Illustrations by Glynn Gorick
	This illustration was designed for the cover of Walter Whitford's book ' Ecology of Desert Systems' Academic Press 2002. The picture indicates ecological properties and processes, from the fine scale of soil microflora and mesofauna living in the planr rhizosphere and soil pores, to the landscape scale. Subterranian termites and harvester ants foraging in the vegetation show the importance of social insects in patch dynamics and ecological processes in deserts. The patch scale depicts the three photosynthetic pathways of desert plants : C3 shrubs (creosotebush, Larrea tridentata ), C4 grasses, and CAM succulents (prickly-pear cactus, Opuntia spp.). The landscape behind the vegetation portrays the patchy nature of desert terrain. One of the points in the book is the emphasis on the need to understand 'the complex interrelationships of environmental factors affecting net primary production and production of harvestable biomass if necessary if we are to avoid over -harvesting that leads to desertification'. The same challenge is presented throughout the Earth system where ecosystems are under pressure.			Return to the main page