A First Study of Urginea maritima Rings: A Case Study from Southern Jordan

Researchers document the first occurrence of vegetation rings formed by Urginea maritima, a geophyte species thriving in the arid landscapes of Wadi Rum and Little Petra, Jordan. These rings, typically 40–90 cm in diameter, exhibit distinct soil properties: higher volumetric water content and organic carbon at the periphery compared to the center and surrounding matrix. The study proposes two potential mechanisms for ring formation—soil-water uptake competition among plants with extensive lateral roots, supported by numerical simulations, and negative plant-soil feedback from decomposing biomass releasing autotoxic compounds. These findings advance understanding of vegetation patterning in water-limited environments and highlight the ecological dynamics shaping desert ecosystems.

Yizhaq, H., Al-Tawaha, A. R. M. S., & Stavi, I. (2022). A First Study of Urginea maritima Rings: A Case Study from Southern Jordan. Land, 11(2), 285. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11020285