ts
ECOSYSTEMS OF THE WORLD 5
TEMPERATE DESERTS AND
SEMI-DESERTS
Edited by
Neil E. West
Department of Range Science and the Ecology Center
Utah State University
Logan, Utah (U.S.A.)
UNIVERSITATSglBLIOTHEK
ELSEVIER SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHING COMPANY
Amsterdam — Oxford — New York 1983
i
CONTENTS
PREFACE
LIST O F C O N T R I B U T O R S
Chapter 5. MIDDLE ASIAN DESERTS
by H. Walter and E.O. Box
V
. . . .
79
VII
Chapter 1. APPROACH
by N.E. West
1
General geological history
Climatic conditions
Soil formation
Vegetation-soil relationships in Middle Asia . . . .
Production assessments in Middle Asia
References
Definitions
Distribution
Organization of the volume
References
1
1
2
2
Chapter 6. THE KARAKUM DESERT, AN
EXAMPLE OF A WELL-STUDIED
EU-BIOME
by H. Walter and E.O. Box
Chapter 2. OVERVIEW OF EURASIAN
CONTINENTAL DESERTS AND
SEMI-DESERTS
by H. Walter and E.O. Box
3
Introduction
Overview
References
3
3
7
The sand desert Karakum as a landscape-ecological unit
Geology, soils, relief, and river system
Climate
Microclimate
Water balance of the biome, groundwater and salt
conditions
The natural vegetation . . . \
The animals
The decomposers
Interference by man
Production studies in the Karakum
References
Chapter 3. CASPIAN LOWLAND BIOME
by H. Walter and E.O. Box
9
Section 1. Introduction
Section II. Continental deserts and semi-deserts of Eurasia
Climatic conditions
Geology and geomorphology
Northern semi-desert subbiome
Southern sand-desert subbiome
Interference of man in the Caspian Lowland . . . .
The Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and delta
References
Chapter 4. SEMI-DESERTS AND DESERTS
OF CENTRAL KAZAKHSTAN
by H. Walter and E.O. Box
General situation
Climatic conditions
Geology and geomorphology
Components of the ecosystems
Investigation of the ecosystems
Investigation of the ecosystems in the northern Aral
lowland
References
Chapter 7. THE OROBIOMES OF MIDDLE ASIA
by H. Walter and E.O. Box
9
9
14
31
35
39
40
General description. .
The altitudinal sequence of the northern Tien Shan .
The sequence of altitudinal belts without forests . .
Ecological interpretation of the altitudinal sequence
without forests
The altitudinal sequence of the central Tien Shan .
The altitudinal sequence of the western Tien Shan .
Phytomass and production of the high-mountain
vegetation
References
43
43
43
44
46
54
71
78
IX
79
81
82
83
100
104
105
105
106
109
110
Ill
115
138
144
144
148
157
161
.
.
161
164
168
.
.
172
174
175
184
191
Chapter 8. THE DESERTS OF CENTRAL ASIA
by H. Walter and E.O. Box with coverage of
the Gobi by W. Hilbig
193
General description
Dzungaria
Geobotanical subdivisions of Central Asia
References
193
195'
196
235
CONTENTS
Chapter 9. THE PAMIR — AN ECOLOGICALLY
WELL-STUDIED HIGH-MOUNTAIN
DESERT BIOME
by H. Walter and E.O. Box
237
General subdivision
~
Climate
The vegetation
Biological-ecological studies in Pamir
Agricultural use
Production estimates from the high-mountain desert .
References
237
238
239
245
256
265
268
Chapter 10. THE TEMPERATE DESERTS AND
SEMI-DESERTS OF AFGHANISTAN
AND IRAN
by S.-W. Breckle
271
Main types and geographical distribution
Physico-geographical features
The vegetation . . -,
Animals . . . . ' '
Human impacts
Nature conservation
References
271
271
281
308
313
315
316
r
Chapter 13. WESTERN INTERMOUNTAIN
SAGEBRUSH STEPPE
by N.E. West
- . - . . . .
351
Definition
Geographic location
Extent
Current ownership and dominant uses
Ecosystem structure and function
Ecosystem interactions
Land-use history
The future
References
351
351
352
352
353
362
363
369
369
Chapter 14.
.
INTERMOUNTAIN SALT-DESERT
SHRUBLAND
by N.E.West
Definition of type
Geographical location
Extent
Current ownership and dominant uses
Ecosystem structure and function
Ecosystem interactions
Land-use history
Other problems
The future
References
375
375
375
376
376
376
389
390
393
394
394
Section III. North American temperate deserts and semideserts
Chapter 15.
Chapter 11. OVERVIEW OF NORTH AMERICAN
TEMPERATE DESERTS AND SEMIDESERTS
by N.E. West
321
Definitions
Present climate
Paleoecological influences
Regional subdivisions
Ecological subdivisions
References
321
321
323
325
327
327
Chapter 12. GREAT BASIN-COLORADO
PLATEAU SAGEBRUSH SEMIDESERT
by N.E. West
331
Definition
Geographical location
Extent
Ownership and dominant uses
Ecosystem structure and function
Ecosystem interactions
Land-use history
The future
References
331
331
332
332
332
340
341
346
346
COLORADO PLATEAU- "
MOHAVIAN BLACKBRUSH SEMIDESERT
by N.E. West . :
Definition of type
Geographical location
Extent
Current ownership
Dominant uses
Ecosystem structure and function .
Ecosystem interactions
Land-use history
The future
References
Chapter 16.
SOUTHEASTERN UTAH GALLETATHREEAWN SHRUB STEPPE
by N.E. West
Definition of the type and its location
Extent
Current ownership and dominant use
Ecosystem structure and function
Ecosystem interaction
Land-use history
The future
References
399
399
399
400
401
401
401
408
409
410
'411
413
413
413
414
414
419
419
420
420 ;
CONTENTS
XI
Section IV. South American deserts and semi-deserts
Section V. Comparison and contrast between continents
Chapter 17. DESERTS AND SEMI-DESERTS OF
PATAGONIA
by A. Soriano, with sections by
W. Volkheimer, H. Walter, E.O. Box,
A.A. Marcolin, J.A. Vallerini, C.P. Movia,
RJ.C. Leon, J.M. Gallardo, M. Rumboll,
M. Canevari, P. Canevari and W.G. Vasina
Chapter 18. COMPARISONS AND CONTRASTS
BETWEEN THE TEMPERATE
DESERTS AND SEMI-DESERTS OF
THREE CONTINENTS
by N.E. West
461
Introduction
Definitions of ecosystem types
Geographical location
Extent
Ownership and dominant uses
Ecosystem structure and function
Ecosystem interactions
Land use
The future
References
461
461
462
463
463
463
469
470
470
471
AUTHOR INDEX
473
SYSTEMATIC INDEX
479
GENERAL INDEX
507
Introduction (A. Soriano)
Geology of Extra-Andean Patagonia (W. Volkheimer).
Aspects of vegetational history (W. Volkheimer). . .
Paleoclimates (W. Volkheimer)
Climate of Patagonia (H. Walter and E.O. Box) . . .
Soils (A.A. Marcolin and J.A. Vallerini)
Vegetation (A. Soriano, C.P. Movia and R.J.C. Leon) .
Animals (J.M. Gallardo, M. Rumboll, M. Canevari,
P. Canevari and W.G. Vasina)
References
. .
423
423
425
429
430
432
435
440
454
457