Ecology of Arabian deserts

Abstract

An outline of the plant ecology of the Arabian deserts is necessary to understand the role played by plants in the entrapment of sand to build certain dunes and sand mounds, such as parabolic dunes and dikakah, and in stabilization of dunes and inter-dunes. In such arid environments it is remarkable that plants survive, and it is often surprising to see plants spring up and flourish briefly after prolonged intervals, even years, without rainfall in the desert. Since ecology is the scientific study of living organisms, their interrelationship and their relation to the environment, animal com-munities also have a significant role, such as camels and goats introduced by man, as well as the ecological effects of human occupation on fragile desert environments. 5.1 ECOLOGICAL REGIONS OF ARABIA Arabia can be divided into regions of distinctive ecology (Hearn et al., 2003; World Wildlife, 2001). These ecological regions are shown on the map (Fig. 5.1). These ecological regions are briefly described below with emphasis on their vegetation, which has a major effect on the deserts of Arabia. 5.1.1 Arabian desert and East Sahero-Arabian deserts and xeric shrublands