Global Water Dynamics – Shallow and Deep Groundwater, Petroleum Hydrology, Hydrothermal Fluids, and Landscaping

The Makhteshim Country - a Laboratory of Nature
Krasnov, Boris and Mazor, Emanuel, Editors
2001: Pensoft Publ., Sofia, 411 pp.
ISBN: 954-642-135-9

From the back cover

The book is an outcome of 10 years of research by the Ramon Science Center staff, in close collaboration with colleagues of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and other institutes in Israel and abroad. The book is a comprehensive and richly illustrated survey of the geology and natural history of the Makhteshim Country, situated in the desert zone of Israel. The various topics of study range from the tectonics and local geological parameters to plant and animal diversity and intervention of man in the past and present times. After a decade of operation of the Ramon Science Center, it may be concluded that the Makhteshim Country has indeed evolved into a Laboratory of Nature. The book is an indispensable treatise for specialists in geology and natural history of deserts as well as ecologists, nature conservationists and specialists in sustainable development, monitoring and landscape planning.

Contents

    Prologue: Makhteshim Country, Ramon Science Center and Nature Laboratory (E. Mazor and B. Krasnov)

    Part I. Geology - Past and Present Processes

  1. Structure and Landscape Evolution of the Makhteshim Country - Interrelations Between Monoclines, Truncation Surfaces and the Evolution of the Makhteshim (Y. Avni)
  2. Relief Structure and the Quaternary History of the Makhteshim (J. Plakht)
  3. Makhtesh Hazera, the Zin Valley and the Dead Sea Basin: Evolutionary Links (Sheinkman, V., Plakht, J. and Mazor, E.)
  4. Applied Archeoseismology: Decoding Earthquake Parameters Recorded in Archeological Ruins (Mazor, E. and Korjenkov, A.)
  5. Erosion as the main Cause of ongoing Desertification in the Makhteshim Country (Avni, Y. and Gichua M.)

    Part II. Ecology - Studying Nature at Work
  6. Plant Species Diversity and Population Dynamics in Makhtesh Ramopn (Ward, D.)
  7. Tenebrionid Beetles of Makhtesh Ramon: Seasonality, Diversity and Community Structure (Krasnov, B. and Shenbrot, G.)
  8. Lizards of Makhtesh Ramon: Habitat Distribution and Spatial Organization of Communities (Shenbrot, G. and Krasnov, B.)
  9. Rodents of Makhtesh Ramon: Habitat Distribution and Temporal Dynamics of the Spatial Organization of Communities (Shenbrot, G. and Krasnov, B.)
  10. Flea Assemblages on Rodents in Makhtesh Ramon: Host-Habitat Mediation of Host-Parasite Relationships (Krasnov, B., Krasnov, I., Burdelova, and Shenbrot, G.)
  11. Ungulates of Makhtesh Ramon: Dynamics, Behavior and their Conservation Implications (Saltz, D.)

    Part III. Sience and Nature Conservation
  12. Plant Sampling Protocols for Vegetation of Arid Zones (Ward, D.)
  13. A Monitoring Protocol for a Nature Reserve: A Case Study for the Ramon Nature Reserve (Krasnov, B.)
  14. Lichen Monitoring in the Context of Climate Change (Insarov, G. and Insarova, I.)
  15. Millenya of Sustained Desert Agriculture in the Central Negev Versus Highly Preserved Ecosystems Inside the Makhteshim (Mazor, E.)

    Part V. Science - Applications and Social Relevance
  16. Urban Ecology: Mizpe Ramon as an Example (Krasnov, B., Mazor, E., Avni Y., Plakht, J. and Shenbrot G.)
  17. Environmental Education at Mizpe Ramon (Ariel-Avni, N.)
  18. Harmonizing Mizpe Ramon with the Surrounding Nature (Mazor, E.)