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Classifying wetland playas of the Chihuahuan Desert using NDVI time series, plant communities, and soil characteristics


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Created: May 17, 2024 at 5:34 p.m. (UTC)
Last updated: Mar 26, 2026 at 9:18 p.m. (UTC)
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Abstract

Playas are ephemeral wetlands in localized depressional areas of closed catchments in arid and semi-arid regions. They have critical ecological benefits, including habitat for biota and groundwater recharge. However, the US Southwest has been facing one of the most prolonged droughts in hundreds of years, affecting the source of water for these ecosystems. This study assessed the patterns and drivers of primary production and plant community structure in desert playas of the northern Chihuahuan Desert (New Mexico, USA). We combined NDVI times series (Sentinel-2 images from 2019 to 2024) with field surveys to classify five groups of playas based on vegetation biomass and community structure, as well as soil characteristics and other factors related to geology and landscape position. Marked differences in vegetation biomass and structure were associated with distinct environmental conditions and topographical characteristics. The most productive playas were those with connectivity to ephemeral arroyos, particularly those located in basin depression landforms. Vegetation in these sites appeared more resistant to drought than those in less connected playas. On the other hand, less productive sites were located in isolated lake basins and often underlain by gypsiferous sediments. The least productive playa received water from a large drain area, was dominated by gypsiferous sediments, and contained saline soils, which may have limited plant growth. These results highlight how vegetation in playas within proximity to each are structured by differing environmental factors and how hydrologic connectivity can play an essential role in maintaining the productivity of playas even during dry periods.

Subject Keywords

Coverage

Spatial

Coordinate System/Geographic Projection:
WGS 84 EPSG:4326
Coordinate Units:
Decimal degrees
Place/Area Name:
Jornada Experimental Range
North Latitude
32.7466°
East Longitude
-106.6271°
South Latitude
32.4736°
West Longitude
-106.8702°

Temporal

Start Date:
End Date:

Content

Credits

Funding Agencies

This resource was created using funding from the following sources:
Agency Name Award Title Award Number
National Science Fundation Network Cluster: Patterns and controls of ecohydrology, CO2 fluxes, and nutrient availability in pedogenic carbonate-dominated dryland critical zones 2012475

How to Cite

Garcia, E. D., V. L. Lougheed (2026). Classifying wetland playas of the Chihuahuan Desert using NDVI time series, plant communities, and soil characteristics, HydroShare, http://www.hydroshare.org/resource/1d8e2b8eb5774e7e88d0f6ee9fdef4e2

This resource is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution CC BY.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
CC-BY

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