Islands of hydrologically enhanced biotic productivity in natural and managed arid ecosystems. Rango, A, Tartowski, S. L., Laliberte, A., Wainwright, J., & Parsons, A Journal of Arid Environments, 2006.
Islands of hydrologically enhanced biotic productivity in natural and managed arid ecosystems [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
Factors causing high spatial variability of water in arid regions include precipitation, soil, physiographic, and vegetation characteristics. Inherent heterogeneity of these arid lands causes areas of runoff and run-on which develop islands of hydrologically enhanced biotic productivity. These hydrologic islands are observed at the individual plant scale as well as in large area patterns of banded vegetation, playettes and playas, and beaded drainage networks where run-on and infiltration spur vegetation growth. To remediate degraded rangeland, it may be wise to mimic nature by diverting water to target areas to create patterns similar to the natural islands of hydrologically enhanced biotic productivity or by installing structures, such as water ponding dikes, to promote a landscape change to resemble natural vegetation patterns.

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