Shrubland Research Articles

Land cover change and its driving factors in Siberia from 1992 to 2020.

Siberia occupies vast areas underlain by permafrost, and understanding its land cover changes is important for ecological environmental protection in a warming climate. Based on the land cover and climate datasets, we analyzed the land cover changes and their drivers in Siberia from 1992 to 2020. The results show that ① From 1992 to 2020, the areas of evergreen needleleaf trees and deciduous needleleaf trees in Siberia decreased by 9% and 2.5%, and the areas of grassland, shrub, cropland, and construction land increased by 1.5%, 14.2%, 2.8%, and 39.2%, respectively. Cropland expansion had the fastest rate of 1.85% in the continuous permafrost zone, and construction land expansion had the fastest rate of 3.07% in the non-permafrost zone. ② The center of gravity of agricultural land continues to migrate to the northeast, and the center of gravity of construction land continues to migrate to the southwest. ③ The primary drivers for the land cover changes were temperature and precipitation, and active layer thickness also affected grassland, cropland, and deciduous needleleaf trees. The correlation coefficient between active layer thickness and cropland area is 0.74 in the continuous permafrost zone. The interaction between factors is mostly manifested as a two-factor enhancement, with the highest q-value of the interaction of temperature and precipitation for explanatory power. Our results suggest that climate change and permafrost degradation significantly changed land cover in Siberia. This finding deepens our understanding of the mechanisms of land cover change under the influence of permafrost degradation and provides a new perspective on the land cover changes in permafrost regions.

Monitoring of heavy metals in some desert plants south of Basra province, Iraq

This study examines heavy metal concentrations in desert flora from two locations in Basra Province, Iraq, offering essential insights into environmental pollution. Heavy metals were analyzed at various locations to assess variability. Cadmium displayed stable levels, whereas cobalt demonstrated considerable variations, signifying an irregular distribution. Manganese was abundant although markedly inconsistent. Nickel exhibited stability. Lead had stable amounts, but zinc displayed significant presence and change. These results guide environmental evaluations and management strategies. The variability among places and plant species underscores the impact of local variables and physiological characteristics. Erodium glaucophyllum, Diplotaxis harra, and Astragalus spinosa exhibited unique accumulation capacities. Soil properties varied, clarifying ecological processes. This study enhances the comprehension of heavy metal accumulation patterns in Iraqi desert vegetation, supporting efforts for conservation and contamination reduction.

Xylem anatomical structure as a determinant of hydraulic trait variation in C3 plant Reaumuria soongorica and C4 plant Salsola passerina

Moisture variation significantly impacts hydraulic traits and xylem anatomical structure in woody plants, thereby influencing water transport and embolism resistance. However, the precise relationship between these factors within desert shrubs remains unclear, and it may be related to plant functional types. We conducted a water manipulation experiment involving seedlings of the C3 plant Reaumuria soongorica and the C4 plant Salsola passerina within a rain shelter. We applied three water treatments: control, chronic drought, and flash drought. After a period of drought treatment, seedlings were rewatered to control level for 15 days, after which hydraulic traits and anatomical structures were measured. We found that: (1) vessel density was positively correlated with sapwood specific conductivity for R. soongorica, while hydraulic weighted vessel diameter positively correlated with embolism resistance; both hydraulic weighted vessel diameter and vessel internal diameter span was positively correlated with sapwood specific conductivity for S. passerina; (2) R. soongorica had lower edge density yet higher modularity compared to S. passerina; (3) sapwood and leaf specific conductivity emerged as hub traits in R. soongorica, while vessel internal diameter span was identified as a hub trait in S. passerina, thus serving as important predictors of hydraulic function and related attributes. Our study demonstrates distinct hydraulic strategies in the two species. R. soongorica employs a highly modular trait combination to adapt to water fluctuations, maintaining both high hydraulic efficiency and embolism resistance under drought stress. Conversely, S. passerina integrates traits for efficient resource access, ensuring hydraulic efficiency but compromising embolism resistance under drought stress. Integrating hydraulic traits with anatomical structures significantly enhances predictions of desert shrub resilience to drought within the context of global climate change.

Impact of Environmental and Anthropogenic Disturbance on Nesting Success of a Small Passerine Bird, Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicatus)

The present study engrossed on nesting success of an endemic passerine bird the Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus. This bird species is the member of family Muscicapidae. Indian Robin is a territorial, resident and non-migratory bird; mostly found in dry habitats, scrub forests, rocky areas, in open grasslands, near cultivated sites and in the vicinity of human habitation. On the onset of breeding period male and female both individuals together select the nesting site and initiates the formation of nest. Robins are very sensitive to any environmental and anthropogenic disturbance during the breeding phase. If they ponder that their nest has been discovered by any predator or human, or feel any disturbance due to environmental conditions then, they leave the nest and start searching new nesting site. This paper is based on authors' field observations. We have examined the nesting success and survival rate of bird over the two breeding seasons at various nesting sites and over the course of this period found some abandoned nests of Robin; those were left by bird due to anthropogenic and environmental disturbance. This monitoring concluded that, Robin is greatly affected by presence of human during nesting phase, which enhances the threat or fear in bird and they leave their nest, sometimes even after egg laying. It decreases the nesting success of bird and also the survival of eggs & nestlings; causes declining the population of Robin bird in future. In this study we have found that overall nesting success of bird was significantly reduces due to anthropogenic and environmental disturbance as well.

Geospatial Analysis of LULC in the Srinagar Region of Jammu and Kashmir using Sentinel-2 Data

Geospatial analysis based LULC mapping finds great utility in Himalyan region in order to carry proper assessment, evaluation and sustainable management of the existing resources. With the aid of remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS), the current study on LULC mapping was conducted in district Srinagar of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2022. European Space Agency (ESA) based Sentinel-2 satellite was used as a data source. By using the technique of visual image interpretation, the study area was demarcated into 11 LULC classes viz, agriculture, forest, forest scrub, built-up, TOF, grassland, wasteland, waterbody, wetland, snow and horticulture. The findings of the study revealed that from the delineated LULC classes highest percentage (19.61%) of area was covered by forest and least (2.17%) was covered by wetland. Moreover, the values obtained for overall classification accuracy and kappa statistics were 89.09% and 0.88 respectively. Due to increasing population and urbanisation some of the important LULC classes like wetland, agriculture etc have been encroached thereby disturbing the overall ecological balance. Therefore, findings of the current study might be useful in planning and demarcating the area where we can develop green infrastructure which might be fruitful in achieving the sustainable management goals.

Dust emission from different land use types based on the PI-SWERL test

Dust emissions have important impacts on the ecological environment and air quality. To explore the underlying mechanisms, characteristics and influence factors of the dust emission from different land use types along the northern dust transport path of Beijing, a portable dust observation instrument (PI-SWERL) was used to test the dust emissions from typical land use types in both the leapfrog mode and progressive mode. The results showed that in the leapfrog mode, the dust emission concentrations (DECs) of the different land use types exhibited four patterns with increasing friction wind speed: fluctuation type, fluctuating growth type, linear growth type and growth stability type. In the progressive mode, the instantaneous dust emission fluxes (IDEFs) from the different land use types under the same friction wind speed exhibited three variation characteristics with increasing erosion time: rapid decline, decline after stabilization, and remaining stable. These variation characteristics preliminarily reflected the dust emission mechanisms and emission potentials of the different land use types. For different land types, the DEFs of grassland after crust destruction (GCD) and vineyard land (VL) were the largest, and the maximum value reached 14 mg/m2·s at a friction wind speed of 0.69 m/s. The DEFs of grassland (TS), stubble land (StL), saline-alkali land (SAL), shrubland (ShL) and grassland with crust (GC) were the lowest, with maximum DEFs of less than 0.3 mg/m2·s. The differences in dust emissions from different land types were mainly affected by the topsoil dust content, soil crust, surface vegetation and human disturbance. Under the influence of various factors, the DEFs of plowed land were 3.62–8.36 times greater than those of unplowed land and 81.78–175.50 times greater than those of grassland at friction wind speeds of 0.39, 0.55 and 0.69 m/s. The DEFs of land after removing stubble were 36.34–164.86 times greater than those of stubble land, and the DEFs of grassland after crust destruction were 50.50–195.25 times greater than those of grassland with crust. In this study, the PI-SWERL dust tests have important reference significance for analyzing dust emission mechanisms, characteristics, potential and effects of human disturbance in different land use types.

Elevation Determines Fungal Diversity, and Land Use Governs Community Composition: A Dual Perspective from Gaoligong Mountains.

Soil fungi are closely tied to their surrounding environment. While numerous studies have reported the effects of land-use practices or elevations on soil fungi, our understanding of how their community structure and diversity vary with elevation across different land-use practices remains limited. In the present study, by collecting soil samples from four different land uses in the Gaoligong Mountain area, namely shrublands (SLs), coffee plantations (CPs), cornfields (CFs), and citrus orchards (COs), and combining them with the changes in altitude gradients (low: 900 m, medium: 1200 m, high: 1500 m), high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the composition and diversity of soil fungal communities based on the collected soil samples. The results showed that the interaction between land-use types and elevation significantly influenced the structure and diversity of fungal communities, although their relative importance in shaping fungal diversity or community structure varied. Specifically, elevation posed a stronger effect on fungal community alpha-diversity and functional guilds, whereas land-use types had a greater influence over fungal community composition. Our study reveals the individual and combined effects of land-use practices and elevation on the structure and diversity of soil fungal communities in the Gaoligong Mountain region, enhancing our understanding of the distribution patterns and driving mechanisms of soil fungal communities in this biodiversity-rich region.

Climatic and ecological factors responsible for distribution of Phlebotomine Sand flies and occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, in Himachal Pradesh India

Background & objectives: Subalpine valley along the Sutlej River has been identified as an endemic focus for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in Himachal Pradesh (H.P.). The present study was undertaken with aim to find out the climatic and ecological determinants responsible for distribution of sand flies and occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Himachal Pradesh. Methods: Collections of sand flies were made in the Shimla, Kullu, and Nichar districts of H.P. during 2017 and 2019. The climatic data were procured from Indian Meteorological centre, Shimla (H.P). The satellite images (Indian remote sensing satellite (IRS)-Linear imaging self-scanner (LISS)-IV sensor multispectral data) having resolution of 5.8m were procured from National Remote Sensing Centre Hyderabad, India. The relationship between the incidence of CL and Land use was analysed. Results: A total of 332 sand flies were collected. The transmission of CL was favoured by temperatures exceeding 20°C over a period of six months, specifically from April to September. The valley with an elevation ranging between 1000 to 1250 meters reported 90% of the CL cases. The correlation between CL incidence and land use patterns revealed a notable rise in barren land (8%) and scrub land (5%) from 2013 to 2017. Interpretation & conclusion: The findings reveals that specific meteorological conditions and land cover play significant role in determining the presence of sand flies in Himachal Pradesh. To effectively control CL, it is recommended to implement control programs primarily between June and September, focusing particularly on regions with elevations ranging from 1000 to 1250 meters.

Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia

In the highlands of northern Ethiopia, many land use and land cover changes (LULCC) have occurred during different activities of the populations. Despite its coverage and unwise use of natural resources, these land uses and land covers are facing increasing or decreasing their area coverage. Information derived from land use and land cover change detection is important to land conservation, sustainable development, and management of Natural resources. This purpose of this study is therefore concerned with identifying the change in land use and land cover detection of the Wejic watershed. To identify land cover changes detection; remote sensing data, satellite imagery and image processing techniques had done within two dates of 1998 and 2017 using Land sat TM 30 m resolution images using Arc GIS 10.1. Hence, a field survey was carried out in 2017 to identify the major land cover types in the watershed. Detection Analysis of land use and land cover dynamics were calculated from the selected watershed in Southern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. These land use types were cultivated, forest, bush, shrub, and homestead lands. Furthermore, a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was developed for both years. The land use and land cover change results indicated that forest, cultivated land, and bush land decreased by 4.4%, 2.2%, and 2.4%, respectively. However, shrub land and homestead increased by 5.5% and 3.6%, respectively. Therefore The change detection analysis using GIS and remote sensing could deliver useful information to understand the seasonal patterns of land use dynamics for planners and decision makers; consequently, sustainable land management planning is possible.

Synergistic windbreak efficiency of desert vegetation and oasis shelter forests.

This study investigates the novel approach of synergizing desert vegetation with shelter forests to enhance windbreak efficiency in a transitional zone between the Korla oasis and the Taklimakan Desert, northwest China. Through an extensive field survey and experimental setup, we evaluated the impact of different shelterbelt configurations on wind speed reduction. Three types of shelter forests were examined: multi-row Poplar (Populus alba), single-row Jujube (Ziziphus jujube), and a mixed-species layout combining one row of Jujube and two rows of Poplar trees. Wind speed measurements were recorded at multiple heights across three zones-open field, between desert vegetation and shelterbelt, and leeward of the shelterbelt-over a three-month period (April to June, 2023). The findings reveal a significant reduction in wind speed, particularly on the leeward side, with multi-row and mixed-species configurations proving the most effective. The highest synergistic efficiency, observed in the mixed-species shelter forest, showed a windbreak efficiency improvement of over 20% compared to desert vegetation alone. This study provides new insights into the combined effectiveness of desert vegetation and shelter forests, offering a strategic framework for designing shelterbelts in arid environments. These results underscore the critical role of diverse, structured vegetation arrangements in combating wind erosion and contribute to the development of sustainable ecological management practices for desert regions worldwide.

Biological traits and biome features mediate responses of terrestrial bird demography to droughts.

Changing drought regimes are a rising threat to biodiversity, yet their impacts on wildlife vary greatly. Acknowledging the factors associated with these consequences brings novel insights into species vulnerability resulting from extreme climatic events and facilitates effective mitigation of climate change risks. Based on 319 observations from 29 peer-reviewed studies on birds-a well-monitored taxonomic group-we extract the responses of demographic metrics to droughts for 204 species across eight terrestrial biomes to examine the consequences of droughts. According to relevant studies, we chose the factors potentially moderating bird demography under droughts and compiled the data for these factors from published datasets. A meta-analysis is performed to determine the drought effect on bird demography at individual and population levels, accounting for the influence of species traits, timescale and severity of droughts, as well as biome features. The results show that droughts have an overall negative effect on bird demography, and the effect is mediated by different factors at each level. For individuals exposed to droughts, declines in demographic rates are found to be related to narrower extents of occurrence of species, and a significant overall reduction in demographic rates is identified for individuals residing in deserts and xeric shrublands. At the population level, declines in abundance or reproductive performance are generally identified for invertivores, frugivores, nectarivores and omnivores; short-lived species with small clutch sizes also show greater susceptibilities under the impacts of droughts. Our findings additionally suggest that the demographic vulnerability of bird individuals and populations could be affected by the duration and magnitude of drought episodes. Although our results are subject to publication bias, these conclusions advance the assessment of vulnerability to extreme climatic events that used to be based on equally weighted species traits and support bird conservation by prioritizing the declining populations of species with drought-susceptible traits.

Intraspecific Variability of Xylem Hydraulic Traits of Calligonum mongolicum Growing in the Desert of Northern Xinjiang, China.

Plant hydraulic traits are essential for understanding and predicting plant drought resistance. Investigations into the mechanisms of the xylem anatomical traits of desert shrubs in response to climate can help us to understand plant survival strategies in extreme environments. This study examined the xylem anatomical traits and related functional traits of the branches of seven Calligonum mongolicum populations along a precipitation gradient, to explore their adaptive responses to climatic factors. We found that (1) the vessel diameter (D), vessel diameter contributing to 95% of hydraulic conductivity (D95), hydraulic weighted vessel diameter (Dh), vessel density (VD), percentage of conductive area (CA), thickness-to-span ratio of vessels ((t/b)2), and theoretical hydraulic conductivity (Kth) varied significantly across sites, while the vessel group index (Vg), wood density (WD), and vulnerability index (VI) showed no significant differences. (2) Principal component analysis revealed that efficiency-related traits (Kth, Dh, D95) and safety-related traits (VI, VD, inter-wall thickness of the vessel (t)) were the primary factors driving trait variation. (3) Precipitation during the wettest month (PWM) had the strongest influence, positively correlating with (t/b)2 and negatively with D, D95, Dh, CA, and Kth. (4) Structural equation modeling confirmed PWM as the main driver of Kth, with indirect effects through CA. These findings indicate that C. mongolicum displays high plasticity in xylem traits, enabling adaptation to changing environments, and providing insight into the hydraulic strategies of desert shrubs under climate change.

Assessment of Fuel Wood Consumption and Its Effect on Forest Depletion in Dry Deciduous Forest of Haliyal Taluk, Uttar Kannada District, India

Forest plays a significant role in extending wood and non-wood resources around the world, Forests provide ecosystem services, such as timber, food, fuel, fodder, non-wood products and shelter, which are essential for human well-being. However the increasing demand and pressure on forest resources majorly like fuel wood lead to degradation of forests. Hence it is important to assess the fuel wood consumption pattern and its impact on the forest for sustainable management of resources. In the present study, Haliyal taluk was selected, the area which is under rapid urbanization, surrounded by dry deciduous forest and the people living in that area depend on forest for fuel wood consumption. The study examined fuel wood collection among different farmer categories: large, medium, small, and landless. Results from the semi structured questioner survey revealed that medium farmers collected the most fuel wood. The total fuel wood consumption in Haliyal taluk was 5232.2 tonnes, with an average household consumption of 2.60 quintals of fuel wood per year. Major preferred tree species for fuel wood were Xylia xylocarpa, Terminalia tomentosa and Lagerstroemia lanceolata, which are valued for their high energy content, favourable burning characteristics and availability. For estimation of forest degradation Randomized Block Design was used and the study classified the forest vegetation into four crown density classes: Very Dense Forest (T1), Moderately Dense Forest (T2), Open Forest (T3), and Scrub (T4). Data was collected from 20 plots (20 x 20 m each) across these classes to measure forest depletion. The results showed that statistically significant differences in degradation levels, with the highest depletion (31.56 m³/ha) in very dense forests followed by moderate depletion (6.75 m³/ha) in moderately dense forests and the lowest (2.4 m³/ha) in scrub forests. This pattern reflects greater anthropogenic pressures and higher fuel wood availability in more dense forest types.

The Impact of Different Planting Densities on the Growth and Ecological Benefits of Sandland Caragana

Sandland Caragana (Caragana korshinskii) is a plant that adapts to arid and barren sandy land, exhibiting significant ecological restoration functions. The mechanisms by which different planting densities affect its growth and ecological benefits are particularly important. This paper explores the impact of planting density on photosynthetic efficiency, nutrient absorption, root expansion, and biomass accumulation based on the biological characteristics and environmental adaptability of Caragana. The study found that although high-density planting can increase root competition, effectively stabilize sand and prevent wind erosion, it may lead to insufficient light and nutrients, affecting plant growth and photosynthetic efficiency. In contrast, low-density planting enhances photosynthetic efficiency but may result in inadequate root expansion, which in turn affects its soil and water conservation capability. By optimizing planting density, the growth potential of Caragana can be enhanced while maximizing its ecological benefits, including sand fixation, resistance to wind and sand erosion, soil and water conservation, and carbon sequestration. Future research should further explore the long-term ecological effects of Caragana under different density conditions to provide a theoretical basis for desert vegetation restoration and carbon neutrality policies.

Land Use and Land Cover Change in East Java Indonesia from 1972 to 2021: Learning from Landsat

This study analyses land use and land cover (LULC) changes during the last five decades (1970–2021) in East Java Province, Indonesia. The changes are analysed by comparing four maps interpreted from Landsat images (MSS 1972, TM 1997, OLI 2013, and OLI 2021). The main research procedures consist of (1) data collection, (2) field survey, (3) image classification, and (4) LULC change interpretation. The classification uses the maximum likelihood algorithm, achieving an overall kappa accuracy of > 75%. The classification produces eight classes, i.e., built-up land (BU), heterogeneous agricultural land (HAL), bare soil (BS), paddy fields (PF), open water (OW), vegetation (VG), shrubland (SH), and wetlands (WL). The analysis shows a significant shift in land use from 1972 to 2021, with HAL declining by 46%, SH by 91%, and BS by 88%. In contrast, PF has increased by 105%, VG (forest and plantation) by 64%, and built-up areas by a remarkable 366%. These changes show a significant shift from dryland agriculture, shrublands, and barren lands to irrigated regions, vegetated areas, and urban growth. Furthermore, there are increases in water bodies due to the construction of several reservoirs to support water availability. In coastal regions, the development of inland aquaculture leads to a proliferation of wetlands (salt evaporation ponds, fish ponds, and rice-fish integrated farming).

Ámbito de hogar, preferencia de hábitat y patrones de actividad del zorro de Sechura Lycalopex sechurae (Mammalia: Canidae) en el Desierto de Sechura, noroeste del Perú

The Sechura fox (Lycalopex sechurae) is a little-studied species despite being common in northwestern Peru and listed as Near Threatened internationally. This study presents the home range, habitat preference, and activity patterns of L. sechurae in two locations of the Sechura Desert: The Mangroves of San Pedro de Vice (MSPV) and the Illescas National Reserve (RNI). Using GPS collars, the minimum convex polygon method, and the Kernel estimator (KE), the home range of four female individuals (two from each site) was calculated. Additionally, the GPS location data were used to estimate activity patterns and habitat preferences for each individual. The home range of females from MSPV was 0.6 and 1 km² (95% KE), whereas, for the RNI, it was 3.5 and 25.1 km² (95% KE). Females from MSPV preferred dry forest (54.8% and 76.1%), while those from RNI favored desert scrub (64.3% and 64.5%). All individuals exhibited cathemeral behavior, with increased nocturnal activity. Our results demonstrate variability in home range sizes, similarity in activity patterns compared to other studies, and highlight the importance of dry forest and desert scrub as resource-rich habitats for Lycalopex sechurae.

A whole-plant perspective of hydraulic strategy in temperate desert shrub species.

Desert shrubs play a crucial role in controlling desertification and promoting revegetation, but drought often hinders their growth. Investigating the hydraulic strategies of desert shrubs is important in order to understand their drought adaptation and predict future dynamics under climate change. In this study, we measured the hydraulic-related characteristics of roots, stems and leaves in 19 desert shrub species from northern China. We aimed to explore the hydraulic coordination and segmentation between different plant organs. The results were as follows: (i) specific root length was positively correlated with the water potential inducing a 50% loss in stem hydraulic conductivity (P50stem) and negatively correlated with stem hydraulic safety margin. This suggested that water uptake efficiency of the fine roots was traded off with stem embolism resistance and hydraulic safety. (ii) The water potential inducing a 50% loss in leaf hydraulic conductance was significantly less negative than P50stem, and fine root turgor loss point was significantly less negative than P50stem, indicating a hydraulic segmentation between the main stem and terminal organs. (iii) The most negative leaf turgor loss point indicated that leaf wilting occurred after substantial leaf and stem embolism. The high desiccation resistance of the leaves may serve as an important physiological mechanism to increase carbon gain in a relatively brief growth period. In summary, this study elucidated the hydraulic strategies employed by desert shrubs from a whole-plant perspective.

A Study of the Diversity Patterns of Desert Vegetation Communities in an Arid Zone of China.

The Gobi Desert ecosystem is currently experiencing the impacts of persistent climate warming and extreme weather. However, the relative influences of factors such as soil, climate, and spatial variables on the β-diversity of desert plants and their key components have not been systematically studied. In this research, the Dunhuang North Mountain and Mazong Mountain areas were selected as study areas, with a total of 79 plant community plots systematically established. The aim was to explore intercommunity β-diversity and its components and to analyze the interrelationships with climate factors, soil factors, and geographic distance. The results indicate that (1) there is a geographic decay pattern and significant differences among plant communities in the Dunhuang North Mountain and Mazong Mountain areas, with β-diversity primarily driven by replacement components. (2) Climate, soil, and geographic distance significantly influence β-diversity and its replacement components, with climate factors exerting the greatest influence and geographic distance the least. (3) Multiple regression analysis (MRM) reveals differential effects of climate factors, soil factors, and geographic distance on β-diversity and its replacement components, with climate and soil factors exerting a much greater influence than geographic distance. In summary, the β-diversity of plant communities and their replacement components in the Dunhuang North Mountain and Mazong Mountain areas result from the combined effects of habitat filtering and dispersal limitation, with habitat filtering having a greater impact, while environmental heterogeneity is an important factor influencing species differences in this region.

Analysis of land use land cover change dynamics in Habru District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

This study examines spatiotemporal changes in Land Use Land Cover (LULC) patterns within Habru District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, between 1985 and 2021. Employing Landsat imagery and a supervised classification approach, we mapped six LULC classes: water body, settlement area, cultivated land, bare land, shrub land, and forest land. Ground control points (GCP) were obtained through field observations to ensured image accuracy. Complementing the remote sensing analysis, focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews were conducted to understand local perspectives on LULC changes. The analysis revealed significant LULC transformations over the study period. Between 1985 and 2021, there was a significant increase in cultivated land and settlement areas, which expanded from 12.27 % to 0.23 %–42.12 % and 2.58 % of the total area, respectively. Conversely, shrub and forest lands saw a marked reduction during the same period, declining from 71.52 % to 12.88 %–45.35 % and 7.06 % of the total area, respectively. Water body area showed a minor increase, while bare land exhibited negligible change. Agricultural land and settlement area expansion, population growth, land tenure insecurity, economic challenge, and climatic change were identified as key drivers of observed LULC changes. Our findings underscore the urgency of implementing multifaceted interventions to address these drivers and promote sustainable resource use practices. Such actions are critical for safeguarding Habru District's natural resources and ensuring the long-term viability of ecosystem services.

Morphological and Germination Characteristics of Alhagi maurorum Boiss. and Salsola richteri Kar. Seeds Distributed in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan

The Karakum Desert is the largest desert in Turkmenistan and covers a significant part of Central Asia. This desert is home to plant species that can adapt to hot, dry, and barren conditions. During the summer months, the Karakum Desert can get extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to 50 °C, while in winter, it can drop to -20 °C. Therefore, the desert conditions significant seasonal temperature differences. In winter, rainfall is very low, snow rarely falls, and quickly melts. Afghan winds have an impact on the desert vegetation. The desert vegetation mainly consists of short grasses and woody shrubs. Despite the scarcity of rainfall and high temperatures during the summer months, steppe plants have generally been able to adapt to the harsh conditions of the desert. There are also species that have adapted to the desert climate, such as Alhagi maurorum Boiss., Haloxylon persicum Bunge, Haloxylon aphyllum (Minkw.) Iljin), Solanum nigrum L., and Salsola richteri Kar. These plants are highly valuable in terms of nutrition for animals and are used as winter animal feed in rural areas. In this study, the seed and germination characteristics of Alhagi maurorum Boiss. and Salsola richteri Kar, which are tree and shrub-like plants that can adapt to Karakum Desert conditions, were examined. In laboratory study, the morphological characteristics of the seeds were determined, and vitality and germination tests were conducted. Information was obtained about the germination adaptation of these plants in desert ecosystems. As a result of the study, it was determined that S. richteri had a very low rate of viable seeds and no germination, while the germination process of Alhagi maurorum could take a considerably long time.