms to also be infected. Notably, other palm trees do not exhibit the same level of innate viral immunity that is found in date palms. The date palm tree’s innate viral immunity is a virgin area in botanical research. The biological segment in date palm tree DNA that enables survival under genotoxic radiation also deserves further investigation. This field of study may enable the breeding of other economically important plants to improve desert ecology and economy, land management, agriculture and horticulture.

Magnitude, Distribution and Associated Socio-behavioral Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease: A Hospital Based Study from Desert Ecology in India

Coronary artery disease is among the leading causes of deaths and disease adjusted life years lost world wide. This is an emerging health threat in India too. Government of India has recently launched a pilot programme for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. There is paucity of information on this disease in desert part of Rajasthan, India. Study aims to provide the initial baseline information on occurrence of this disease in district Jodhpur of Thar desert, India; an area unexplored hitherto. Retrospective descriptive epidemiological study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Jodhpur. There were 15.589 new patients admitted in hospital per 100000 populations in year 2001 for district Jodhpur. The mortality rate was 152 deaths/1000 admitted patients for year 2001. Proportion of patients who died below 50 years of age was 11.91% and acute myocardial infarction cases <40 years of age was 6.88%. Consecutive years have shown increasing trend in number of patients admitted each year with major share of patients by acute myocardial infarction and deaths caused by this. There was significantly higher proportion of female (p<0.05). Lack of information on socio-behavioural risk factors was major limitation. Coronary artery disease is an emerging problem in district Jodhpur. Patients with advanced stage of disease are reaching to the hospital with poor treatment outcome. Awareness exercises and prospective study on risk factors of coronary artery disease is required in this setting.

Long-haul research: benefits for conserving and managing biodiversity.

SEVERAL times a year, every year for the last two decades, members of the Desert Ecology Research Group at the University of Sydney have made the long trek to the Simpson Desert in central Australia to continue biological monitoring and carry out experiments on a range of ecological and conservation-related topics. This is long-haul research: long-term biological sampling and experimental work that takes place in distant study sites. This kind of research is unusual in that much ecological inquiry takes place close to home and is completed over short periods — typically three years, which is the duration of most postgraduate projects and research grants from major funding bodies such as the Australian Research Council. If short-term local research is the norm, why should anyone contemplate undertaking multi-year hajjes to remote areas? What are the advantages, the challenges and payoffs from long-haul research? In this essay I argue that long-term research is essential to understand the dynamics and processes that drive ecological systems and provide the insights necessary to conserve them. I then propose that such research is needed most critically in remote areas where losses of species and ecological processes often continue apace, but pass unobserved and unremarked. In Australia, areas that are remote for most of us, both physically and conceptually, are the vast and varied landscapes of the continental interior.

A more effective means of delivering conservation management: a ‘New Integrated Conservation’ model for Australian rangelands

Desert ecology features long time-frames and extreme seasonal unpredictability. In addition, Australia’s arid rangelands have unique social, cultural, land-use and land tenure characteristics that influence appropriate conservation management. These circumstances have not been adequately incorporated into current conservation models, which rely on statutory control and (inadequate) grant funding. Application and management of the capital supposed to finance an effective response to the unique features of Australia’s rangelands thus remains largely divorced from actual circumstances. This paper briefly describes these unique features and the structure and characteristics of the capital currently applied in natural resource management. It then outlines a new conservation approach – the New Integrated Conservation model – to better match the actual natural, cultural and institutional ‘ecology’ of Australia’s rangelands. The model has three elements: a new fiscal ecology, multiplex governance arrangements and the incorporation of multiple objectives and mixed approaches into conservation management.