zeer·ik | /ˈzɪər ɪk/
Xeric refers to environments lacking in fresh water, namely deserts, arid scrublands, acidic bogs, salt marshes, and drought stricken and extremely cold regions. A relative newcomer to English dictionaries, it was adapted in the 1920s from the Greek xèrós, meaning dry/withered.
Xerophytic plants have evolved various adaptations to survive in some of the planet’s most extreme environments such as the Atacama Desert, which averages less than 2mm of rain per year. Taproots seek out water stored deep underground. Small, waxy leaves reduce transpirations as do spines, which also help protect them from parched grazers. Succulents store water in their leaves, stems, roots, and fruit – a single saguaro cactus is capable of holding over 3,500 litres.
Likewise, xerocolous animals have evolved to cope with severe dehydration. Whilst camels are famed for being able to survive for 15 days without water, there are several species of tortoise that can go without a drink for over a year by reabsorbing their urine. If need be, sand gazelles can shrink their heart and liver by 20 percent and 45 percent respectively, allowing them to conserve water through reduced breathing.
Climate change has been a catalyst in increasingly ambitious schemes to green previously xeric regions. Remarkable successes include the Loess Plateau in Northern China, which has been transformed from a barren wasteland into fertile farmland in just 20 years. Projects such as Africa’s Great Green Wall initiative, which aims to plant millions of trees in the southern sub-Sahara, have counter-intuitively been given a helping hand by global warming increasing rainfall in the region.
Introduction Aeolian Alpenglow
Benthos Crepuscular Crispate Crown shyness
Desire lines Dreich Endragoned Edgelands
Frondescence Fumarole Gluggaveður Gossamer
Karst Komorebi Lawrence Long acre
Machair Monkey’s wedding Moonglade
Psithurism Quartz Rakuyou Roaring forties
Snag Soft estate Specular, diffuse and pellucid
Spoondrift Steam fog Swash zone Sylvan
Tellurian and thalassic Terracettes Uliginous