Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert

• Category: Desert Biomes.
• Geographic Location: Middle East.
• Summary: This unique desert environment has important mangroves and is also a habitat for migratory birds.

The Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert is the coastal ecoregion located in the Sultanate of Oman and the neighboring United Arab Emirates (UAE). Its western reaches, the coastal areas along the Persian Gulf, cover the lands around Dubai and former Sharjah to the Musandam Peninsula, an enclave belonging to Oman. Along the Gulf of Oman, the region includes the rest of the Musandam Peninsula—famous for its position controlling the Straits of Hormuz—and south through Fujairah, and then along the Al Batinah region to the capital, Muscat.

Although the hinterland of this part of Oman is hilly, indeed mountainous in parts, and although the equivalent area in the UAE is desert, the coastal region has lagoons, mudflats, and mangrove swamps. The parts bordering the Gulf of Oman have more rain than those of the Persian Gulf, which are dry; temperatures in both places often rise to 120 degrees F (49 degrees C).

Flora

Large mangrove swamps once existed along the coast, but some of them have eroded or been destroyed as building development has taken place in modern times. These swamps were largely of gray or white mangrove (Avicennia marina), which is also found elsewhere in the region, especially along the Red Sea and on parts of the east coast of Africa. The Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) is also found in the region, with its flowers being used by bees for the manufacture of honey. The umbrella thorn acacia (Acacia tortilis) is common in northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the east coast of Africa. It survives in this region so well because its roots can stretch up to 98 feet (30 meters) into the soil.

Other trees, such as the neem (which is related to mahogany) and date palms can still be found along the coast. Also along the coast of Oman are many examples of the pea tree (Prosopis cineraria), in addition to the umbrella thorn acacia. Both areas also have desert hyacinths, which often are really evident only after rain, when the flowers open.

Fauna

This ecosystem sustains a small variety of fauna. Mammals include some caracals (Caracal caracal) and occasionally packs of striped hyenas in more remote areas. The Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari), a type of goat, can be found in the hilly areas, with the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) living in mountains, especially in Oman.

The coastal regions were home to loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), but the building of coastal housing and the main highways along the coast have caused many problems for them and for olive ridley turtles (Lepydochelys olivacea), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), and especially the now-very-rare hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). Fortunately, the loggerhead sea turtles have found a refuge in southern Oman, especially on Masirah Island.

Reptile life includes the desert monitor lizard (Varanus griseus), which can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) long; the spiny-tailed agama; and the sand skink (Neoseps). These species have managed to survive more easily than others. At least 37 reptile species have been identified in the area.

The biggest proliferation of fauna are birds, which have adapted well to the change in the environment. Many of them use the region when migrating between Africa and Asia, with as many as 320 migratory species passing through in the spring and autumn, and some spending the winter in the region. Those native to the region include the Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis); purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus); crab plover (Dromas ardeola); and black-crowned sparrow lark (Eremopterix nigriceps), which, although it tends to nest on the ground, is abundant.

Human Impact

There are many threats to wildlife, the most important being the degradation of the land in the region. Although much of this damage has been done by humans through development and intensive farming, camels and goats have also contributed extensively to erosion in both the UAE and Dubai. Certainly, the massive building projects that have taken place in and around Dubai, as well as construction on the road north, have affected many animals, cutting off some from access to the sea.

Human habitation has also had a major effect in terms of waste, pollution, and the sheer presence of so many people, especially in areas such as Dubai Creek, where the vast majority of the mangroves have been removed.

The oil-industry wealth of the area has led to major land-reclamation projects, especially some of the well-known schemes off the coast of Dubai. These projects and marine pollution have affected turtle and fish populations, reducing their numbers and in turn affecting the birds. Off-road driving (mainly four-wheel-drive vehicles used for recreational purposes) causes much damage to the vegetation, which is slow to recover due to the limited annual rainfall. Another big worry in the region is oil spills, which have been a problem in the past and which continue to pose a major threat to the fragile ecosystem.

In the Al Bainah region of Oman, where there is less development, it has been possible to preserve much more of the traditional way of life, which has helped the ecosystems be maintained. Runoff from fertilizer used in intensive agriculture has been a problem, but the government of Oman has attempted to save many of the mangroves with the creation of the Khor Kalba Nature Reserve. Also, the government of the UAE has created the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary (also called the Dubai Wildlife and Waterbird Sanctuary), located around the southern end of Dubai Creek, to help preserve the ecosystem and allow migratory birds to use the area, which has led to some 500 greater flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus) living there. This sanctuary alone has led to an interest in wildlife conservation in Dubai. However, some species such as the Arabian leopard are threatened by poaching and some regions face damage due to overgrazing. Other ecological concerns are that global climate change will lead to reduced precipitation and/or change the variability of rainfall, leading to droughts. This would have the greatest impact on grassland and woodland areas. Loss of tree cover is associated with less freshwater from springs, surface water, and the water table. The area is also seeing increases in temperature. The combination of changes in both temperature and precipitation could lead to accelerated desertification in the area.

Bibliography

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