The daily pattern of autumn bird migration in the northern Sahara

The temporal pattern of migration by passerine birds during the night, and their arrival during the day at the Egyptian coast and in the northern Sahara Desert was investigated. The mean direction of nocturnal migration at the coast was south-southeast, while at all desert sites it was south-southwest.
Birds arrived at the Egyptian coast only during the second half of the night which is explained by the fact that no birds could have taken off from the Mediterranean Sea. At least some of the birds landed at the coast where they spent the day before taking off shortly after sunset. These birds passed the desert sites at the expected time of day assuming a ground speed of 18 m per second. However, the origin of the birds passing the desert sites early at night is unclear. They must either have spent the day in the desert north of the study sites or they had overflown the Egyptian coast in the afternoon without landing.
The landing of birds during the day at the desert sites was bimodal. This pattern of arrival is explained either by some birds having landed at the Egyptian coast in the early morning before continuing, or by deteriorating conditions later in the day during flight or when resting in the desert, that obliged them to seek shelter at the desert sites.
A correlation between the number of migrants observed during the night and the number of resting birds in the desert on the following day suggests that an unknown proportion of birds might regularly use an intermittent migratory strategy that includes rest periods by day when crossing the desert, whereas others might adapt a non-stop migratory strategy.     

Eco-physiological studies on desert plants

Summary The Egyptian Zygophyllum species, though limited in number, contribute in considerable measure to the desert vegetation. They represent a group of succulent plants which are drought resistant or salt tolerant living under severe dry climatic conditions. Their abundance is attributed to these characteristics in addition to their unpalatibility.The distribution of the studied species is deduced from the data collected by the present authors and others working in the Egyptian desert. The growth and distribution of some Zygophyllum species are dependant on the chemical nature of the substratum. Z. occineum is a widespread species in the limestone territories of the Eastern desert. Z. decumbens is confined to a limited area within the borders of the area inhabited by Z. coccineum. Z. album is a salt tolerant plant with wide geographical range growing in dry littoral or inland salt marshes. Z. simplex, the only ephemeral species, has wide geographical and ecological ranges. The soil carbonate content does not exercise any significant effect on its distribution though it is more ecologically related to Z. occineum than the other species. Z. decumbens is ecologically related to Z. coccineum, while Z. album has its own ecological amplitude.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of two natural N-acetylglucosamine-bearing triterpenoid saponins: lotoidoside D and E

Two natural triterpenoid saponins bearing N-acetylglucosamine, lotoidoside D and lotoidoside E, which had been available only from Glinus lotoides growing in Egyptian desert, were facilely synthesized from readily available oleanolic acid. Preliminary pharmacological research showed their antitumor activity against HeLa cell.     

XXXV.—A Contribution to the Ornithology of the Libyan Desert.

The Libyan Desert is described and the specimens collected in the interior by British and Italian workers are listed. Among the otherwise very scanty resident population Falcons are surprisingly abundant. The evidence for migration across the desert is reviewed for each longitude. The Cyrenaican list of passage migrants closely resembles the Egyptian list without its eastern elements. I conclude that a broad-front migration of northern forms takes place at least from long. 21° to long. 31° (600 miles) and that a large proportion of all the birds travelling through N.E. Africa see nothing of the Nile. The new data for several individual forms are discussed, especially Storks and Shrikes.     

Habitat use,but not gene flow,is influenced by human activities in two ecotypes of Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)

Understanding the ecological, behavioural and evolutionary response of organisms to changing environments is of primary importance in a human‐altered world. It is crucial to elucidate how human activities alter gene flow and what are the consequences for the genetic structure of a species. We studied two lineages of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) throughout the contact zone between mesic and arid Ecozones in the Middle East to evaluate the species' response to the growing proportion of human‐altered habitats in the desert. We integrated population genetics, morphometrics and movement ecology to analyse population structure, morphological variation and habitat use from GPS‐ or radio‐tagged individuals from both desert and Mediterranean areas. We classified the spatial distribution and environmental stratification by describing physical–geographical conditions and land cover. We analysed this information to estimate patch occupancy and used an isolation‐by‐resistance approach to model gene flow patterns. Our results suggest that lineages from desert and Mediterranean habitats, despite their admixture, are isolated by environment and by adaptation supporting their classification as ecotypes. We found a positive effect of human‐altered habitats on patch occupancy and habitat use of fruit bats by increasing the availability of roosting and foraging areas. While this commensalism promotes the distribution of fruit bats throughout the Middle East, gene flow between colonies has not been altered by human activities. This discrepancy between habitat use and gene flow patterns may, therefore, be explained by the breeding system of the species and modifications of natal dispersal patterns.     

A new preferential medium for enumeration and isolation of desert actinomycetes

In order to facilitate the discovery of novel actinomycetes from the Egyptian deserts, which can be useful as new sources for bioactive metabolites, different media for enumeration and isolation of desert actinomycetes have been tested. For this purpose, 30 soil samples from different six sites representing the Western and Eastern deserts of Egypt were collected. The two deserts are considered hyper-arid and the soil characteristics were determined. The media used were glucose–yeast extract agar, soil extract agar and a new minimal medium (MM) containing glucose, yeast extract and mineral salts. The effects of the soil characteristics on the total viable actinomycete counts on the three media were evaluated. The results showed that the highest actinomycete count in samples from five out of six sites was obtained on MM. Also MM was more selective for actinomycetes and significantly decreased the number of fungal colonies and to a lower extent the number of bacterial colonies. Moreover, it supported the development of different and diverse groups of actinomycetes. From the results obtained in this study, MM is a new useful medium for enumeration and selective isolation of actinomycetes from the desert soils.     

Patterns in the local assembly of Egyptian rodent faunas: Areography and species combinations

We implicate ecological processes in assembly patterns of Egyptian desert rodents using spatial variation of distribution and composition of local assemblages. We also compare our assemblages to prior analyses of North American and Australian small mammal communities in terms of species richness and representation of trophic groups.We studied patterns of occurrence of 29 rodent species among 335 collecting events in 308 sites using museum specimen records resulting from a country-wide survey. The studied taxa vary greatly in their natural histories and ecology. Fully 69% of studied species (20) were localized in 30 or fewer sites (9% of all sites). Site incidence was closely correlated with the geographic range size of species, while local abundance of a species showed little relationship to its geographic range. The species richness of local assemblages ranged from a lone species at 73 sites to 11 species at 3 sites. A total of 214 different combinations were recorded of which 164 (77%) were unique to a single site. G. gerbillus was both the most abundant and most ubiquitous species. Coexistence with other species was positively correlated with incidence and geographic range size. Body mass distribution was remarkably uniform for the fauna as a whole, and influenced the geographic distributions and abundance of individual species.Our sites have low species richness and substantial variability in species composition, which also characterize desert rodent communities elsewhere. Habitat requirements, exclusive distributions of sibling species, low primary productivity, and Egypt's location all influenced species assembly. The Egyptian and Australian deserts supported higher proportions of low richness assemblages compared to North America. As in North America, Egyptian sites were dominated by granivorous species.     

民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带植物群落数量分类和排序研究

绿洲-荒漠过渡带作为绿洲与荒漠的连接区域,在干旱区生态环境退化与恢复研究中具有重要意义。该研究以民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带为例,在47个植物群落调查样地的基础上,应用双向指示种分类法(TWINSPAN)和除趋势对应分析法(DCA)对研究区典型植物群落进行数量分类和排序,并讨论了影响植物群落类型及空间分布的环境因子。结果表明:(1)研究区植物群落结构简单,植物种以旱生耐盐植物为主。(2)TWINSPAN分类将研究区的植物群落划分为11个群丛类型,即白刺+盐生草群丛、白刺+芦苇群丛、白刺+盐爪爪群丛、盐爪爪+黑果枸杞群丛等,分类结果在空间上反映了民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带植物群落的演替变化趋势。(3)DCA排序结果验证了TWINSPAN分类结果的合理性,同时指出制约民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带植物群落类型及空间分布的重要环境因子是地下水埋深和地貌形态。     

Opportunities for woody crop production using treated wastewater in Egypt. II. Irrigation strategies

An Egyptian national program targets annual reuse of 2.4 billion m3 of treated wastewater (TWW) to irrigate 84,000 ha of manmade forests in areas close to treatment plants and in the desert. To evaluate the feasibility of such afforestation efforts, we describe information about TWW irrigation strategies based on (1) water use of different tree species, (2) weather conditions in different climate zones of Egypt, (3) soil types and available irrigation systems, and (4) the requirement to avoid deep percolation losses that could lead to groundwater contamination. We conclude that drip irrigation systems are preferred, that they should in most cases use multiple emitters per tree in order to increase wetted area and decrease depth of water penetration, that deep rooting should be encouraged, and that in most situations irrigation system automation is desirable to achieve several small irrigations per day in order to avoid deep percolation losses. We describe directed research necessary to fill knowledge gaps about depth of rooting of different species in sandy Egyptian soils and environments, tree crop coefficients needed for rational irrigation scheduling, and depth of water penetration under different irrigation system designs. A companion paper addresses recommendations for afforestation strategies (see Zalesny et al. 2011, this issue).     

Comparative study of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the Egyptian desert rodent Gerbillus pyramidum and the albino rat.

The hind limb muscles of the Egyptian desert rodent Gerbillus pyramidum and the albino rat were studied macroscopically and microscopically, using ordinary and histochemical techniques. The results revealed a relatively long hind limb and a relatively long tendon of the gastrocnemius group in G. pyramidum as compared with the albino rat. The dark fibres (red) were dominant in the muscles of the former animal and its spindles similarly contained more dense intrafusal fibres than the spindles of the albino rat. The correlation between these findings and the frequency and power of movement of the hind limbs in G. pyramidum was discussed.     

High juvenile mortality during migration in a declining population of a long‐distance migratory raptor

Many populations of long‐distance migrants are declining and there is increasing evidence that declines may be caused by factors operating outside the breeding season. Among the four vulture species breeding in the western Palaearctic, the species showing the steepest population decline, the Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, is a long‐distance migrant wintering in Africa. However, the flyways and wintering areas of the species are only known for some populations, and without knowledge of where mortality occurs, effective conservation management is not possible. We tracked 19 juvenile Egyptian Vultures from the declining breeding population on the Balkan Peninsula between 2010 and 2014 to estimate survival and identify important migratory routes and wintering areas for this species. Mortality during the first autumn migration was high (monthly survival probability 0.75) but mortality during migration was exclusively associated with suboptimal navigation. All birds from western breeding areas and three birds from central and eastern breeding areas attempted to fly south over the Mediterranean Sea, but only one in 10 birds survived this route, probably due to stronger tailwind. All eight birds using the migratory route via Turkey and the Middle East successfully completed their first autumn migration. Of 14 individual and environmental variables examined to explain why juvenile birds did or did not successfully complete their first migration, the natal origin of the bird was the most influential. We speculate that in a declining population with fewer experienced adults, an increasing proportion of juvenile birds are forced to migrate without conspecific guidance, leading to high mortality as a consequence of following sub‐optimal migratory routes. Juvenile Egyptian Vultures wintered across a vast range of the Sahel and eastern Africa, and had large movement ranges with core use areas at intermediate elevations in savannah, cropland or desert. Two birds were shot in Africa, where several significant threats exist for vultures at continental scales. Given the broad distribution of the birds and threats, effective conservation in Africa will be challenging and will require long‐term investment. We recommend that in the short term, more efficient conservation could target narrow migration corridors in southern Turkey and the Middle East, and known congregation sites in African wintering areas.     

Note on the bacterial flora of the Egyptian desert in summer

Summary The response of bacterial population to edaphic drought of the Egyptian desert in summer has been investigated. The sporeformers Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus megaterium have predominated in the soil. B. subtilis and B. licheniformis predominated in the rhizosphere of the studied chamaephytes. The total bacterial counts were found to be much higher in the rhizospheres than in the soils apart. Azotobacter sp. and Clostridium sp. have been isolated from rhizospheres but not from soils. The significance of the rhizosphere as constituting a microhabitat in the desert community, has been discussed. The probable contribution of the peritrophic mantle of bacteria for protecting root cells against edaphic drought has also been notified.     

乌兰布和沙漠生态系统服务价值时空动态

以乌兰布和沙漠为研究区,基于1990—2018年4期土地利用类型数据,以"当量因子法"为基础,运用网格分析、热点分析、权衡协同分析等方法,探究乌兰布和沙漠近30年生态系统服务价值的时空动态特征。结果表明:(1)生态系统服务价值总量以2000年为拐点先下降后逐期上升,由1990年17.03亿元上升至2018年25.94亿元,其中调节服务价值贡献量最大,4期平均占71.34%,供给服务增幅最大,近30年间增加85.04%;(2)生态系统服务价值呈东部和东北部高、中部和西南部低的空间分布特征,1990—2010年空间格局基本不变,但2018年高值区有所扩展;(3)1990—2018年间生态系统服务冷点区面积占比由2.85%增至4.23%,热点区面积占比由0.22%增至10.45%,热点区分布在黄河沿岸及部分生态恢复区,但东南部冷点区逐渐增大,生态治理时应着重关注;(4)1990—2018年生态系统服务间以协同关系为主,权衡关系存在于初期供给服务与其他类型服务之间。     

民勤荒漠植物枝系构型的分类研究

荒漠植物的枝系构型因素包括各级分枝角度、各级分枝长度、枝径比、逐步分枝率和总体分枝率、分枝分维数和计盒维数等16个指标。采用组内欧式距离法进行聚类,把荒漠植物依构型指标分为4个类型：第一类型包括霸王（Zygophyllum xanthoxylum）、黄刺条（Caragana frutex）等14种荒漠植物;第二类型包括秦晋锦鸡儿（C．purdomii）、荒漠锦鸡儿（C．roborovskyi）等11种荒漠植物;第三类型包括网状沙拐枣（Calligonum cancellatum）、黄花草木樨（Melilotus suaveolens）等9种荒漠植物;第四类型包括扁果木蓼（Atraphaxis replicta）、洋白蜡（Frawinus amerirana）等14种荒漠植物。不同的枝系构型类型反映了不同荒漠植物对于空间资源与环境的长期适应对策。     

不同干扰下阿拉善荒漠啮齿动物优势种对气候变化的响应

气候变化已对物种分布范围和丰富度产生了极大的影响。荒漠生态系统对气候变化的反应可能更加敏感。作为荒漠生态系统的重要组成者,了解荒漠啮齿动物特别是优势鼠种将对气候变化如何响应,对于荒漠地区生物多样性的维持将具有重要意义。2002—2010年,采用标志重捕法对阿拉善荒漠4种不同生境下啮齿动物优势种群进行了研究,分别利用Spearman相关分析以及典范对应分析(Canonical Correspondence analysis,CCA)对啮齿动物优势种群动态与年平均温度和年降水量的相关性进行了分析。结果表明,不同啮齿动物优势种对温度和降雨的响应不同,尤其以子午沙鼠表现最为显著。跳鼠对温度的适宜性要高于仓鼠科的子午沙鼠和黑线仓鼠,而仓鼠科啮齿动物对降雨的适宜性高于跳鼠。较小尺度上的人为干扰更可能从改变食性和生境的途径上加剧或缓冲降雨对荒漠啮齿动物优势种的影响,而不是改变温度对啮齿动物的作用。     

Pattern,phenology and sex ratio of Egyptian Thymelaea hirsuta populations

The distributional pattern, phenology and sex structure of the desert shrub Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. were evaluated in six major habitat types in the Mediterranean desert of Egypt.The distributional pattern changes from contagious in the less arid-to random in the more arid habitats.Soil salinity, low content of soil moisture, and extremes of temperature are of importance for the phenological activity.The plant is mainly dioecious. Males are more abundant in two of the habitats and are characterized by larger sizes compared with the females in all but one habitat.     

Susceptibility of Iraqi fresh water snails to infection with Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni Egyptian strains

A great number of Egyptian workers and farmers are seeking settlement in Iraq and some of them proved to have either Schistosoma Haematobium (S.h.) or Schistosoma mansoni (S.m) or even mixed infection. Besides, there is the possibility that some of the Iraqi fresh water snails may prove to be susceptible to infection by one or both of the Schistosoma Egyptian strains. The present study deals with investigations on the susceptibility of Iraqi B. truncatus, Gyranaulus ehrenbergi, Physa c.f. fontinalis, Lymnea lagetis, Melanoides tuberculata and Melanopsis nodes by these parasites. Egyptian S. haematobium but not Egyptian S. mansoni infect Iraqi B. truncatus and both proved to be unable to infect any of the other snails included in the study. Yet, the number of cercariae shedded by B. truncatus snails infected with the Egyptian S. haematobium strain, was much less that the number of cercariae shedded by these snails when infected with the Iraqi S. Haematobium strain.     

黑河中游荒漠灌丛斑块地面甲虫群落分布与微生境的关系

关于西北干旱区荒漠灌丛草地地面甲虫群落分布与微生境关系的系统研究尚鲜有报道。采用多元回归分析和RDA群落排序分析等方法,定量研究了甲虫群落分布与微生境因子的关系及其季节变异特征。多元回归分析表明,甲虫群落数量分布与土壤粗砂、中细砂和粘粉粒含量存在显著关系,3个因子解释了21%的甲虫群落变异。多元回归分析还表明,甲虫群落数量分布与春季地面/地下日平均温度和土壤含水量有显著关系(3个因子解释了32%的甲虫群落变异),而与夏季和秋季地面/地下日平均温度和土壤含水量无显著关系。RDA群落排序分析表明,土壤粗砂含量、中细砂含量、地面温度和地下温度对春季甲虫种群分布有显著的影响,解释了34.3%的甲虫种群变异;土壤粗砂和中细砂含量对夏季甲虫种群分布有显著影响,解释了18.8%的甲虫种群变异;土壤粗砂含量、地下日均温和土壤含水量对秋季甲虫种群分布有一定的影响,解释了17.1%的甲虫种群变异。Pearson相关分析表明不同甲虫种群对微生境因子的响应模式不同。主要结论是:微生境的非生物环境因子是决定荒漠甲虫群落空间分布格局的重要因子之一,但是环境因子的影响作用存在明显的季节变异,并且因种类不同而异。     

Perceptions towards Egyptian Geese at the Steenberg Golf Estate,Cape Town,South Africa

The number of Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca has increased in the Western Cape province, South Africa, during the past few decades and they are allegedly perceived as a problem on golf courses. However, attitudes towards the geese on golf courses in the province have not been empirically assessed. We surveyed the residents and members of the Steenberg Golf Estate, Cape Town, during April 2012 to evaluate perceptions towards Egyptian Geese on the estate. A standardised, anonymous questionnaire was sent to 548 estate residents and non-resident golfing members. Of the 112 respondents, the majority (92, or 84%) considered that geese are a problem on the estate. The ranking of the perceived problem was: 16 (15%) minimal problem, 34 (33%) moderate problem and 54 (52%) severe problem. The majority also considered that the goose population should be reduced by 50% or more (90, or 86% of all respondents). Dealing with Egyptian Geese numbers and activities on golf courses is complex. The option of designing golf courses and adjacent vegetation so that they are attractive to local bird species, while simultaneously being less attractive to Egyptian Geese, is available.