Diversification of the hydromorphological state and the habitat quality of streams in the Negev Desert (Israel)

The hydromorphological state and habitat quality of the selected streams in the Negev Desert was taken under consideration in the paper. Field studies were conducted in September 2014 on selected 500 m sections of streams (Nahal Be’er Sheva, Nahal Hebron) characterized by noticeable anthropopressure as well as on streams (Nahal Sansana, Nahal Yatir, Nahal Hatira) without visible human pressure. The survey of the hydromorphological state of selected streams was carried out using a British method, the River Habitat Survey (RHS). The hydromorphological state and habitat quality of the tested streams, based on the habitat naturalness indicator (HQA), as well as the habitat modification indicator (HMS), places the analysed streams of weak anthropopressure in class III—moderate (Nahal Yatir, Nahal Hatira) and IV—poor (Nahal Sansana). Bad hydromorphological state (class V) is the characteristic of the Nahal Hebron and Nahal Be’er Sheva streams with significant human pressure. However, it is important to verify RHS method and the classification of a hydromorphological state, especially the HQA index, and adapt them to the reference conditions in arid and semi-arid areas.