Nitzan Segev

Research Area:
Desert Ecology

 nitzan@adssc.org
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My early academic training (BSc and MSc) was in animal science and environmental science. For many years I worked as a biologist in Israel’s National Gulf of Eilat Monitoring Program. Recently, I moved from sea to land, and I currently work on various projects based at the Dead Sea & Arava Science Center. As part of my PhD, I focused on the impact of the ‘Avrona Nature Reserve oil spill on animals.

Research interests

Animal sciences, animal behavior, ecology, civilian environmental science, long-term monitoring of ecosystems, invasive species.

Main projects

 The impact of the ‘Avrona Nature Reserve oil spill on flora and fauna – the ‘Avrona Nature Reserve suffers from human disturbances – it was contaminated by crude oil in 1975 and again in 2014. In order to assess the damage caused to the desert ecosystem in the short and long term, a five-year monitoring program was carried out, in which the various properties of soil, flora, and fauna were examined by different research groups. I studied the impact of the oil spill on the dispersal and abundance of reptiles and insects. The study focused on the behavior of ground-dwelling animals. Three lizard species (Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Stenodactylus sthenodactylus, Stenodactylus doriae) and two insect species (Mesostena angustata, Myrmeleontidae (antlion) larva) were studied. The goal was to identify a potential behavioral indicator, which will enable the best possible estimate of the state of the reserve in the future and help decision-makers determine how to manage a reserve that has suffered from oil pollution, in the case of ‘Avrona as well as in future cases.

Operating a long-term monitoring station, in Shita Stream (dry riverbed) – a long-term ecological research station (LTER) functions in Shita (‘Acacia’ in Hebrew) Stream since its establishment in 2015. The station follows European standards for ecological integrity in the hyper-arid desert, as part of the eLTER station network. Biodiversity of reptiles, scorpions, birds, butterflies, and perennial plants is being monitored for the first time in this extreme environment.

Acacia monitoring throughout the ‘Arava valley – Due to the significant role played by acacia trees in the hyper-arid ecosystem, it is important to regularly monitor their population and health status to identify long term trends of change. This is especially relevant considering the current era of extreme climatic changes and global desertification. Monitoring spans more than 20 sites along the ‘Arava Valley, from the Eilat Mountains in the south to the Dead Sea in the north, where it is carried out in cooperation with Dr. Ofir Katz. 

Selected Publications:

• Segev, N., Gavish-Regev, E., & Berger-Tal, O. (2020). Sit-And-wait prey: First field observations of scorpions preying on antlions (Neuroptera). Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution, 66(1–2). https://doi.org/10.1163/22244662-20191057
• Shapira, I., Leader, N., Shkedy, Y., Tsohar, A., Angel, R., Stavi, I., Segev, N, … Levinsky, I. (2018). Effects of an extensive oil contamination in a hyper-arid desert ecosystem: initial results from a large-scale ecological monitoring program in the Evrona Nature Reserve, southern Arava Valley, Israel.
• Nothers, M., Segev, N., Kreyling, J., Hjazin, A., & Groner, E. (2017). Desert Vegetation Forty Years after an Oil Spill. Journal of Environmental Quality, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2013.02.0067
• Segev, N, Berger-tal, O., & Gavish-regev, E. (2017). Intraguild predation in an extreme arid desert : antlions and scorpions in the ‘ Arava rift valley.
• Groner, E., Rapaport, A., Segev, N., Ragolsky, G., Alexander K.,  Rabinowitz, O., Grunfeld,M., Nelvitsky, R., Shalmon, B., Tsoar, A., Isaacson S., Moshe I. and  Winters, G. (2017). A standardized protocol to monitor Acacia trees in the Arava. Negev, Dead Sea and Arava Studies, 9 (1), 1-14.
• Segev, N. & Groner, E. (2015). Survey of the 1975 oil spill impact. A report submitted to Eilat-Ashqelon oil pipeline company.
• Groner, E., Shapira, I., Segev, N., & Topel, E. (2015). Ecological opinion on the oil contamination at the Evrona Nature Reserve.
• Landor, M., Benami, A., Segev, N., & Loberant, B. (2014). Efficacy and Acceptance of a Commercial Hoodia parviflora Product for Support of Appetite Weight Control. Journal of Medicinal Food, 18(2), 1–9.
• Brokovich, E., Ayalon, I., Einbinder, S., Segev, N., Shaked, Y., Genin, A., … Kiflawi, M. (2010). Grazing pressure on coral reefs decreases across a wide depth gradient in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08354