The maintenance of species diversity by miniature dunes in a sand-depletedHaloxylon salicornicumcommunity in Kuwait

Dwarf shrubs play a predominant role in the natural vegetation cover of Kuwait, with the chenopodHaloxylon salicornicumwidespread in northern parts of the country. A number of influences, largely anthropogenic in nature, have led to serious land degradation in many areas. The present study deals with species diversity and other floristic attributes of the ephemeral vegetation in a sand-depletedHaloxylon salicornicumcommunity, contrasting the situation of miniature dunes formed at the base of shrubs with that of the interdune space. The importance of such dunes and their associated shrub cover as a protection against further land deterioration is examined.