Ecology and Diversity of Plants in Arid and Semi-arid Ecosystems

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce this Special Issue of Diversity focused on the plant ecology of arid and semi-arid ecosystems, which is one of the most resilient ecosystems and rich in fascinating plant species.

Deserts and semi-arid regions cover a significant portion of the Earth’s land surface, posing unique challenges for plant survival. These extreme environments are characterized by harsh climatic conditions, including water deficit (drought), low and high temperatures, salinity, and other abiotic stresses. Despite these adversities, some of the most extraordinary and resilient plants have adapted to thrive in these ecosystems. Understanding the ecology and diversity of plants in arid and semi-arid regions is crucial for biodiversity conservation and understanding how these plants cope with environmental stresses.

The ability of desert plants to endure the extreme conditions of their habitats is a subject of great interest to researchers. These plants serve as essential food reserves, particularly during drought periods, contributing to the survival of both wildlife and local communities. However, the mechanisms underlying their resilience to abiotic stressors remain largely unexplored. Elucidating the molecular and physiological strategies that enable plants to withstand these stressors is crucial for understanding their adaptations and enhancing biodiversity conservation efforts.

Research in this field has shed light on the importance of functional traits in the persistence and diversity of desert plant ecosystems. However, our understanding of plant physiology in response to various abiotic stresses is still limited. As climate change continues to impact these regions, it is imperative to study the biodiversity conservation of desert plants under changing environments. This includes investigating the ecological significance of various plant behaviors in response to extreme conditions and exploring the physiology and molecular aspects of their adaptive strategies.

In this Special Issue, we invite original research papers, reviews, perspectives, opinions, and modeling approaches that address the ecology and diversity of plants in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. We encourage contributions that delve into topics such as desert plant diversity in a changing environment, the role of biodiversity conservation in mitigating the impacts of climate change, and the significance of various plant behaviors in response to extreme environments.

Our goal is to foster a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interactions between desert plants and their environments. By exploring the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying their adaptations, we aim to contribute to the broader field of plant ecology and conservation.

We look forward to receiving innovative research contributions from the scientific community that will advance our knowledge of these unique ecosystems and aid in the protection of their invaluable plant diversity.

Dr. Alexandre Maniçoba da Rosa Ferraz Jardim
Prof. Dr. João Everthon Da Silva Ribeiro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• molecular regulation mechanisms
• desert plants
• plant diversity
• biodiversity conservation
• ecological adaptability
• oxidative stress in plants
• biotic and abiotic stress
• arid and semi-arid land