An arthropod community beyond the dry limit of plant life

Water availability, which enables plant growth and animal activity, regulates dryland ecosystem function. In hyper-arid ecosystems, rain cannot support vascular growth. Therefore, vegetation is restricted to the lower topography, where runoff accumulates. Typically, food resources originating from areas of dense are dispersed across desert floor, enabling life in lacking However, certain regions, such as upper may be devoid plant-derived resources. The present study examined arthropod activity topography a desert, comparison with topography. Pitfall traps were utilized compare along unvegetated ridges parallel, vegetated riverbeds. Surprisingly, revealed communities barren Arthropods collected represented 26% total abundance. addition, overlap between identity wadis (i.e., riverbeds) was low, arthropods strongly affiliated ridges. topographic included high numbers silverfish (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae), malachite beetles (Psiloderes), predatory mites (Acari: Anystidae), these at various stages. It remains unclear how can persist area. These results raise possibility that other sources, independent plants, play significant role history arthropods.