THE EFFECTS OF GULLY EROSION ON THE ECOLOGY OF ARID LOESS AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS: WADI ATTIR AREA, THE NORTHERN NEGEV, ISRAEL

Wide parts from the cultivated arid lands are exposed to gully erosion processes. Gully erosion is expressed by an incised channel surrounded by affected landforms. Although each relevant landform has unique ecological patterns, their connectivity with the gully creates geomorphological interrelations that affect the functioning of the entire ecosystem. In order to analyze these processes, wadi Attir area in the northern Negev, the arid part of Israel was chosen. This area is characterized by arid climate, loess soil and intensive agriculture utilization that enhance the soil and gullies' erosion. In order to study the ecological influences of the gully' erosion, five potential geomorphological transects correlated to several representative gullies were defined including the gullies longitudinal and cross sections’ profiles, transects between neighbors’ lands and initial or stabilized gullies and affected gullied landforms by shrubs and nests. In order to study the ecological processes' stream per each geomorphological transect a comparative soil quality properties' analysis was built and studied between 2013 and 2017. The fertility and productivity' flows along the geomorphological' transects enable to determine the spatially and temporary ecological' processes occurred. This study demonstrates the functioning of gullies as habitats for rare organisms and gives new sight for their adequate management for sustainable use of their neighbor cultivated lands.