Flora and vegetational aspects of miniature dunes in a sand-depleted Haloxylon salicornicum community in the Kuwait desert

Micro-nebkas are miniature dunes found around the base of dwarf shrubs in deserts and semi-deserts, and which represent distinct habitat patches. Their formation is due to the accumulation of wind-blown sand, particularly on the leeward side of shrubs. The present study provides a first account of the flora and vegetational aspects of such dunes associated with the chenopod Haloxylon salicornicum in a sand-depleted area of Kuwait. Therophytes account for by far the largest proportion (88%) of the 51 species found on the 31 micro-nebkas investigated. Species number on individual mounds is positively correlated with nebka size, not however, with total cover of the accompanying vegetation (i.e. without Haloxylon). Species with both Saharo-Arabian and Irano-Turanian phytogeographical affinities pre dominate. At the sand-depleted study site, a distinct pattern was found with respect to vegetation development and species composition on the micro-nebkas. Very striking is the fact that the leeward side of these dunes offers the most favourable growth conditions for the majority of species, as indicated by the dense vegetation cover and more vigorous growth of the individual component species. The importance of micro-nebkas in sand-depleted communities as possible "safe sites" and also in alleviating further desertification processes is briefly discussed.