Lizard burrows association with successional stages of biological soil crusts in an arid sandy region

E. Zaady, A. Bouskila

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study the relationship between the successional stages of biological soil crusts and the distribution of lizards in the 'Arava Valley (eastern Negev Desert). In the dry sandy habitat, four stages of the biological soil crust succession can be characterized by the degree of soil surface compaction. Both the geckos (Stenodactylus doriae) and the diurnal lizards (Acanthodactylus spp.) strongly preferred the fragile crust, where they dug 80% and 94% of their burrows, respectively. Land conservationists and managers should take these results into consideration when management plans for natural habitats and nature reserves are evaluated.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)235-246
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Arid Environments
Volume50
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2002

Keywords

  • Acanthodactylus lizards
  • Biological crust
  • Conservation
  • Cryptogamic
  • Cyanobacteria
  • Disturbance
  • Management
  • Microphytic
  • Stenodactylus doriae

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Earth-Surface Processes

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