Shachak Moshe, Brand Sol
Biology Department, Blaustein Institute for Desert Research at Sede Boqer, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 84900, Israel.
Watershed Ecology Unit, Blaustein Institute for Desert Research at sede Boqer, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 84900, Israel.
Oecologia. 1983 Dec;60(3):371-377. doi: 10.1007/BF00376854.
We examine the role of the sit and wait foraging strategy and of the stability and predictability of the biotic environment in shaping population biology and life history traits of the desert scorpion, Scorpio maurus palmatus. The study was carried out in a loessial plain in the Negev desert, Israel. We used a grid system (5x80 m) within the Hammada scoparia plant association. The area was divided into 1,600 squares (50x50 cm) and the presence (within ±5 cm) and width of each scorpion burrow was recorded for eight years (1973-1980). It was found that: (1) Dispersal is a common phenomenon for all S. maurus palmatus age groups and takes place only after a heavy rainfall when soil moisture is high. (2) Dispersion patterns change from clumped to random as a function of age. (3) Dispersal is age specific and density dependent. (4) During the dry seasons a high percentage of the population goes into the resting stage.In order to integrate the above findings, a graphical model was constructed with the main assumption that the S. maurus palmatus prey availability relationship is a decreasing function between the scorpion burrow and its food resources. Data and model analysis led to the conclusion that the desert scorpion, S. maurus palmatus, is confronted with a relatively predictable physical environmeent and unpredictable biological environment. Two alternative strategies are available for S. maurus palmatus to overcome prey unpredictability; dispersal during the rainy season and inactivity during the dry seasons.We suggest that many other burrowing desert animals may face the problem of unpredictability of biological resources. Thus it seems that the S. maurus palmatus biological relationship model can be applied, with modifications, to a wide spectrum of desert burrowing animals.
我们研究了坐等觅食策略以及生物环境的稳定性和可预测性在塑造沙漠蝎子（Scorpio maurus palmatus）种群生物学和生活史特征方面所起的作用。该研究在以色列内盖夫沙漠的一个黄土平原上进行。我们在滨藜属植物群落中使用了一个网格系统（5×80米）。该区域被划分为1600个正方形（50×50厘米），并对每个蝎子洞穴的存在情况（在±5厘米范围内）和宽度进行了八年（1973 - 1980年）的记录。研究发现：（1）扩散对所有年龄组的毛蝎（Scorpio maurus palmatus）来说都是常见现象，且仅在暴雨后土壤湿度较高时发生。（2）扩散模式随年龄增长从聚集变为随机。（3）扩散具有年龄特异性且依赖于密度。（4）在旱季，很大比例的种群进入休眠阶段。为了整合上述发现，构建了一个图形模型，其主要假设是毛蝎（Scorpio maurus palmatus）猎物可获得性与洞穴及其食物资源之间的关系是一种递减函数。数据和模型分析得出结论，沙漠蝎子毛蝎（Scorpio maurus palmatus）面临相对可预测的物理环境和不可预测的生物环境。毛蝎（Scorpio maurus palmatus）有两种可供选择的策略来克服猎物的不可预测性；在雨季扩散，在旱季不活动。我们认为许多其他穴居沙漠动物可能面临生物资源不可预测的问题。因此，似乎毛蝎（Scorpio maurus palmatus）的生物关系模型经过修改后可应用于广泛的沙漠穴居动物。
