Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influences of porcupine (Hystrix indica) activity on the slopes on the northern Negev mountains — Germination and vegetation renewal in different geomorphological types and slope directions

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Preliminary results show that the number and survival of seedlings within the diggings of the Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) is usually higher than in the surrounding area. Species like Erodium hirtum (Willd.) (hemicryptophyte), Helianthemum vesicarium Boiss. (perennial), and Diplotaxis harra (Forssk.) Boiss. are conspicuous by their appearance in the diggings of the porcupine more than between the diggings. In contrast there are plants like Helianthemum ledifolium (L.) Mill. (annual), that appear in high numbers outside the diggings. In the case of Erodium hirtum, it appears that the porcupines help in rejuvenating the population. The porcupines feed on the older underground plant bulbs and the pockets formed by their diggings are convenient habitats for germination and growth of the young seedlings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Evenari M, Gutterman Y (1976) Observations on the secondary succession of three plant communities in the Negev desert, Israel. I. Artemisietum herbaealbae. Etudes de biologie végétale — Hommage au Professor P Chauard R Jacques (ed) CNRS (Gif sur Yvette) Paris, pp 57–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Evenari M, Shanan L, Tadmor N (1971) The Negev. The Challenge of a Desert. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman J (1971) The effect of competition by adult Zygophyllum dumosum Boiss. on seedlings of Artemisia herba-alba Asso in the Negev Desert of Israel. J Ecol 59:775–782

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman J, Orshan G (1974) Allopatric distribution of two varieties of Medicago laciniata (L.) Mill. in the Negev Desert. J Ecol 62:107–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman J, Orshan G (1975) The distribution, emergence and survival of seedlings of Artemisia herba alba Asso in the Negev Desert of Israel in relation to distance from the adult plants. J Ecol 63:627–632

    Google Scholar 

  • Yair A, Sharon D, Lavee H (1978) An instrumented watershed for the study of partial area contribution of runoff in the arid zone. Z Geomorph NF 29:71–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Zohary M (1962) Plant life in Palestine. Israel and Jordan. Ronald Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Sede Boqer Campus 84990, Israel

    Yitzchak Gutterman

  2. the Department of Biology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

    Nir Herr

Authors
  1. Yitzchak Gutterman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nir Herr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gutterman, Y., Herr, N. Influences of porcupine (Hystrix indica) activity on the slopes on the northern Negev mountains — Germination and vegetation renewal in different geomorphological types and slope directions. Oecologia 51, 332–334 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540902

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540902

Keywords

Search

Navigation