Aims The vertical distribution of plant roots is a comprehensive result of plant adaptation to the environment.Limited knowledge on fine vertical root distributions and complex interactions between roots and environme...Aims The vertical distribution of plant roots is a comprehensive result of plant adaptation to the environment.Limited knowledge on fine vertical root distributions and complex interactions between roots and environmental variables hinders our ability to reliably predict climatic impacts on vegetation dynamics.This study attempts to understand the drought adaptability of plants in arid areas from the perspective of the relationship between vertical root distribution and surroundings.Methods By analyzing root profiles compiled from published studies,the root vertical profiles of two typical phreatophytes,Tamarix ramosissima and Populus euphratica,and their relationships with environmental factors were investigated.A conceptual model was adopted to link the parameter distribution frequency with plant drought adaptability.Important Findings The strong hydrotropism(groundwater-dependent)and flexible water-use strategy of T.ramosissima and P.euphratica help both species survive in hyperarid climates.The differences in the developmental environments between T.ramosissima and P.euphratica can be explained well by the different distribution characteristics of root profiles.That is,higher root plasticity helps T.ramosissima develop a more efficient water-use strategy and therefore survive in more diverse climatic and soil conditions than P.euphratica.We conclude that the higher variation in root profile characteristics of phreatophytes can have greater root adaptability to the surroundings and thus wider hydrological niches and stronger ecological resilience.The inadequacy of models in describing root plasticity limits the accuracy of predicting the future response of vegetation to climate change,which calls for developing process-based dynamic root schemes in Earth system models.展开更多
Water-sediment regulation of the Yellow River is to regulate and control the flow and sediment transport relationship of the lower reaches through reservoirs on the main streams and tributaries to create balance betwe...Water-sediment regulation of the Yellow River is to regulate and control the flow and sediment transport relationship of the lower reaches through reservoirs on the main streams and tributaries to create balance between water and sediment so that sediment transport capacity of the downstream channels can be maximized,shrinking of channels be contained,and medium flood channel be restored and maintained.Many years' research by the Yellow River Conservancy Commission(YRCC) reveals the water and sediment transport relationship that will prevent sedimentation at the downstream river channels.Based on this relationship and coming sediment and water conditions in the Yellow River basin,the YRCC,with maximized use of reservoirs on the main streams and tributaries,has developed three models of water-sediment regulation:single Xiaolangdi Reservoir-dominated regulation,space scale water-sediment match,and mainstream reservoirs joint operation.Ten water-sediment regulations based on these three models have resulted in an average drop of 1.5 m in the main channel of the downstream 800 km river and an increase of carrying capacity from 1800 to 4000 m3/s.Besides,the wetland ecosystems of estuarine delta has also been improved and restored significantly.展开更多
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42071042 and 41877165)the NSFC-RFBR(42111530027 and 21-55-53017ГФЕН_а)Ping Wang and Sergey P.Pozdniakov are grateful for support by the Special Exchange Programme of the Chinese Academy of Sciences 2019-2020。
文摘Aims The vertical distribution of plant roots is a comprehensive result of plant adaptation to the environment.Limited knowledge on fine vertical root distributions and complex interactions between roots and environmental variables hinders our ability to reliably predict climatic impacts on vegetation dynamics.This study attempts to understand the drought adaptability of plants in arid areas from the perspective of the relationship between vertical root distribution and surroundings.Methods By analyzing root profiles compiled from published studies,the root vertical profiles of two typical phreatophytes,Tamarix ramosissima and Populus euphratica,and their relationships with environmental factors were investigated.A conceptual model was adopted to link the parameter distribution frequency with plant drought adaptability.Important Findings The strong hydrotropism(groundwater-dependent)and flexible water-use strategy of T.ramosissima and P.euphratica help both species survive in hyperarid climates.The differences in the developmental environments between T.ramosissima and P.euphratica can be explained well by the different distribution characteristics of root profiles.That is,higher root plasticity helps T.ramosissima develop a more efficient water-use strategy and therefore survive in more diverse climatic and soil conditions than P.euphratica.We conclude that the higher variation in root profile characteristics of phreatophytes can have greater root adaptability to the surroundings and thus wider hydrological niches and stronger ecological resilience.The inadequacy of models in describing root plasticity limits the accuracy of predicting the future response of vegetation to climate change,which calls for developing process-based dynamic root schemes in Earth system models.
文摘Water-sediment regulation of the Yellow River is to regulate and control the flow and sediment transport relationship of the lower reaches through reservoirs on the main streams and tributaries to create balance between water and sediment so that sediment transport capacity of the downstream channels can be maximized,shrinking of channels be contained,and medium flood channel be restored and maintained.Many years' research by the Yellow River Conservancy Commission(YRCC) reveals the water and sediment transport relationship that will prevent sedimentation at the downstream river channels.Based on this relationship and coming sediment and water conditions in the Yellow River basin,the YRCC,with maximized use of reservoirs on the main streams and tributaries,has developed three models of water-sediment regulation:single Xiaolangdi Reservoir-dominated regulation,space scale water-sediment match,and mainstream reservoirs joint operation.Ten water-sediment regulations based on these three models have resulted in an average drop of 1.5 m in the main channel of the downstream 800 km river and an increase of carrying capacity from 1800 to 4000 m3/s.Besides,the wetland ecosystems of estuarine delta has also been improved and restored significantly.