Desert riparian
Desert riparian is a North American desert vegetation type (or biome) occurring in the bottoms of canyons and drainages that have water at or near the surface most of the year.[1] It is contrasted with the desert dry wash vegetation type in which water at or near the surface is lacking most of the year.[1] The visual character is of large, lush, perennial green trees surrounded by dry desert vegetation and soil coloration.[1] The area may be in a patch surrounding a spring (oasis), or in a strand following the course of water flow.[1] The soil in this biome is typically moist and ranges from rocky and sandy to silty alluvial.[2] This biome has seasonal variation, with hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters.[2] Precipitation mostly occurs during the winter, and ranges from 8 to 25 cm each year.[2]
Over 80% of known desert wildlife species use desert riparian areas.[1] Common dominant species include Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina), arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis), Goodding's willow (Salix gooddingii), red willow (Salix laevigata), California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera), and invasive species such as salt cedar (Tamarix ramosissima), giant reed (Arundo donax), and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia).[1] Salt cedar is particularly causing problems for this ecosystem because it is able to extract water more efficiently than cottonwoods and willows.[1] Many noninvasive non-native species may also be found because springs and surface water areas in the desert often were old homesites where such species were intentionally planted, such as elm, black locust, and assorted fruit trees.[1]
The desert riparian plays a large role in the populations of wildlife that inhabit it. Several bird species live within the shrubs, including the American Dipper, Belted Kingfisher, Lesser Scaup, and Flycatchers.[3] The cover provided by the Riparian vegetation provides a suitable environment for the dispersal of birds.[2] Riparian forests store limiting nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate, and plays an important role in nutrient cycling.The riparian vegetation decreases erosion and improves water quality by trapping pollutants.[2]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Pam MacKay, Mojave Desert Wildflowers, 2nd Ed., p. 20-21
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Feller, Walter. "Desert Riparian". mojavedesert.net. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ National Park Service. "Riparian Birds". www.nps.gov/. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
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- Biomes
- Riparian zone
- Deserts and xeric shrublands
- Deserts and xeric shrublands in the United States
- North American desert flora
- Flora of the California desert regions
- Plant communities of California
- Natural history of the Lower Colorado River Valley
- Ecology stubs