Analysis of plant resources and diversity in the southeast area of Taihang Mountains

Taihang Mountains are situated between Shanxi Province and the North China Plain,spanning Beijing,Hebei,Shanxi,and Henan provinces and cities.The mountains extend from northeast to southwest for over 400 km,naturally deviding the second step from the third one in China.The southeastern area of Taihang Mountains specifically refers to Changzhi City and Jincheng Administrative Region of Shanxi Province.Given Shanxi Province’s robust development plans for the southeast area of Taihang Mountains,the medicinal plant resources in this area will be affected.Therefore,it is imperative and urgent to conduct a comprehensive investigation and study on the medicinal plant resources in the southeast area of Taihang Mountains.By means of field investigation,literature review,and specimen identification,the plant resources and diversity of two counties in the southeast of Taihang Mountains were evaluated.The findings revealed 234 plants species across 172 genera in 70 families,primarily comprising angiosperms.The families with more species included Compositae,Leguminosae,Rosaceae,Labiatae,Ranunculaceae.Among the genera,those with more species were Cynanchum,Selaginella,Clematis,Thalictrum,and Rhamnus.A total of 114 medicinal plants were identified,constituting 48.72%of the total.Regarding medicinal parts,the concentration is in roots and rhizomes,followed by whole plants and fruits.On the basis of investigation and study,some suggestions on the development,utilization,and protection of medicinal plant resources in southeast Taihang Mountains were made.These suggestions provide valuable insights for the study on medicinal plant resources and vegetation in the southeast of Taihang Mountains,serving as a scientific basis for the protection and sustainable utilization of wild medicinal plant resources.

New Microorganisms from the Gaoyuzhuang Formation of Northern Taihang Mountains, China

A new diverse assemblage of microorganisms has been discovered in black bedded, nodular and lenticular cherts and dark chert of domical stromatolites in dolostone of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation in Lingqiu County, northern Taihang Mountains. The geologic relationships, biostratigraphic correlations, and available radiometric age determinations place the age of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation at approximately 1400-1600 million years in age. Eight new species, three unnamed species, and two emended genera of oscillatoriacean, nostocacean, and chroococcacean cyanobacteria are described. These data coupled with reports of others indicate that the diversity of taxa in the Gaoyuzhuang Formation reaches 100 species. The Gaoyuzhuang Formation contains one of the richest Mesoproterozoic communities of microfossils. The following new and emended taxa are described: Oscillatoriaceae: Eophormidium orculiformis sp. nov., E, sp,, Siphonophycus caudataceous sp, nov., Palaeolyngbya complanata sp, nov., P. capitata sp. nov., P. sp. and Oscillatoriopsis sp.. Nostocaceae: Veteronostocale vaginata sp, nov.. Chroococcaceae: Maculosphaera giganta sp. nov. and Gloeotheceopsis grandis sp. nov. Incertae sedis: Myxcxoccoides limpida sp. nov.

Application of the Landsat-5TM Image Data in the Feasibility Study of Mudflow Hazards in the Southern Taihang Mountains

The Taihang Mountains area is an area in North China where serious mudflow hazards take place frequently. The hazards often obstrust traffic and make it difficult to carry out conventional ground investigations of the mudflow hazards. This paper introduces the feasibility study of mudflow hazards by using Landsat-5TM data. The study has achieved a great success through adopting both the faint spectral enhancement technique for mudflow fans (or other depositional areas) and comprehensive study of the environmental background of pregnant mudflows. Thus, remote sensing as a fast, convenient, low-cost and effective technical method can be used to recognise the situation of mudflow hazards so that effective rescue can be provided.

Analysis on Change Tendency of the Precipitation Resource during Growth Period of the Conventional Crops in Plain Area before Taihang Mountains

[Objective] The aim was to study change tendency of the precipitation resource during growth period of the conventional crops in plain area before Taihang Mountains. [ Method] Based on daily precipitation data at Shijiazhuang meteorological station in recent 51 years, average rainfall dudng growth periods of the 9 kinds of conventional crops was obtained. Precipitation tendency dudng growth periods of the 9 kinds of conventional crops in plain area before Taihang Mountains was analyzed by Mann-Kendall nonparametric test. [ Result] Seen from rainfall during growth pedods of the different crops, rainfall was the least during the growth period of winter wheat, followed by summer corn. Rainfall during growth peri- ods of the cotton, oil plant, vegetable, fruit tree, potato, rice and legumes was more. Under different guaranteed rates, precipitation change also had difference. Rainfall change during growth periods of the wheat and corn was bigger, and rainfall change during growth period of the rice was smaller. Change degree of the precipitation during growth periods of the cotton, oil plant, vegetable, fruit tree and legumes was equivalent, while precipitation change during growth period of the potato was the biggest. Seen from change tendency of the precipitation during growth periods of the different crops, precipitation in the growth period of winter wheat was increasing at a speed of 0.62 mm/a. However, precipitation in growth periods of the other crops had a decreasing tendency. Precipitation in the growth periods of summer corn and legumes decreased at the same speed which was 2.11 mm/a, while precipitation in growth periods of the cotton, oil plant, vegetable, fruit tree, potato and rice decreased insignificantly. [ Con dusion] The study laid foundation for determination of the agricultural irrigation water and provided theoretical reference for regional agricultural water-saving.

A Numerical Experiment of Mesolow on the Eastern Side of the Taihang Mountains

A numerical experiment on the formation and decay process of a mesolow on the plain east to the Taihang Mountains has been conducted. The dynamical effect of the special topography of the Taihang Mountains and the Yanshan Mountains on the formation of the mesolow is very important. Namely, the difference of the heating between the Taihang Mountains and the North China plain plays an important role in the formation and decay of the mesolow.

Late Quaternary Activity of the Central-North Segment of the Taihang Mountains Piedmont Fault Zone

The location and late Quaternary activity of the Central-North Segment of the Taihang Mountains Piedmont fault zone have been studied by shallow seismic survey and combined drill exploration.Our results show that the Baoding-Shijiazhuang fault and the Xushui fault were active in the late Pleistocene,but the south Xushui fault has been inactive since the late Pleistocene.The maximum magnitude of potential earthquake of the faults is 6.0.

Life in the Taihang Mountains

THE Taihang Mountain Range meanders for 500 kilometers across the territories of Henan, Shanxi and Hebei provinces. It is an important ecological screen for the North China Plain and source of water. In Hebei’s Shexian County sits Wangjinzhuang, a 300-year-old stone village nestled in the mountains.The village is a stone world-lanes, houses, court-yard walls, towers, pavilions, tables, benches and mills are all hewn fom ancient rock. Streets and lanes are paved in stones of various shapes and sizes whose sur-

A Functional Land Use Classification for Ecological, Production and Living Spaces in the Taihang Mountains

A combination of rapid industrialization, economic development and urbanization has caused a series of issues such as resource shortages, ecosystem destruction, environmental pollution and tension between human needs and land conservation. In order to promote balanced development of human, resources, ecosystems, the environment, and the economy and society, it is vital to conceptualize ecological spaces, production spaces and living spaces. Previous studies of ecological-production-living spaces focused mainly on urban and rural areas; few studies have examined mountainous areas. The Taihang Mountains, a key area between the North China Plain and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area providing ecological shelter and the safeguarding of crucial water sources, suffer from increasing problems of fragile environment, inappropriate land use and tensions in the human-land relationship. However, studies of the ecological, production, and living spaces in the Taihang Mountains are still lacking. Therefore, this study, based on the concept of ecological-production-living spaces and using data from multiple sources, took the Taihang Mountains as the study area to build a functional land classification system for ecological-production-living spaces. After the classification system was in place, spatial distribution maps for ecological, production and living spaces were delineated. This space mapping not only characterized the present land use situation, but also established a foundation for future land use optimization. Results showed that the area of ecological space was 78,440 km^2, production space 51,861 km^2 and living space 6,646 km^2, accounting for 57.28%, 37.87% and 4.85% of the total area, respectively. Ecological space takes up the most area and is composed mainly of forests and grasslands. Additionally, most of the ecological space is located in higher elevation mountainous areas, and plays an important role in regulating and maintaining ecological security. Production space, mostly farmlands sustaining livelihoods inside and outside the region, is largely situated in lower elevation plains and hilly areas, as well as in low-lying mountainous basins. Living space has the smallest area and is concentrated mainly in regions with relatively flat terrain and convenient transportation for human settlements.

Spatial variations of terrain and their impacts on landscape patterns in the transition zone from mountains to plains—A case study of Qihe River Basin in the Taihang Mountains

Terrain plays a key role in landscape pattern formation, particularly in the transition zones from mountains to plains.Exploring the relationships between terrain characteristics and landscape types in terrain-complex areas can help reveal the mechanisms underlying the relationships. In this study, Qihe River Basin, situated in the transition zone from the Taihang Mountains to the North-China Plain, was selected as a case study area. First, the spatial variations in the relief amplitudes(i.e.,high-amplitude terrain undulations) were analyzed. Second, the effects of relief amplitudes on the landscape patterns were indepth investigated from the perspectives of both landscape types and landscape indices. Finally, a logistic regression model was employed to examine the relationships between the landscape patterns and the influencing factors(natural and human) at different relief amplitudes. The results show that with increasing relief amplitude, anthropogenic landscapes gradually give in to natral landscapes. Specifically, human factors normally dominate the gentle areas(e.g., flat areas) in influencing the distribution of landscape types, and natural factors normally dominate the highly-undulating areas(e.g., moderate relief areas). As for the intermediately undulating areas(i.e.,medium relief amplitudes), a combined influence of natural and human factors result in the highest varieties of landscape types. The results also show that in micro-relief areas and small relief areas where natural factors and human factors are more or less equally active,landscape types are affected by a combination of natural and human factors.The combination leads to a high fragmentation and a high diversity of landscape patterns. It seems that appropriate human interferences in these areas can be conducive to enhancing landscape diversity and that inappropriate human interferences can aggravate the problems of landscape fragmentation.

Genetic diversity,population structure and demographic history of Dugesia japonica in Taihang Mountains

The freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica has become a model organism in regeneration biology and toxicology due to its powerful regeneration capability and highly chemical sensitivity.Nonetheless,little is known about its evolutionary history and demographics.Taihang Mountains is the natural boundary between the Loess Plateau and the North China Plain,and is considered as one of the important priority areas for biodiversity conservation in China.In order to figure out the genetic diversity,population structure and demographic history of D.japonica in Taihang Mountains,a study based on the mitochondrial COI from 116 individuals sampled across 20 populations has been conducted.The results showed that the 116 COI sequences yielded 32 haplotypes,including 8 shared haplotypes and 24 private ones.The overall haplotype diversity(Hd)and nucleotide diversity(π)were 0.920 and 0.083,respectively.Even though the AMOVA results suggested that the genetic variation among populations was significant(FST=0.480,P<0.01),the phylogeny and haplotype network analysis based on 32 haplotypes revealed no obvious phylogeographic pattern.Furthermore,the significantly positive values of neutrality test(Tajima’s D=2.596,P<0.05;Fu’s Fs=2.769,P<0.01)together with the multimodal arrangement of mismatch distribution indicated that D.japonica in Taihang Mountains would have been undergoing population decline.We hope these findings will arouse conservation and management strategy regarding freshwater planarians and contribute to the biodiversity in the long run.

Mesozoic contraction deformation in the Yanshan and northern Taihang mountains and its implications to the destruction of the North China Craton

Mesozoic contraction deformation in the Yanshan and Taihang mountains is characterized by basement-involved thrust tectonics,basement-cored buckling anticlines and ductile thrust and nappe tectonics.Most of these deformations are orientated west-east,west-northwest and northeast to north-northeast.The contraction deformations began in the Permian,continued through the Triassic and Jurassic and terminated in the Early Cretaceous,and constitute an important part of the destruction of the North China Craton.It is estimated,from balanced cross-section reconstructions,that the north-south shortening of the central part of the Yanshan belt before 135 Ma was around 38%.The initial crust thickness,pre-dating the major contraction deformation in late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic,was estimated to be around 35 km based on paleogeographic characteristics.Assuming that the inferred depth of ductile thrusting deformation,20-25 km,was the crust thickness involved in the contraction deformation,and also assuming that the N-S contraction deformation was accommodated by vertical crust thickening,the thickness of the crust after the contraction deformation was expected to be around 47-50 km.This was the approximate crust thickness required for the eclogitization of the lower crust for delamination.The gravity potential accumulated by the isostatic uplift of the thickened crust,together with the decrease in crustal strength caused by the coeval magmatisms associated with the contraction deformation,led to the subsequent extensional collapse of the middle and upper crust although the regional stress regime associated with the plate interactions remained constant.It is inferred that the Mesozoic contraction deformations in the Yanshan and Taihang mountains were not only a significant tectonic process contributing to the destruction of the craton in middle and upper crust but also stimulated delamination at a deep level and the extension of the shallow crust.In other words,both the suspected delamination of the lower crust and upper mantle and the well constrained extension deformations of the shallow crust in the eastern North China Craton during the late Mesozoic are a consequence of crust thickening due to previous contractions.Extensional deformations could be expected to occur independently in the shallow crust,and are not necessarily associated with or responding to delamination at a deep level.

Seismic analysis of the active character of the Taihang Mountain piedmont fault

The Taihang Mountain piedmont fault is a large-scale structure zone in north and east China which cross Beijing,with the NE-NNE extent spans approximately 620 km.It is very important to determine the fault zone activity due to the close relation of active structures and earthquakes.Regarding the fault activity,there are three different opinions：1） it is a large deep fault zone;2） it is an active fault zone and an earthquake structure belt;and 3） it is not an earthquake structure belt.In order to ascertain the active character of the fault,the deep tectonic setting and the activity since the Quaternary were investigated using recent seismic and drilling data to make a joint interpretation.The investigation results show that the Taihang Mountain piedmont fault is not a large lithospheric fault because the early middle Pleistocene（Q（P2）） layers are offset by the fault and the late middle Pleistocene（Q（P2）） and late Pleistocene layers are not offset by the fault.We determine that the Taihang Mountain piedmont fault in the area is not an active fault and is also not a large lithospheric fault.This study result provides important geological and geophysical data for city planning and construction in Hebei province and, especially,has great significance for seismic hazard assessment of the capital area.

Magmatic Activities and Orogenic Process of Taihangshan Intraplate Orogen

Taihangshan orogen, called as tectonomagmatic belt, is thought to be a part of Mesozoic circum Pacific magmatic arc. On the basis of the studying of intrusive rocks of Taihang Mountains in Yanshanian, we compare the petrochemical and geochemical characteristics and their generation information from intrusives of different periods and regions in details. We suggest the idea of “Taihangshan style orogen” and its generation model. It is suggested that Taihangshan orogen is a new orogenic type, which is controlled by the long distance effect of the subduction between the plate boundaries of Europe Asian and Pacific Ocean, marked by extensive magmatic activity, and characterized by the two way thickening of the crust along the depth dimension.

Late Cenozoic Geomorphology, Geochronology and Physiography of Yuntaishan in Southern Taihang Mountain, North China

The late Cenozoic geomorphic features and geochronologic data of the Zhingfang River catchment in the Yuntaishan World Geopark are studied. Several quarternary geochronologic methods, including electron spin resonance （ESR）, optically stimulated luminescence （OSL）, thermo-luminescence （TL） and U-series are presented in this paper. The results suggest that there are two planation surfaces, named as the Taihang surface which is a peneplain of Taihang stage formed during Oligocene or Oligocene to early-middle Miocene period, and Tang-hien surface which is a mature wide valley of Tang-hien stage formed during late Miocene-Pliocene or Piiocene-early Pleistocene period and probably ended prior to 2.2-2.6 Ma based on ESR dating. After the Tang-hien stage, the incision and aggradation of the river formed six stream terraces with heights of 3-5 m, 8-12 m, 22-24 m, 28-38 m, 50-62 m and 80-85 m above the river bottom, respectively. The dating results of the alluvium sediments suggest that these terraces were formed during Holocene, 20-23 ka B.P., 110-120 ka B.P., 200-240 ka B.P., 840-1200 ka B.P. or ~450 ka B.P. and 1600-1800 ka B.P. or -1100 ka B.P., respectively. These results indicate that episodic incision of the river, which controls the formation of the scenery in the Yuntaishan World Geopark, was mainly influenced by the periodic dry-wet climate change during late Cenozoic mountain uplift.

Evaluation of the production-living-ecology space function suitability of Pingshan County in the Taihang mountainous area,China

A rational utilization of land is a matter of importance in sustainable development of mountainous area.The land function in mountainous areas has a close connection with space structure of ecology,production and living.To promote a harmonious development of the relationship between people and nature in mountainous areas,it is necessary to coordinate their relationships of space functions.Suitability evaluation of basic unit function associated with multi-scale space analysis is a prerequisite to a reasonable optimization of land function structure.In this study,an optimized evaluation index system of combination functions was introduced into the assessment of ecological spatial functional suitability in ecological fragile regions by adding three indicators,namely,soil erosion sensitivity,landscape ecological risk and ecological sensitivity.The principle of"taking high"(referred to a function with high suitability to be regarded as the main function of an evaluation unit)and ecological priority(referred to the case,supposing the suitability of a unit’s three functions is consistent,the main function is determined to be the ecological function)were used to determine the main function of an evaluation unit.Pingshan County,China,located at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountain,was targeted in this case study.The production-livingecology space(PLES)function in Pingshan was identified by applying our improved valuation indexes.Further,the functional suitability distribution of the combination of elements was obtained by using overlapping comprehensive analysis method,considering the tradeoff of the functional suitability of combination elements.The regions suitable for production/living were distributed in relatively flat piedmont plains,whereas the regions suitable for ecology were distributed in the mountain areas of middle and low altitudes.Therefore,to maintain a sustainable development in mountainous areas,an improved scheme of development for Pingshan should be to delineate ecologically fragile areas,to build ecological industrial parks near existing scenic spots,to protect basic agricultural production areas,and to increase investment in science and technology,including reasonable ecological compensation.This study can provide reference for the planning of sustainable development in the Taihang Mountain area and similar regions.

Estimation of evapotranspiration with drainage lysimeters in the Taihang Mountain area,China

In this research, the evapotranspiration （ET） of three native vegetation communities were measured using drainage lysime- ters in the Taihang Mountain area, China. They are a local grass, Themedajaponica, a local shrub, Vitex negundo var. heterophylla Rebd. and a mixture of both communities. The ET was measured using level lysimeters （with a slope of 0°） and slope lysimeters （with a slope of 25°）. In general, the measured ET was higher in the level lysimeters than in the slope lysimeters because of the water loss of surface runoff from the slope lysimeter. The total ETs over the growing season for the grass, shrub, and the mixture were 730.4, 742.0 and 790.7 mm, respectively in the level lysimeters, and 535.5, 504.1 and 540.1 mm, respectively in the slope lysimeters. In addition, the monthly ET peaked in August and had close linear relationship with leaf area index. The drainage lysimeter is an effective tool to estimate plant ET in mountain areas. The results from this research would provide scientific information for the vegetation recovery and sustainable development of forestry in the TM areas.

Analysis of the Relationship between Vertical Distribution of Four Automatic Stations and Local Precipitation in Taihang Mountain of Linzhou

[ Objective] The reseamh aimed to analyze the relationship between vertical distribution of four automatic stations and local precipitation in Taihang Mountain of Linzhou. [ Method] Using mesoscale detection and statistical data of the automatic stations in Henan, the geographical distribution of the precipitation affected by underlying surface in mountainous area of Linzhou was analyzed. [ Result] Surface mesoscale wind field convergence line formed by thermal action of inhomogeneous underlying surface and mountainous terrain and upward movement played the strengthening role to the low-level jet. They affected formation and development of strong convective weather. The geographic distribution of precipitation in mountainous area was highly affected by the terrain, and rainfall, precipitation days and intensity in mountainous area were significantly greater than that in the surrounding hills region. In particular, rainfall on the windward slope significantly increased, and rainfall increased as mountain height within a certain height. [ Conclusion] Hourly ground data analysis at automatic stations had very good forecast indication role in formation, development and dissipation of heavy rain in mountainous areas.

Cascaded Evolution of Mantle Plumes and Metallogenesis of Core- and Mantle-derived Elements

Mineral deposits are unevenly distributed in the Earth's crust, which is closely related to the formation and evolution of the Earth. In the early history of the Earth, controlled by the gravitational contraction and thermal expansion, lighter elements, such as radioactive, halogen-family, rare and rare earth elements and alkali metals, migrated upwards; whereas heavier elements, such as iron-family and platinum-family elements, base metals and noble metals, had a tendency of sinking to the Earth's core, so that the elements iron, nickel, gold and silver are mainly concentrated in the Earth's core. However, during the formation of the stratified structure of the Earth, the existence of temperature, pressure and viscosity differences inside and outside the Earth resulted in vertical material movement manifested mainly by cascaded evolution of mantle plumes in the Earth. The stratifications and vertical movement of the Earth were interdependent and constituted the motive force of the mantle-core movement. The cascaded evolution of mantle plumes opens the passageways for the migration of deep-seated ore-forming material, and thus elements such as gold and silver concentrated in the core and on the core-mantle boundary migrate as the gaseous state together with the hot material flow of mantle plumes against the gravitational force through the passageways to the lithosphere, then migrate as the mixed gas-liquid state to the near-surface level and finally are concentrated in favorable structural expansion zones, forming mineral deposits. This is possibly the important metallogenic mechanism for gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper and other many elements. Take for example the NE-plunging crown of the Fuping mantle-branch structure, the paper analyzes ductile-brittle shear zone-type gold fields (Weijiayu) at the core of the magmatic-metamorphic complex, principal detachment-type gold fields (Shangmingyu) and hanging-wall cover fissure-vein-type lead-zinc polymetallic ore fields (Lianbaling) and further briefly analyzes the source of ore-forming material and constructs an ore-forming and -controlling model.

Features and values of geological heritage resources in Shunping County,Hebei Province

Hebei Province is rich in geological heritage resources due to its diverse landforms and unique natural conditions.However,detailed investigation and study of the resources are still limited,and a systematic survey conducted on a small scale has not been fully implemented.In this paper,the resource types and characteristics of the geological heritage in Shunping County are systematically discussed,on the basis of field investigation and scientific evaluation.With reference to the existing criteria for geological heritage resources survey,the heritage values and corresponding levels were assessed by using multi-factor quantitative evaluation approach.The results show that there are 33 geological heritage sites in Shunping County,which fall into 3 categories,10 classes and 17 subcategories.Among them,2 heritage sites are above the provincial level,14 heritage sites are at the provincial level and 17 ones are below the level.These heritage sites are not only natural resources with great tourism potential,but also valuable asset in geological research,human history,ecological conservation,scientific education and some other aspects.It is hence of great significance to conduct the scientific and reasonable appraisal for having a better understanding,good protection and development of the geological heritage resources in Hebei Province.