What happens if we remove shrub islands or reverse desertification?
:What happens if we remove shrub islands or reverse desertification? Jim Brown et al. removed kangaroo rats from desert scrub. The shrubs are still there, but the grasses have returned to the spaces between the shrubs. There was no effect on the distribution of N, which continues to be concentrated under the shrubs. P and Cl became near-random. Data for removal of rats experiment :Data for removal of rats experiment Characteristics of shrub islands :Characteristics of shrub islands Inflitration rates are higher beneath the shrubs Erosion rates are higher in the barren interspaces Greater microbial biomass under the shrubs Effects on global cycles More aerosols in the atmosphere Increased albedo Higher soil temperature Conclusions :Conclusions Vegetation affects the distribution of soil nutrients Beneath desert shrubs, nutrients are concentrated in “islands of fertility” The invasion of shrubs leads to the formation of these islands and leads to further desertification This leads to inc
