DOCSLIB.ORG

Late Quaternary Vegetation History and Climate Change in the Gobi Desert, South Mongolia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

GÖTTINGER ZENTRUM FÜR BIODIVERSITÄTSFORSCHUNG UND ÖKOLOGIE GÖTTINGEN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY LATE QUATERNARY VEGETATION HISTORY AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE GOBI DESERT, SOUTH MONGOLIA Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultäten der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen vorgelegt von Waheed Murad (M.Phil.) aus Dargai, Pakistan Göttingen, June, 2011 LATE QUATERNARY VEGETATION HISTORY AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE GOBI DESERT, SOUTH MONGOLIA By Waheed Murad The Dissertation is submitted to Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Palynology and Climate Dynamics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Department of Palynology and Climate Dynamics, Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology (GCBE), University of Göttingen, Germany 2011 Supervisory Committee: Supervisor: Prof. Hermann Behling Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences Department of Palynology and Climate Dynamics University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen, Germany Co-supervisor 1: Prof. Markus Hauck Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Research University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen, Germany Co-supervisor 2: Dr. Frank Schlütz Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences Department of Palynology and Climate Dynamics University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2 37073 Göttingen, Germany Dedication I dedicate my research work to My parents I can’t repay the lessons that you taught when I was small Or give you gift for gift the daily treasures I recall I can’t return encouragement and loving words of praise In quite the way you did for me through all my childhood days But there is one gift that I can give., it’s all the love you’ve earned For love is what you always taught. And love is what I learned. My uncles and my cousins Abdul Rauf, Said Bacha, Nowsherawan, Muhammad zahir and Arshad iqbal who are no more alive to see me prosperous. I shall say for them; everything that has a beginning has an ending. ALLAH keeps their souls in peace and hope that all will be well at their eternal lives You never said we are leaving you never said good bye you were gone before I knew it and only ALLAH knew why Table of Contents: Title Page No Foreword…………………………………………………………………... i Acknowledegment ………………………………………………………... ii Abstract ………………………………………………………………........ iii Chapter 1 - General Introduction 1.1. Palaeo-climate research background ………………………………………… 1 1.2. Research goals and study outline……………………………………….......... 2 1.3. General features ……………………………………………………………… 4 1.3.1. Location……………………………………………………………… 4 1.3.2. Soil……………………………………………………........................ 4 1.3.3. Water resources………………………………………………………. 4 1.3.4. Climate……………………………………………………………….. 5 1.3.5. Vegetation……………………………………………………………. 6 1.4. Sediment coring sites…………………………………………………………. 8 1.5. Materials and methods ………………………………...................................... 9 1.5.1. Field work……………………………………………………………. 9 1.5.2. Laboratory work…………………………………………………….... 10 1.5.3. Radiocarbon dating…………………………………………………... 10 1.5.4. Identification of pollen and spores………………………………….... 10 1.5.5. Data presentation…………………………………………………...... 11 1.6. Pollen climate indices………………………………………………………… 11 1.6.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………... 11 1.6.2. Methodology…………………………………………………………. 13 1.6.3. General interpretation………………………………………………... 16 1.7. References…………………………………………………………………….. 16 Chapter 2 - First high resolution palynological record of climate history in the late Quaternary from the high continental Gobi desert of Mongolia (Manuscript 1) …………………………………….................................... 21 2.1. Abstract ………………………………………………………………............. 21 2.2. Introduction ……………………………………………………………........... 21 2.3. Modern climate and vegetation …………………………………………......... 23 2.4. Materials and methods ………………………………………………….......... 24 2.5. Stratigraphy and chronology…………………………………………….......... 25 2.6. Results and interpretation……………………………………………….......... 26 2.7. Discussion ………………………………………………………..................... 31 2.8. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………. 34 2.9. Acknowledgment ……………………………………………………….......... 35 2.10. References …………………………………………………………………... 35 Chapter 3 - Late Quaternary climate and landscape evolution in arid Central Asia: A multiproxy study of lake archive Bayan Tohomiin Nuur, Gobi desert, southern Mongolia (Manuscript 2) ………………. 41 3.1. Abstract ………………………………………………………………............. 41 3.2. Introduction ……………………………………………………………........... 41 3.3. Regional setting ……………………………………………………………… 42 3.4. Materials and methods ……………………………………………………….. 44 3.5. Results …………………………………………………………………........... 45 3.5.1. Chronology ………………………………………………………….. 45 3.5.2. Sediment analysis …………………………………………………… 47 3.5.3. Palynological and ostracod analysis ………………………………… 50 3.6. Discussion …………………………………………………………................. 51 3.6.1. Core interpretation …………………………………………………... 55 3.6.2. Paleoclimatic implications …………………………………………... 56 3.7. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………. 59 3.8. Acknowledgment ………………………………………………….................. 59 3.9. References ………………………………………………………..................... 59 Chapter 4 - High resolution pollen record from lake Orog Nuur, southwestern Mongolia: An evidence for climate change based on pollen proxies during the last 50 ka (Manuscript 3) ………………….. 67 4.1. Abstract……………………………………………………………………….. 67 4.2. Introduction…………………………………………………………………… 67 4.3. Regional setting………………………………………………………………. 68 4.4. Materials and methods………………………………………………………... 72 4.5. Chronology…………………………………………………………………… 73 4.6. Results and interpretation…………………………………………………….. 73 4.7. Discussion…………………………………………………………………….. 79 4.8. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………. 81 4.9. Acknowledgment………………………………………………………........... 82 4.10. References…………………………………………………………………… 82 Chapter 5 - Supplementary studies: Olgoy Nuur (unpublished) Vegetation and climate history of Olgoy Nuur, Central Mongolia during late Glacial to Holocene based on pollen records……………….……………….. 89 5.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………… 89 5.2. Regional setting………………………………………………………………. 90 5.3. Materials and methods………………………………………………………... 90 5.4. Results and interpretation…………………………………………………….. 91 5.5. Acknowledgment………………………………………………………........... 94 5.6. References……………………………………………………………………. 94 Chapter 6 - Supplementary studies: Pollen Key (unpublished) Master key for pollen grain identified from Bayan Tohomiin Nuur, Orog Nuur and Olgoy Nuur, South Mongolia……………………………………... 97 Chapter 7 - Synthesis…………………………………………………………... 103 Appendix I: List of identified pollen, fungal spores, fern spores, algae and zoological remains………………………………………………………. 107 Appendix II: Complete list of pollen and spores diagrams……………………... 119 List of figures Page No Fig. 1.1A: Picture showing Chenopodiaceae desert in the surrounding of BTN 7 Fig. 1.1B: A common plant member of Chenopodiaceae in the study area 7 Fig. 1.2A: Collection of sediment samples from BTN 9 Fig. 1.2B: Collection of sediment samples from ONW 9 Fig.1.3: Grouped pollen percentages of the six pollen groups (S1-S6) from BTN core used in the calculation of pollen-climate indices 14 Fig.1.4: Grouped pollen percentages of the six pollen groups (S1-S6) from ONW sediment samples used in the calculation of pollen-climate indices 14 Fig.1.5: Temperature and moisture indices based on BTN sediment samples 15 Fig. 2.1: Map of Mongolia with investigation site and sites mentioned in the text 22 Fig. 2.2: Age-depth model of the Bayan Tohomiin Nuur site based on a polynomial graph 27 Fig. 2. 3: Pollen and non pollen palynomorphs percentage diagram of BTN 28 Fig. 3.1: Location of the Bayan Tohomiin Nuur 43 Fig. 3.2: Age-depth model of the core Bayan Tohomiin Nuur based on a polynomial graph 47 Fig. 3. 3: Results of the grain size analysis 48 Fig. 3.4: Sedimentological proxies of the Bayan Tohomiin Nuur core 49 Fig. 3.5: Palynological proxies in percentages, ratio, concentration and absolute ostracod abundances 50 Fig. 4. 1: Map of Mongolia with investigation sites mentioned in the text 69 Fig. 4. 2: Map of Mongolia showing the investigation site of our study 71 Fig. 4. 3: Age-depth model of lake Orog Nuur 74 Fig. 4. 4: Pollen and non pollen palynomorphs percentage diagram of Orog Nuur 76 Fig. 5.1: Pollen and non pollen palynomorphs percentage diagram from Olgoy Nuur 92 List of tables Page No Tab. 1.1: Results of the AMS 14C-datings of BTN and ONW and their calendric age-conversion (calibration) with 1 σ standard deviation (SD) 11 Table 1.2: Selected pollen taxa in the pollen groups (S1-S6) used in the calculation of the pollen ratios which were ultimately used for the calculation of temperature index (T) and moisture index (M) 13 Tab. 2.1: Results of the AMS 14C-datings 25 Tab. 2.2: Synopsis of vegetation, landscape and climate evolution at the BTN 32 Tab. 3.1: Results of the AMS 14C-datings 46 Tab. 3.2: Summary of the reconstructed climatic and environmental changes in BTN area 58 Tab. 4.1: Results of the AMS 14C-datings 73 Tab. 4. 2: Synopsis of vegetation and climate evolution at Orog Nuur 80 Plate 1-6: Showing pollen, fungal spores, fern spores, algae, zoological remains and unknown taxa 113-118 Foreword The compilation of this thesis represents my PhD studies at the Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg-August University
Recommended publications
  • Scientific Assessment of Ephedra Species (Ephedra Spp.)

    Scientific Assessment of Ephedra Species (Ephedra Spp.)

    Annex 3 Ref. Ares(2010)892815 – 02/12/2010 Recognising risks – Protecting Health Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Annex 2 to 5-3539-02-5591315 Scientific assessment of Ephedra species (Ephedra spp.) Purpose of assessment The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), in collaboration with the ALS working party on dietary foods, nutrition and classification issues, has compiled a hit list of 10 substances, the consumption of which may pose a health risk. These plants, which include Ephedra species (Ephedra L.) and preparations made from them, contain substances with a strong pharmacological and/or psychoactive effect. The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection has already asked the EU Commission to start the procedure under Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 for these plants and preparations, for the purpose of including them in one of the three lists in Annex III. The assessment applies to ephedra alkaloid-containing ephedra haulm. The risk assessment of the plants was carried out on the basis of the Guidance on Safety Assessment of botanicals and botanical preparations intended for use as ingredients in food supplements published by the EFSA1 and the BfR guidelines on health assessments2. Result We know that ingestion of ephedra alkaloid-containing Ephedra haulm represents a risk from medicinal use in the USA and from the fact that it has now been banned as a food supplement in the USA. Serious unwanted and sometimes life-threatening side effects are associated with the ingestion of food supplements containing ephedra alkaloids. Due to the risks described, we would recommend that ephedra alkaloid-containing Ephedra haulm be classified in List A of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006.
  • M O J a V E D E S E R T I S S U E S a Secondary

    M O J a V E D E S E R T I S S U E S a Secondary

    MOJAVE DESERT ISSUES A Secondary School Curriculum Bruce W. Bridenbecker & Darleen K. Stoner, Ph.D. Research Assistant Gail Uchwat Mojave Desert Issues was funded with a grant from the National Park �� Foundation. Parks as Classrooms is the educational program of the National ����� �� ���������� Park Service in partnership with the National Park Foundation. Design by Amy Yee and Sandra Kaye Published in 1999 and printed on recycled paper ii iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks to the following people for their contribution to this work: Elayn Briggs, Bureau of Land Management Caryn Davidson, National Park Service Larry Ellis, Banning High School Lorenza Fong, National Park Service Veronica Fortun, Bureau of Land Management Corky Hays, National Park Service Lorna Lange-Daggs, National Park Service Dave Martell, Pinon Mesa Middle School David Moore, National Park Service Ruby Newton, National Park Service Carol Peterson, National Park Service Pete Ricards, Twentynine Palms Highschool Kay Rohde, National Park Service Dennis Schramm, National Park Service Jo Simpson, Bureau of Land Management Kirsten Talken, National Park Service Cindy Zacks, Yucca Valley Highschool Joe Zarki, National Park Service The following specialists provided information: John Anderson, California Department of Fish & Game Dave Bieri, National Park Service �� John Crossman, California Department of Parks and Recreation ����� �� ���������� Don Fife, American Land Holders Association Dana Harper, National Park Service Judy Hohman, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Becky Miller, California
  • Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies for Natural Communities Piloting Methods in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts

    Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies for Natural Communities Piloting Methods in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts

    Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies for Natural Communities Piloting methods in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts September 2012 i Prepared by Patrick J. Comer, Chief Ecologist, NatureServe Bruce Young, Director of Species Science, NatureServe Keith Schulz, Regional Vegetation Ecologist, NatureServe Gwen Kittel, Regional Riparian Ecologist, NatureServe Bob Unnasch, Terrestrial Ecologist, Sound Science David Braun, Aquatic Ecologist/Biohydrologist, Sound Science Geoff Hammerson, Research Zoologist, NatureServe Lindsey Smart, Ecologist/Spatial Analyst, NatureServe Healy Hamilton, Climate Scientist/Ecologist, Stephanie Auer, Climate Scientist/Spatial Analyst Regan Smyth, Landscape Ecologist/Spatial Analyst, NatureServe Jon Hak, Ecologist/Spatial Modeler, NatureServe Citation: Comer, P. J., B. Young, K. Schulz, G. Kittel, B. Unnasch, D. Braun, G. Hammerson, L. Smart, H. Hamilton, S. Auer, R. Smyth, and J. Hak.. 2012. Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies for Natural Communities: Piloting methods in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. ii Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction and Project Overview ............................................................................................................... 4 Defining Climate-Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies ........................................................
  • Biome (Desert)- Climate Affecting Soil And

    Biome (Desert)- Climate Affecting Soil And

    With reference to one biome that you have studied, account for the type of climate experienced in this biome and explain how this climate impacts on soils and vegetation within the biome. (80 marks) Marking Scheme: Number of aspects discussed: 3 @ 20 marks each 4 @ 15 marks each For each aspect: Identifying aspect 4 marks 3 marks Discussion 8 x SRPs 6 x SRPs Overall Coherence 20 marks graded* 20 marks graded* In this answer, I choose 3 aspects to discuss (1. Climate, 2. Climate’s impact on soil and, 3. Climate’s impact on vegetation). Overall coherence means how well your answer is structured (Introduction, main section, conclusion – well-structured and coherent) and do you keep to the point/ answer the question directly. Introduction: In this answer I am going to discuss the type of climate experienced in the hot desert biome and how this climate impacts on soils and vegetation within this biome. Biomes are classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment. They are a large geographical area controlled by climate. Therefore the climate of a particular region will affect what type of soil is formed in that biome as well as what types of plants (flora) grow there. The hot desert that I have studied is the North American Desert Biome. Body of Topic: A desert biome can be defined as an arid region that is characterised by little or no rainfall, in which vegetation is scarce or absent, unless it has specially adapted. As a result of its location, between 15º and 30º north of the Equator, the climate of the hot desert biome is hot and dry.
  • The Mediterranean Climate: an Overview of the Main Characteristics and Issues

    The Mediterranean Climate: an Overview of the Main Characteristics and Issues

    Introduction The Mediterranean Climate: An Overview of the Main Characteristics and Issues P. Lionello,1 P. Malanotte-Rizzoli,2 R. Boscolo,3 P. Alpert,4 V. Artale,5 L. Li,6 J. Luterbacher,7 W. May,10 R. Trigo,8 M. Tsimplis,9 U. Ulbrich11 and E. Xoplaki7 1Department of Material Sciences, University of Lecce, Italy, [email protected] 2Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, [email protected] 3ICPO, UK and Spain, [email protected] 4Tel Aviv University, Israel, [email protected] 5ENEA, Roma, Italy, [email protected] 6Laboratory of Dynamical Meteorology CNRS, Paris, France, [email protected] 7Institute of Geography and NCCR Climate, University of Bern and NCCR Climate, Switzerland, [email protected], [email protected] 8University of Lisbon, Portugal, [email protected] 9National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK, [email protected] 10Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark, [email protected] 11Freie Universita¨t Berlin, Germany, [email protected] 1. The Mediterranean Region: Climate and Characteristics The Mediterranean Region has many morphologic, geographical, historical and societal characteristics, which make its climate scientifically interesting. The purpose of this introduction is to summarize them and to introduce the material extensively discussed in the succeeding chapters of this book. The connotation of ‘‘Mediterranean climate’’ is included in the qualitative classification of the different types of climate on Earth (e.g. Ko¨ppen, 1936) and it has been used to define the climate of other (generally smaller) regions besides that of the Mediterranean region itself. The concept of ‘‘Mediterranean’’ climate is characterized by mild wet winters and warm to hot, dry summers and may occur on the west side of continents between about 30 and 40 latitude.
  • Outdoor Comfort: Hot Desert and Cold Winter Cities

    Outdoor Comfort: Hot Desert and Cold Winter Cities

    Arch. &Comport. I Arch. & Behav., Vol. 10, no 1, p. 73 - 94 73 Outdoor Comfort : Hot Desert and Cold Winter Cities Madis Pihlak Landscape Architecture Program Department of Horticulture University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742-5611 U.S.A. Summary Cities of extreme climate highlight the need for climate sensitive urban design at the site design scale. Relatively inexpensive energy costs have allowed cities as different climatically as Edmonton, Alberta and Phoenix, Arizona to develop more or less in the same manner. Both cities ignore their unique climate and thus any potential to capitalize on their unique characteristics. Both the Sonoran Desert and the high Canadian Prairie are starkly beautiful natural places. By using site design principles which maximize the positive aspects and minimize the negative aspects of each climate type, both cities could develop as uniquely beautiful and comfortable urban places. Most of the literature to date has focused on interior architectural issues of energy conservation or interior comfort. Some urban planning work has focused on the general issue of climate sensitive urban design. There is need for further research with extreme climate cities to develop site level outdoor design principles which will improve everyday comfort within hot desert and cold winter cities. Resume Les villes jouissant d'un climat extreme mettent en Cvidence l'importance d'une planification qui tiendrait compte de cet aspect. Le cofit relativement bas de l'tnergie a permis B des villes aussi diffkrentes sur le plan du climat qu'Edmonton, Alberta, et Phoenix, Arizona, de se dtvelopper de manikre assez semblable. Ces deux villes ne tiennent pas compte du fait qu'elles jouissent d'un climat unique et nCgligent donc toute possibilitC de profiter de cet aspect.
  • Precipitation History and Ecosystem Response to Multidecadal Precipitation Variability in the Mojave Desert Region, 1893–2001

    Precipitation History and Ecosystem Response to Multidecadal Precipitation Variability in the Mojave Desert Region, 1893–2001

    ARTICLE IN PRESS Journal of Arid Environments Journal of Arid Environments 67 (2006) 13–34 www.elsevier.com/locate/jaridenv Precipitation history and ecosystem response to multidecadal precipitation variability in the Mojave Desert region, 1893–2001 R. HerefordÃ,1, R.H. Webb, C.I. Longpre´ US Geological Survey, 2255 North Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001, USA; 520 North Park Avenue Tucson, AZ 85719, USA Abstract Precipitation varied substantially in the Mojave Desert through the 20th century in a manner broadly similar to the other warm North American deserts. Episodes of drought and prolonged dry conditions (1893–1904, ca. 1942–1975, and 1999-present) alternated with relatively wet periods (1905–ca. 1941 and ca. 1976–1998), probably because of global-scale climate fluctuations. These are the El Nin˜o-Southern Oscillation that affects interannual climate and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation that evidently causes decadal-scale variability such as prolonged dry and wet episodes. Studies done in the late 20th century demonstrate that precipitation fluctuations affected populations of perennial vegetation, annuals, and small herbivores. Landscape rephotography reveals that several species, particularly creosote bush, increased in size and density during the ca. 1976–1998 wet period. A brief, intense drought from 1989 to 1991 and the ongoing drought caused widespread mortality of certain species; for example, chenopods and perennial grasses suffered up to 100% mortality. Drought pruning, the shedding of above-ground biomass to reduce carbon allocation, increased substantially during drought. Overall, drought had the greatest influence on the Mojave Desert ecosystem. r 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Keywords: Mojave desert; Precipitation variability; ENSO; PDO; Desert ecosystem ÃCorresponding author.
  • Agriculture Project in India: Hypothetical Agriculture Project for India1

    Agriculture Project in India: Hypothetical Agriculture Project for India1

    Climate and Disaster Risk Screening Report for Agriculture Project in India: Hypothetical Agriculture Project for India1 1 This is the output report from applying the World Bank Group's Climate and Disaster Risk Screening Project Level Tool. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed from applying this tool are those of the individual that applied the tool and should be in no way attributed to the World Bank, to its affiliated institutions, to the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the information included in the screening and this associated output report and accepts no liability for any consequence of its use. 1/11 1. Introduction The project level Climate and Disaster Risks Screening Tool provides due diligence on climate and disaster risks at an early concept stage. The tool uses an exposure - sensitivity - adaptive capacity framework to consider and characterize risks from climate and geophysical hazards, based on key components of a project and its broader development context (Annex 1). The tool helps inform consultation, dialogue, and further work to be done in the course of project design. The results of applying the project level tool to screen for climate and disaster risks for "Hypothetical Agriculture Project" in India are summarized below. 2/11 2. Climate and Disaster Risk Screening Results Summary 2.1 Project Information Summary Table 1 below provides key project information. Table 1: Project Information Project Information
  • Watermelons Quench the Great Thirst Social Studies

    Watermelons Quench the Great Thirst Social Studies

    Watermelons Quench the Great Thirst Grades 5-6 Kalahari is derived from the Tswana word “Kgalagadi”, meaning, “the great thirst”. It is the ancestral land of the Bushmen, nomadic hunter-gatherers, who are thought to be the first inhabitants of southern Africa. Subject: Geography 1. Ask students to locate Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, and the Kalahari Desert on their maps. Objective: Students should be able to 2. Explain the term climate and climate groups. (Climate means the average weather conditions begin identifying different of a specific area. The earth has many different climate zones. Climatologists organize similar climate zones. types of climates into groups, based on a region’s vegetation and weather.) Materials: 3. Ask students to try to describe the Kalahari Desert. What is the climate like? Write their Political maps of Africa, descriptions on the board. watermelon 4. Describe the Kalahari Desert’s climate and the term semi-arid. The Kalahari Desert is a Lesson: semi-arid area. (Semi-arid and desert climates occur in regions that have little or no rainfall. Give maps to students and tell The temperature changes drastically from morning to evening.) The Kalahari Desert has vast them you will be discussing areas of red-brown sand and no permanent surface water. It is not really a desert though the climate zones of the because it receives over 250 mm of rainfall annually and has vegetation in some parts. Kalahari Desert and Egypt, where watermelons originated 5. Share the following with the students. The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred and were first harvested.
  • The First Record of Ephedra Distachya L. (Ephedraceae, Gnetophyta) in Serbia - Biogeography, Coenology, and Conservation

    The First Record of Ephedra Distachya L. (Ephedraceae, Gnetophyta) in Serbia - Biogeography, Coenology, and Conservation

    42 (1): (2018) 123-138 Original Scientific Paper The first record of Ephedra distachya L. (Ephedraceae, Gnetophyta) in Serbia - Biogeography, coenology, and conservation - Marjan Niketić Natural History Museum in Belgrade, Njegoševa 51, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia ABSTRACT: During floristic investigations of eastern Serbia (foothills of the Stara Planina Mountains near Minićevo, Turjačka Glama hill), Ephedra distachya (Ephedraceae) was discovered as a species new for the vascular flora of Serbia. An overview of the family, genus, and species is given in the present paper. In addition, two phytocoenological relevés recorded in the species habitat are classified at the alliance level. The IUCN threatened status of the population in Serbia is assessed as Critically Endangered. Keywords: Ephedra distachya, Ephedraceae, new record, Stara Planina Mountains, flora of Serbia Received: 13 September 2017 Revision accepted: 28 November 2017 UDC: 497.11:581.95 DOI: INTRODUCTION Stevenson (1993), and Fu et al. (1999). The distribution of E. distachya in the Southeast Europe is mapped on a In spite of continuous and intensive investigations of 50×50 km MGRS grid system (Lampinen 2001) based the Serbian flora at the end of the 20th century (Josifo- on the species distribution map in the Atlas Florae Euro- vić 1970-1977; Sarić & Diklić 1986; Sarić 1992; Ste- paeae (Jalas & Suominen 1973) and supplemented and/ vanović 1999), numerous new species and even higher or confirmed by chrorological records from Stoyanov taxa were recorded in the past two decades (Stevanović (1963), Horeanu & Viţalariu (1992), Christensen 2015). Last year, Ephedra distachya L. − a relict species (1997), Sanda et al. (2001), Tzonev et al.
  • The First Record of Ephedra Distachya L. (Ephedraceae, Gnetophyta) in Serbia - Biogeography, Coenology, and Conservation

    The First Record of Ephedra Distachya L. (Ephedraceae, Gnetophyta) in Serbia - Biogeography, Coenology, and Conservation

    42 (1): (2018) 123-138 Original Scientific Paper The first record of Ephedra distachya L. (Ephedraceae, Gnetophyta) in Serbia - Biogeography, coenology, and conservation - Marjan Niketić Natural History Museum in Belgrade, Njegoševa 51, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia ABSTRACT: During floristic investigations of eastern Serbia (foothills of the Stara Planina Mountains near Minićevo, Turjačka Glama hill), Ephedra distachya (Ephedraceae) was discovered as a species new for the vascular flora of Serbia. An overview of the family, genus, and species is given in the present paper. In addition, two phytocoenological relevés recorded in the species habitat are classified at the alliance level. The IUCN threatened status of the population in Serbia is assessed as Critically Endangered. Keywords: Ephedra distachya, Ephedraceae, new record, Stara Planina Mountains, flora of Serbia Received: 13 September 2017 Revision accepted: 28 November 2017 UDC: 497.11:581.95 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1173568 INTRODUCTION Stevenson (1993), and Fu et al. (1999). The distribution of E. distachya in the Southeast Europe is mapped on a In spite of continuous and intensive investigations of 50×50 km MGRS grid system (Lampinen 2001) based the Serbian flora at the end of the 20th century (Josifo- on the species distribution map in the Atlas Florae Euro- vić 1970-1977; Sarić & Diklić 1986; Sarić 1992; Ste- paeae (Jalas & Suominen 1973) and supplemented and/ vanović 1999), numerous new species and even higher or confirmed by chrorological records from Stoyanov taxa were recorded in the past two decades (Stevanović (1963), Horeanu & Viţalariu (1992), Christensen 2015). Last year, Ephedra distachya L. − a relict species (1997), Sanda et al.
  • Energy Content, Storage Substances, and Construction and Maintenance Costs of Mediterranean Deciduous Leaves

    Energy Content, Storage Substances, and Construction and Maintenance Costs of Mediterranean Deciduous Leaves

    Oecologia (1989) 81 :528-533 Decologia Q Springer-Verlag 1989 Energy content, storage substances, and construction and maintenance costs of Mediterranean deciduous leaves l 1 2 S. Diamantoglou , S. Rhizopoulou , and U. Kul1 I rnstitute of General Botany, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis G R~15784 Athens, Greece 2 fliologisches instilut, Universitiit Stuttgart, 0-7000 Stuttgart 80, Federal Republic of Gcnnany Summary. AI monthly intcrvals water conlent, crude fibre, struetion cost values for leaves of deciduous chaparral total and protein nitrogen, sugars, starch, total lipids, ash shrubs, Merino et al. (1982, 1984) found higher values for content and calorific tolal energy were measured through­ drought deciduous leaves than for evergreen leaves. Wil­ out the lifespan of the leaves of the dcciduous mediterra­ liams et al. (1987) confmncd these findings using their own nean shrubs Pistacia terebinthus L. and Cotinus coggygria method of calculation of the construction cost. Our earlier Scop. From these data the construction costs and mainte­ investigations of the seasonal trends of storage substances nance costs, as well as the construction costs of non-storage we re confined to evergrcen species (Diamantoglou and Kull compounds and energy expenditure values we re calculated. 1982, 1988; Diamantoglou et al. 1989). In this paper, we The latter values were also calculated for the evergreen report on the slorage compounds and the energy content stemmed shrub Ephedra distachya for reasons of compari­ of two deciduous shrubs, Pistacia terebilllhus and Co /inus son with an evergreen mediterranean species. The water coggygria. of the European mediterranean vegetation. Ac-­ status in the deciduous leaves is stable for a long time during cording to the methods of Williams et al.