research
Development of an Ecohydrological Grazing Strategy to Mitigate Drought Effects in Species-Rich Mediterranean Woodlands Threatened by Climate Change 2018 - 2020
Oaks (Quercus calliprinos) woodlands growing in marginal water limited habitats of Israel are under serious threat of oak decline induced by climate change. Livestock grazing is one of the few tools available for effective, large-scale vegetation management in drylands, but our understanding of the impact of grazing on the water relations, growth and survival of trees under drought is very limited.
Consequences of invasive Prosopis species for ecosystems functioning around the Dead Sea and strategies to prevent future invasions
In many drylands, key invasive plant species belong to the genus Prosopis spp. (mesquite) known to have a negative impact on native biodiversity and on water availability to native trees and shrubs with shallower root system. Moreover, mesquite has a potential to increase soil erosion rates due to modified root structure, and more nitrogen supplied to the newly colonized ecosystems may significantly impair water quality.
