中国西北干旱区和中亚植物区系地理研究

A review on the floristic phytogeography in arid northwestern China and Central Asia

本文简要回顾了我国西北干旱区植物区系地理的研究历史,其中植物区系和科属地理两方面的研究大多集中在1980年代以后。西北干旱区作为中亚干旱区的东部,今后应该拓展到西部的前苏联中亚五国,在一个自然地理区域的基础上开展区系地理研究才有更广泛的意义。分子系统发育和生物地理研究对区系地理研究有重要意义和潜力。对区系和植被中的关键类群,只有进行深入的分子生物地理学研究,才能使区系地理研究向纵深发展。类群的研究,也应该联系青藏高原隆升和古地中海西退等历史和地质事件,因为它们是中亚干旱的非生物的历史成因。

A floristic phytogeography of arid regions of northwestern China is outlined in this paper. Most researches of floristic cataloging and phytogeography of families and genera were started since 1980. We propose that Central Asia, as a natural region, should be regarded as a distinct unit to study, namely combin- ing northwestern China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as one unit. Local research is not sufficient or holistic for study of plant floristics and evolutionary history. We address the sig- nificance and potential of molecular phylogeny and biogeography of families and genera. Linking geological and palaeoclimate events, especially the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau uplift and the Tethys retreat in the historical floristic phytogeography and vegetation, is suggested as they are the main dynamics of Central Asian aridifi- cation.