Physical and Human factors which make arid ecosystems vulnerable

Physical:

• Harsh Climate
• Wind and water (flash flood)- They can remove unprotected soils and uproot vegetation.
• Lightning strikes can trigger fires (convection storms due to HP systems)
• Dust storms bury vegetation (high winds reduces photosynthesis as dust covers the leaves.

Human:

• Urbanisation and associated activities e.g. road building= separate out areas decreases migration for breeding.
• Water abstraction from groundwater= plants have long tap roots, lower the groundwater, the tap roots can no longer reach and the plants die.
• Grazing livestock= trampling.
• Introduction of non-native species both plant and animals= this changes the ecosystems they out compete local species.