2) Ms. Marijana Petrovic

Animal trampling routes are often overlooked in dryland research despite their profound impact on geomorphic and ecological processes. This study explored how ungulate trampling route networks regulate interactions between geodiversity, hydrological connectivity, and biodiversity along an aridity gradient ranging between the hyper-arid and semi-arid Negev Desert. We assessed a three-phase system—comprising shrub patches, trampling routes, and the remainder of the interpatch spaces—where each component interacts with the other components. Using ecohydrological modeling, soil and vegetation properties, and spatial patterns and relations, we analyzed the impact of trampling routes on the redistribution of water and soil resources, and on soil characteristics and plant community structure and function. Spatial analyses revealed that trampling routes foster a step-like profile in hillslopes, decreasing hydrological connectivity and increasing resource conservation. Topographic wetness indices (e.g., MFI-TWI) demonstrated that the hydrological response of these geomorphic modifications was similar to that of human-made runoff harvesting systems (e.g., contour “shich” systems). However, the hydrological impact is strongly precipitation-dependent. It is most pronounced in arid environments, where clear microsite separation—routes, route margins, shrub and inter-shrub patches—drives geodiversification and plant species turnover. This effect is muted in semi-arid settings due to less limiting water conditions, and is largely absent in hyper-arid sites, where vegetation productivity collapses under extreme resource scarcity. This study highlights the role of trampling routes as geo-engineering features that reshape hydrological and ecological dynamics, offering a novel framework for understanding dryland system resilience under severe drought and climate change.