Framework

The Arid Lands Node manages:

1. Observation Platforms – research and monitoring of a multitude of factors at specific sites
2. Observation Networks – investigations at multiple sites across space and time
3. Detection of Episodic Events – infrequent, brief, extraordinary events with long-term consequences
4. Research into Keystones – key species or characteristics affecting ecosystem changes

Research questions:

1. What are the baseline conditions to evaluate changes? The arid lands of South Africa are understudied relative to more mesic areas. Vast tracts of land and landscape features, ecosystems, their biodiversity processes, patterns, functioning and drivers, as well as their conservation relevance await description and analysis in scientific terms.
2. What are the main drivers of change across South Africa’s arid regions?
3. What are the best indicators to describe environmental changes?
4. What ecosystem changes are detected, where and why?