@proceedings {50592,
	title = {Natural (and Managed) Islands of  Hydrologically Enhanced Biotic Productivity in Arid Zones},
	volume = {86},
	year = {2005},
	month = {May 23-27, 2005},
	pages = {CDROM A33A-02},
	abstract = {Numerous physical characteristics influence runoff generation in arid regions such as the Jornada basin of southern New Mexico. Factors causing high spatial variations of water in deserts include precipitation, soil, physiography, and vegetation characteristics. The inherent heterogeneity of these characteristics in arid zones causes discontinuous areas of runoff and run-on which creates islands of hydrologically enhanced biotic productivity. These hydrologic islands are observed at the plant scale where they coincide with islands of fertility or resource islands. At the larger scale the islands of hydrologically enhanced biotic productivity can be observed as banded vegetation, beaded drainage networks, and playitas and playas. In the rehabilitation of degraded rangelands it is wise to mimic the natural processes which tend to slow down surface flow and allow time for infiltration, thus creating areas of high vegetation productivity. There have been several successful attempts in the Jornada basin to establish spatial discontinuities of water and vegetation similar to natural occurring patterns. The most successful treatments so far have been shallow, water ponding dikes and water spreaders.},
	keywords = {biotic, hydrologically, managed, natural},
	author = {A. Rango and S. Tartowski and Andrea S. Laliberte and A.J. Parsons and John Wainwright}
}
