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Gutterman Y, Golan T, Garsani M. Porcupine diggings as a unique ecological system in a desert environment. Oecologia. 1990;85(1):122-127doi: 10.1007/BF00317352.
Gutterman, Y., Golan, T., & Garsani, M. (1990). Porcupine diggings as a unique ecological system in a desert environment. Oecologia, 85(1), 122-127. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317352
Gutterman, Y, et al. "Porcupine diggings as a unique ecological system in a desert environment." Oecologia vol. 85,1 (1990): 122-127. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317352
Gutterman Y, Golan T, Garsani M. Porcupine diggings as a unique ecological system in a desert environment. Oecologia. 1990 Nov;85(1):122-127. doi: 10.1007/BF00317352. PMID: 28310964.
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Oecologia. 1990 Nov;85(1):122-127. doi: 10.1007/BF00317352.

Porcupine diggings as a unique ecological system in a desert environment.

Oecologia

Y Gutterman, T Golan, M Garsani

Affiliations

  1. The Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research and Department of Biology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker Campus, 84993, Israel.
  2. Department of Biology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

PMID: 28310964 DOI: 10.1007/BF00317352

Abstract

The influence of porcupine diggings upon annual vegetation on a north-facing hillslope in the Negev Desert, Israel, has been observed for some 10 years. It was found that within the porcupine diggins there are changes over time in terms of species richness, plant density and plant biomass, and that such changes take place in three stages. During the initial growing season (stage 1), species richness, plant density and plant biomass are lower than in the surrounding non-disturbed area, followed by progressive plant succession. Subsequently, a maximum level is attained when a dig becomes 50-60% filled in (stage 2). As the extent of filling exceeds 60%, a decrease in species richness, plant density and plant biomass is observed (stage 3). This process concurs with models derived in other ecosystems with animals that create surface disturbances. The role of porcupine diggings as a model of disturbance and recovery is discussed.

Keywords: Desert annual plants, pioneers and remnants; Ecological disturbance; Porcupine diggins; Succession of annual plants

References

  1. Oecologia. 1981 Jan;51(3):332-334 - PubMed

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