@book {JRN55181, title = {Exploring a Desert Experiences of an Ecologist/Naturalist in a New Mexico Desert}, year = {2017}, pages = {189}, abstract = {

The book focuses on the ecology of the northern Chihuahuan Desert with chapters on geomorphology, landscapes, climate, vegetation,(special chapters on Creosotebush and Mesquite) mammals, reptiles, ephemeral aquatic systems, ants, termites, insects on plants, ground dwelling arthropods, and soil fauna. Descriptions of studies and field experiments are provided to show how the information was obtained.

}, keywords = {ants, climate, creosotebush, ecology, ephemeral aquatic systems, geomorphology, ground dwelling arthropods, insects on plants, landscapes, mammals, mesquite, northern Chihuahuan Desert, reptiles, soil fauna., termites, vegetation}, url = {files/bibliography/17-Whitford_Exploring-a-Desert.pdf}, author = {Walter G. Whitford} } @article {51348, title = {Dung decomposition and pedoturbation in a seasonally dry tropical pasture}, journal = {Biology and Fertility of Soils}, volume = {23}, year = {1996}, month = {August 1996}, pages = {177-181}, abstract = {

Rates of dung decomposition and the associated accumulation of soil transported to the surface were compared for dung deposited during a dry and a wet season in a Costa Rican pasture. Average decomposition rates for the first 140 days after deposition were significantly lower for dung patches deposited at the beginning of the dry season than for patches deposited at the beginning of the wet season (0.73 vs. 1.50 g/day-1 on a dry weight basis). A strong linear relationship was found between dung removal and soil accumulation at the original soil surface, with an average of 2.0 g soil accumulated for every gram of dung which was removed. This relationship was not affected by deposition season. The lack of a seasonal difference, along with the relatively low decomposition rates during the wet season, were explained by the dominance of termites in the dung patches throughout the year. Evidence of dung beetle activity was never recorded during the dry season and was found in only 18 of the 45 dung patches recovered during the wet season.

}, keywords = {Cattle dung, decomposition, Pedoturbation, soil restoration, termites, Tropical pastures}, doi = {10.1007/BF00336060}, url = {/files/bibliography/491.pdf}, author = {Jeffrey E. Herrick and Lal, L.} } @article {51378, title = {The importance of the biodiversity of soil biota in arid ecosystems}, journal = {Biodiversity and Conservation}, volume = {5}, year = {1996}, month = {1996}, pages = {185-195}, abstract = {

The importance of soil biota in maintaining ecosytem integrity is examined by a review of studies of soil processes and soil biota in arid ecosystems. In decomposition and mineralization processes, there is a temporal succession of microarthropod and nematode species. Tydeid mites are keystone species in the early stages of decomposition. Soil pore neck size variation affects the spatial distribution of soil biota and requires that species differ in size to provide efficient processing of organic matter. In arid ecosystems, the sub-set of soil biota that is active at any point in time is determined by the soil water potential and soil temperature. The structure of soil microarthropod assemblages is similar in several arid regions of the world and abundance and diversity are directly related to quantity of litter accumulations and soil organic matter. The unique life histories and behavioural characteristics of desert soil macrofauna (termites and ants) determine the effects of these organisms on soil properties and soil formation. The soil biota, by affecting the spatial and temporal distribution of essential sesources (water and nutrients), are essential to the maintenance of the ecosystem integrity of arid ecosystems.

}, keywords = {ants, diversity, functional groups, keystone species, microarthropods, nematodes, protozoans, termites}, doi = {DOI: 10.1007/BF00055829}, url = {/files/bibliography/504.pdf}, author = {Walter G. Whitford} } @article {51787, title = {The effects of nitrogen, water and sulfur amendments on surface litter decomposition in the Chihuahuan Desert}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {12}, year = {1987}, note = {//NMSU//LTER I//Listed in LTER2 proposal as citing LTER1 support//}, month = {1987}, pages = {223-232}, abstract = {

The effects of nitrogen, water and sulfur amendments on the decomposition rates of three types of surface litter in the northern Chihuahuan Desert were evaluated. The amendments had no effects on the decomposition rates of leaf litter from black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and creosotebush (Larrea tridentata). The rate of fluff grass (Erioneuron pulchellum) litter decomposition was increased by water and decreased by sulfur. Water affected fluff grass decomposition by increasing terminate (Gnathamitermes tubiformans) above-ground activity. Sulfur decreased termite activity. These data suggest that the decomposer microflora and microfauna of the northern Chihuahuan Desert are more limited by quantity of organic matter than by water and nitrogen. Hence they do not respond opportunistically to increased availability of such resources.

}, keywords = {article, articles, Bouteloua, decomposition, litter, decomposition, nutrient effects, Erioneuron, Gnathamitermes, journal, journals, Larrea, litter decomposition, nitrogen amendment, sulfur amendment, termites, water amendment}, doi = {10.1016/S0140-1963(18)31166-2}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00062.pdf}, author = {William P. MacKay and F. M. Fisher and Solange Silva and Walter G. Whitford} }