P. Kutiel et al., Vegetation response to possible scenarios of rainfall variations along a Mediterranean-extreme arid climatic transect, J ARID ENV, 44(3), 2000, pp. 277-290
The vegetation response to variation in rainfall totals along a climatic tr
ansect extending from a Mediterranean region to an extreme arid region was
studied. A curvilinear relationship was suggested between annual rainfall,
species richness, species diversity and dominance. The maximum number of sp
ecies was calculated to be in the range of 900-950 mm, the maximum diversit
y between 750 and 800 mm, and the minimum dominance in the range of 600-700
mm. Annual species decrease logarithmically from the extreme desert to the
Mediterranean region with a parallel increase of perennial herbaceous and
woody plants. Wet and dry scenarios are considered as a framework to evalua
te future vegetation responses to possible climate change. (C) 2000 Academi
c Press.