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also exist as Oman's most biodiverse landscape, which was confirmed during our multidisciplinary survey. Materials and MethodsBecause of the difficulty of moving through the rugged terrain of the wadi, survey sites were identified throughout the duration of the 2012 research period, as they were discovered. Eleven sites showed worthwhile populations of Odonata for surveying (figure 1).Site A (16°44′44″ N, 53°13′50″ E; 420 m a.s.l.): Although mostly arid, this area does contain a localised fresh water source creating a series of flowing pools for around 100 m and accompanying vegetation. The levels in these pools fluctuated every few days and occasionally dried up completely. Grazing occurred at this location, minimising the spread of vegetation along the edges of the stream and shortening the Typha and Phragmites to knee height.Site B (16°44′29″ N, 53°16′58″ E; 170 m a.s.l.): The water level in this 5x1 m concrete livestock watering trough, fed by a pipe from the neighbouring village, varied greatly and was probably too temporary for even the most rapidly developing larvae to colonise.Site C (16°44′3″ N, 53°18′43″ E; 90 m a.s.l.): Two temporary pools persisted for several months into the 2012 dry season, on account of them being deep and shaded. The water that remained was coloured green and partially stagnant. Over the research period the level of the water dropped within these pools. No emergent vegetation was present however they were in close proximity to the dense vegetation of the valley sides. Water was absent from these pools in 2013.Site D (16°44'6″ N, 53°19′17″ E; 35 m a.s.l.): A site at the joining of three large valleys incorporating the boulderstrewn wadi bed and scattered shrubs. Water was absent.Site E (16°44′2″ N, 53°19′39″ E; 25 m a.s.l.): Several large freshwater pools occur in the lower reaches of the wadi, approximately 1 km from the coast. At this point

In the central South Arabian mountains of Yemen and Oman, monsoon fog interception by the endemic cloud forest is essential for ecosystem functions and services. Yet, we know little about the local factors affecting fog distributions and their cumulative effects on vegetation. To examine these relationships, we developed a novel method of high-resolution fog detection using Landsat data, and validated the results using occurrence records of eight moisturesensitive plant species. Regression tree analysis was then used to examine the topographic factors influencing fog distributions and the topoclimatic factors influencing satellite-derived vegetation greenness. We find that the interplay between the complex mountain topography and the incoming fog results in heterogeneous fog densities. Specifically, fog accumulates against steep windward slopes and landforms, resulting in hotspots of fog interception, while lower fog densities occur in leeward locations. We also find that fog distributions correlate with patterns of vegetation greenness, and overall, that greenness increases with fog density. The layer of fog density describes patterns of vegetation greenness more accurately than topographic variables alone, and thus, we propose that regional vegetation patterns more closely follow a fog gradient, than an altitudinal gradient as previously supposed. The layer of fog density will enable an improved understanding of how species and communities, many of which are endemic, range-restricted and in decline, respond to local variability in topoclimatic conditions.

A recent study on a group of rough-skinned Gephyromantis frogs from Madagascar (Anura: Mantellidae: Mantellinae) established a new subgenus, Asperomantis, with five described species and one undescribed candidate species. Based on newly collected material from the Bealanana District, we address the taxonomy of this candidate species, and reveal that it consists of two populations with low genetic and morphological divergence but considerable bioacoustic differences that are obvious to the human ear. As a result,

In the Dhofar Mountains of Oman stakeholders are concerned about the social and ecological sustainability of pastoralism. In this study we used interviews with pastoralists to examine the prevailing drivers of pastoralism and how they are changing. We find that people are committed to pastoralism for sociocultural reasons but also that this commitment is under pressure because of husbandry costs and changing values. We find that capital investment in feedstuff enables pastoralists to overcome the density-dependent regulation of livestock populations. However, high production costs deter investment in marketing and commercialization, and there is little off take of local livestock. Our study reveals how pastoral values, passed down within households, motivate pastoralists in the face of high husbandry costs, modernization and social change.