ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE EFFECTS OF WINDBREAK SYSTEMS IN DESERT ZONE OF WESTERN CHINA

This paper, by applying the theories of landscape ecology, illustrates the role and mechanism of windbreak system in the establishment and maintenance of oasis ecosystem on the basis of systematic analysis of characteristics and ecological crises of China's desert, and especially of desert zone in western China. Furthermore, direct economic benefits are summarized.

Analysis on the change of water potential of Populus euphratica Oliv.and P.Russkii Jabl under different irrigation volumes in temperate desert zone

The measurement of plant water potential is considered to be a direct approach to confirming the irrigation time in present irrigation systems.In this current study,two shelter forests species in the Junggar Basin (Central Asia),Populus euphratica and P.Russkii Jabl,were studied.We monitored leaf water potential (ψl),stem water potential (ψs) and soil water potential (ψsoil) under different irrigation conditions.The characteristics of the variation in leaf and stem water potential (ψl and ψs) of P.euphratica and P.Russkii Jabl,as well as the impact of soil water potential (ψsoil) on the leaf and stem water potential (ψl and ψs) under different irrigation conditions were discussed.Our results showed the following.(1) With increased irrigation,the intensity of drought stress on P.euphratica and P.Russkii Jabl decreased.(2) The intensity of drought stress experienced was less for P.Russkii Jabl than for P.euphratica under the same irrigation conditions.(3) The more intense the drought,the less sensitive was P.Russkii Jabl,but the more sensitive was P.euphratica,and vice versa.(4) For the P.euphratica community the soil water potential (Ψsoil) at 60 cm depth responded to variation in irrigation more strongly than at 30 and 90 cm depths.For the P.Russkii Jabl community the soil water potential (ψsoil) in the shallow surface layer responded to irrigation variation more strongly than that in deep layers.(5) In the event of relatively sufficient soil water,predawn stem water potential (ψpds) of plant was a reasonable indicator reflecting soil water potential (ψsoil).(6) The water demand of P.euphratica and P.Russkii Jabl shelter forests can be met with different irrigation policies:large volume and less frequency for P.euphratica but small volume and more frequency for P.Russkii Jabl.

Evapotranspiration of an oasis-desert transition zone in the middle stream of Heihe River, Northwest China

As a main component in water balance, evapotranspiration is of great importance for water saving and irrigation-measure making, especially in arid or semiarid regions. Although studies of evapotranspiration have been conducted for a long time, studies concentrated on oasis-desert transition zone are very limited. On the basis of the meteorological data and other parameters（e.g. leaf area index（LAI）） of an oasis-desert transition zone in the middle stream of Heihe River from 2005 to 2011, this paper calculated both reference（ET0） and actual evapotranspiration（ETc） using FAO56 Penman-Monteith and Penman-Monteith models, respectively. In combination with pan evaporation（Ep） measured by E601 pan evaporator, four aspects were analyzed：（1） ET0 was firstly verified by Ep;（2） Characteristics of ET0 and ETc were compared, while the influencing factors were also analyzed;（3） Since meteorological data are often unavailable for estimating ET0 through FAO56 Penman-Monteith model in this region, pan evaporation coefficient（Kp） is very important when using observed Ep to predict ET0. Under this circumstance, an empirical formula of Kp was put forward for this region;（4） Crop coefficient（Kc）, an important index to reflect evapotranspiration, was also analyzed. Results show that mean annual values of ET0 and ETc were 840 and 221 mm, respectively. On the daily bases, ET0 and ETc were 2.3 and 0.6 mm/d, respectively. The annual tendency of ET0 and ETc was very similar, but their amplitude was obviously different. The differences among ET0 and ETc were mainly attributed to the different meteorological variables and leaf area index. The calculated Kc was about 0.25 and showed little variation during the growing season, indicating that available water（e.g. precipitation and irrigation） of about 221 mm/a was required to keep the water balance in this region. The results provide an comprehensive analysis of evapotranspiration for an oasis-desert transition zone in the middle stream of Heihe River, which was seldom reported before.

Soil Microbial Population in the Vicinity of the Bean Caper(Zygophyllum dumosum)Root Zone in a Desert System

The aim of the current study was to gain a better understanding of the changes in soil microbial biomass and basal respiration dynamics in the vicinity of the bean caper(Zygophyllum dumosum)perennial desert shrub and the inter-shrub sites.Microbial biomasses as well as basal respiration were found to be significantly greater in the soil samples taken beneath the Z.dumosum shrubs than from the inter-shrub sampling sites,with no differences between the two sampling layers(0-10 and 10-20 cm)throughout the study period.However,seasonal changes were observed due to autumn dew formation,which significantly affected microbial biomass and basal respiration in the upper-layer inter-shrub locations. The calculated metabolic coefficient(qCO_2)revealed significant differences between the two sampling sites as well as between the two soil layers,elucidating the abiotic effect between the sites throughout the study period.The substrate availability index was found to significantly demonstrate the differences between the two sites,elucidating the significant contribution of Z.dumosum in food source availability and in moderating harsh abiotic components.The importance of basal microbial parameters and the derived indices as tools demonstrated the importance and need for basic knowledge in understanding plant-soil interactions determined by an unpredictable and harsh desert environment.

Mineralogy,M-type tetrad effect and radioactivity of altered granites at the G.Abu Garadi shear zone,central Eastern Desert,Egypt

The G. Abu Garadi area is covered mainly by metasediments, alkali feldspar granites and stream sediments. The alkali feldspar granite is traversed by a major strike-slip fault trending in an N-S direction as well as two subordinate sets of faults trending NW to WNW for the first one and NE for the second one. These faults represent the shear zones affected by magmatic (syngenetic) as well as hydrothermal (epigenetic) activities causing alteration of the granitic rocks. The most common alteration features are albitization, greisenization and koalinitization. The mass balance calculations of the studied altered samples show enrichments in Zr, Y, Ni, U, Th and Ga and depletions in Zn, Sr, Nb, Ba, Pb, Cu and V. Only the greisenized samples exhibit a significant enrichment in Nb, ∑REE budget and pronounced lanthanide tetrad effect (M-type), especially TE1,4, while weakly expressed tetrad effects are for the other albitized and koalinitized samples. Mineralogically, the common accessory minerals in the altered samples include samarskite-(Y), betafite, uranothorite, zircon, fluorite and cassiterite. The greisenized granites contain high eU and eTh than the other altered types, where they are characterized by an assemblage of the radioactive minerals; samarskite-(Y), betafite, uranothorite in addition to zircon. The inter-element relationships between U and Th and also their ratios illustrate that the radioelement distribution in these granites is mainly governed by magmatic processes, in addition to post-magmatic ones. The distribution of chemical elements and the fractionation of some isovalents within the shear zone are largely controlled by the newly formed mineral phases. With respect to uranium mobilization, uranium migrated from the host alkali feldspar granites of G. Abu Garadi, while the shear zones acted as traps for the migrated uranium. Moreover, U migrated in the shear zone during greisenization and albitization, and migrated out during koalinitization.

Distribution of groundwater salinity and formation mechanism of fresh groundwater in an arid desert transition zone

This study reviews the distribution of groundwater salinity in an arid desert transition zone. By combining field experiments and computer simulation models we make a comprehensive analysis of the formation mechanism of fresh groundwater in relation to the paleogeographic conditions of lithofacies, the geochemical characteristics of the aquifer media, salt deliverability in the vadose zone and prevailing hydrodynamic conditions. The results demonstrate that(1) the lacustrine facies deposition stratum of the Huanhe formation in the Cretaceous system provides a brackish-salt groundwater environment;(2) the average salinity of parent rocks are approximately 440 mg/kg and 4 371 mg/kg in the Quaternary eolian sand and the Cretaceous Huanhe formation respectively, suggesting that parent rocks are the principal controlling factor in the distribution of groundwater quality given that mineral and chemical composition of the eolian sand is simpler than that of the Huanhe formation;(3) average groundwater flow rates are approximately 0.25 m/d and 0.1 m/d in eolian sand and Huanhe formation aquifers respectively, indicating that hydrodynamic conditions play an important role in driving in the formation and evolution of fresh groundwater;(4) The salinity deliverability in the vadose zone overlying the aeolian sand and Huanhe formation aquifers are approximately 15.97 mg/L and 220.42 mg/L respectively, signifying that the combination of lithology and salt content of vadose zone, rainfall infiltration, evapotranspiration and concentration heavily influence the formation, distribution and evolution of groundwater quality. This study can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development and utilization of groundwater resources in arid areas.

AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR AN ECO-CLIMATIC ZONATION AND ITS APPLICATION AS ZONES IN ARID GRASSLANDS,SEMIDESERTS AND DESERTS

The method was developed for a Range Management Handbook of Kenya and the pre-liminary results published 1991. Now it is improved to a stage ready for international discus-sion.1. Main moisture Zones are defined by a specified sum of monthly moistureindices:

Response of Vegetation Cover to Climate Change and Influence of Dusty Weather in the Desertloess Transitional Zone of China

[Objective]This study aimed to analyze the relationships of the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)(1981-2006)in the desert-loess transitional zone of China with precipitation and temperature.[Method]The average method and the correlation function were applied in this study.[Result]The results indicated that during the growing season NDVI was positively correlated with precipitation in the current month,last month and the month before last,especially the last month.NDVI mostly negatively correlated with temperature,especially the temperature in the last month,which shows that the higher temperature,the more adverse the conditions for vegetation growth.[Conclusion]NDVI from August to October clearly is one of the significant factors influencing dust storm weather in spring of the next year.

Relation between some variations of soil and surface vegetation and desertization in agriculture-pasture interlacing zone——An example from Kangbao County, North Hebei, China

The studied agriculture\|pasture interlacing zone has its specific natural conditions, at which the natural systems are unstable, their self\|regulation capability is low and the equilibrium is easily broken, and hence the habitat is fairly vulnerable. During last 20 years the increasing population and livestock, over\|reclamation, over\|pasturing, over\|deforesting, and other intensified negative human activities in the zone resulted in coarsening of surface soil, decrease of organic mater content in soil, reduction of vegetation coverage, variation and degradation of flora structure, and hence in desertization of the land, although average of gales and sandstorms some decreased and the climate tended to be better in the region. However, the frequent sandstorms occurring in the springs of last and present years has attracted much attention. Investigations confirmed that the main cause for the phenomena is the unreasonable human activities rather than the natural factors.

Local convergence zones or discontinuous lines in the Taklimakan Desert, Northwest China

In order to study convergence zones or discontinuous lines formed locally in the Taklimakan Desert,we analyzed available MODIS images onboad TERRA or AQUA satellite for ten cases:29 March 2002,14 April 2002;2 January 2003;21 April 2003;26 March 2004;28 April 2004;30 January 2005;25 June 2005;3 December 2005;and 26 July 2006.We used weather maps published by the Japan Mete-orological Agency for the Asia and Pacific region at 500 hPa,700 hPa and 850 hPa,at 00Z and 12Z to analyze the meteorological conditions occurring in each case.We estimated the positions of air streams,convergence zones or discontinuous lines between them,and thermal conditions on the maps and con-firmed the presence of cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds through satellite images in particular.After a review of previous studies,this paper introduced the results of the present study.Closed warm areas in the Taklimakan Desert and on the Tibetan Plateau and local convergence zones or discontinuous lines in the Taklimakan Desert were discussed together with their diurnal changes,using composite maps of the ten cases.Along the long axis of the desert the convergence zones or discontinuous lines normally extend 70-80 km in a west-east direction,but are suspected to exceed 100 km in extreme cases.On the other hand,the convergence zones or discontinuous lines extending in a north-south direction on the southern fringe of the desert have a length of 40-60 km.The closed warm areas show clear diurnal changes,but they were not detected at the 500 hPa level.An example of a clear convergence zone running in a north-south direction on 26 July 2006 was presented in detail with corresponding satellite images.

含界面过渡区随机分布多边形骨料沙漠砂混凝土高温后抗压强度研究

为研究试件尺寸、界面过渡区(ITZ)厚度及强度、沙漠砂替代率(DSRR)对沙漠砂混凝土(DSC)经历高温后抗压强度的影响,将DSC看作三相复合材料,建立含ITZ随机分布多边形骨料有限元模型,利用ANSYS对高温后DSC单轴受压破坏过程进行数值模拟。结果表明:模拟结果与试验结果误差在-2.59%~3.13%,吻合良好。高温后DSC抗压强度随试件尺寸增大而减小,强度下降范围为1.44%~4.13%;抗压强度随ITZ厚度增加呈逐渐减小趋势;随着ITZ强度增加,抗压强度基本呈线性增大趋势;抗压强度在DSRR为40%时最优,研究结果可为DSC工程应用提供理论依据。

荒漠-绿洲过渡带NDVI演变及影响因子相关性分析

荒漠-绿洲过渡带是绿洲与荒漠相互转化过程中表现最活跃的地区,具有防止荒漠扩张、维持绿洲生态安全等重要的生态功能。本研究以民勤县为研究区域,根据绿洲外围归一化差异植被指数(Normalized difference vegetation index,NDVI)的变化规律,确定民勤荒漠-绿洲过渡带的范围;利用2000—2020年内最大NDVI数据及降水、温度、日照时数、土壤水分影响因子,在像元尺度采用偏相关及多元相关分析方法,研究过渡带NDVI变化趋势及影响因子相关性分析。结果表明,绿洲边界外5000 m范围为民勤荒漠-绿洲过渡带范围,其中绿洲外0~300 m为过渡带核心区,300~2000 m为过渡带交错区,2000~5000 m范围为过渡带缓冲区。自2000年以来,过渡带区域NDVI整体呈增加趋势,其中,明显改善和稳定不变的面积占比较高,分别为47.8%和42.2%,其他占比较小,严重退化区域主要在靠近绿洲的过渡带核心区。降水增加对过渡带南部地带性植被的改善起主导作用,温度的上升对过渡带东部及西北部NDVI改善的促进作用更明显,日照时数的增加对过渡带西部及东南部NDVI改善的促进作用更大,土壤水分的增加对过渡带整体NDVI的改善均具有促进作用。土壤水分和降水是促进过渡带NDVI改善的主要因子。

荒漠绿洲区土壤生态化学计量特征及驱动因素

通过研究塔里木盆地东北缘绿洲区耕地、园地、林地和裸地中土壤养分元素含量特征,分析了荒漠绿洲区不同土地利用方式对土壤生态化学计量特征的影响,以期为脆弱生态系统土壤质量和功能评价提供参考依据.结果表明:①研究区土壤中TN、SOC含量处于缺乏状态,TP含量处于正常水平,TK含量较为丰富;pH值呈现“西北高、东南低”的分布格局,与其他元素的空间分布格局表现出一定的负相关关系.②TC、SOC、TP、TN含量在耕地中最高,裸地中最低,不同土地利用方式中TK含量差异性不显著.TC、SOC、TN、TP“表聚效应”明显,随土层深度的增加含量减少;pH值随土层深度的增加而增加;TK含量在不同深度变化不明显.③4种土地利用方式中,w(C):w(N)大小依次为裸地>园地>林地>耕地,w(C):w(P)大小依次为园地>林地>裸地>耕地,w(N):w(P)大小依次为园地>耕地>裸地>林地.不同土壤深度上,w(C):w(N)随土层深度的增加而增加,w(N):w(P)随土层深度的增加而减少,w(C):w(P)无明显变化规律.④生态化学计量特征累计方差解释量为91.66%,其中TN对土壤生态化学计量特征的重要性最高,解释量为53.5%.综上,通过提高氮磷复合肥的施用及引种固氮植物等方式,可缓解干旱绿洲区土壤养分元素缺乏的现象.

黑河中游荒漠-绿洲过渡带固沙植物根区土壤颗粒组成及分形特征

探究荒漠-绿洲过渡带固沙植物根区土壤颗粒分布及分形特征,可对区域生态植被建设和荒漠化防治提供一定理论依据。选取黑河中游的荒漠-绿洲过渡带内3种固沙植物作为研究对象,采集固沙植物根区0~120 cm土层的土壤样品,测定了土壤粒度组成,并计算了土壤颗粒分形维数D。结果显示:3种固沙植物根区土壤的颗粒以中砂粒(0.25~0.5 mm)和细砂粒(0.1~0.25 mm)为主,占比75%以上,除中砂粒和细砂粒外,不同粒级土壤颗粒质量分数由高到低为极细砂粒>粗砂粒>粉粒>黏粒;3种固沙植物根区的土壤颗粒组成存在显著差异(P<0.05),沙拐枣根区土壤细砂粒和极细砂粒质量分数显著高于泡泡刺和梭梭,泡泡刺根区土壤中粉粒和黏粒质量分数显著高于梭梭和沙拐枣;3种固沙植物根区土壤颗粒分形维数D也存在显著差异(P<0.05),泡泡刺(2.00)>梭梭(1.94)>沙拐枣(1.91),且浅层(0~60 cm)土壤易受外界因素干扰,土壤颗粒分形维数D变化幅度较大;土壤颗粒分形维数D与土壤颗粒中的黏粒和粉粒质量分数呈极显著的正相关关系,与土壤中颗粒的砂粒质量分数呈极显著负相关关系,土壤颗粒分形维数D能较好地体现研究区固沙植物根区的土壤颗粒组成。提高固沙植物数量和覆盖率对于沙化土壤固定,改善土壤质量,防止风蚀的发生均具有重要意义。

Spatial pattern of plant species diversity and the influencing factors in a Gobi Desert within the Heihe River Basin, Northwest China

Understanding the spatial pattern of plant species diversity and the influencing factors has important implications for the conservation and management of ecosystem biodiversity. The transitional zone between biomes in desert ecosystems, however, has received little attention in that regard. In this study, we conducted a quantitative field survey （including 187 sampling plots） in a 40-km2 study area to determine the spatial pattern of plant species diversity and analyze the influencing factors in a Gobi Desert within the Heihe River Basin, Northwest China. A total of 42 plant species belonging to 16 families and 39 genera were recorded. Shrub and semi-shrub species generally represented the major part of the plant communities （covering 90% of the land surface）, while annual and perennial herbaceous species occupied a large proportion of the total recorded species （71%）. Patrick richness index （R）, Shannon-Wiener diversity index （H）, Simpson＇s dominance index （D）, and Pielou＇s evenness index （I） were all moderately spadaUy variable, and the variability increased with increasing sampling area. The semivariograms for R and H＇ were best fitted with Gaussian models while the semivariograms for D andJ were best fitted with exponential models. Nugget-to-still ratios indicated a moderate spatial autocorrelation for R, H＇, and D while a strong spatial autocorrelation was observed for J. The spatial patterns of R and H＇ were closely related to the geographic location within the study area, with lower values near the oasis and higher values near the mountains. However, there was an opposite trend for D. R, H＇, and D were significantly correlated with elevation, soil texture, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and total porosity （P〈0.05）. Generally speaking, locations at higher elevations tended to have higher species richness and diversity and the higher elevations were characterized by higher values in sand and gravel contents, bulk density, and saturated hydraulic conductivity and also by lower values in total porosity. Furthermore, spatial variability of plant species diversity was dependent on the sampling area.

Microclimatic characteristics of the Heihe oasis in the hyperarid zone of China

The microclimate of a desert oasis in hyperarid zone of China was monitored using micrometeorological methods and compared with those of areas adjacent to forested land. Differences in ground-level photosynthetically active radiation （PAR） on clear, cloudy and dust storm days and their subtending causes are analysed and discussed. Desert oases serve the ecological functions of altering solar radiation, adjusting near-ground and land surface temperatures, reducing soil temperature differences, lowering wind velocity, and increasing soil and atmospheric humidity. The total solar radiation in the interior of the oasis was roughly half of that outside a forest canopy. During the growing season, air temperatures in Populus euphratica Oliv. （poplar） and Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. （tamarisk） forests were 1.62℃ and 0.83 ℃ lower respectively than those in the areas around the forests. Furthermore, the miler the forest cover, the greater the temperature drops; air temperatures in the upper storey were greater than those in the lower storey, i.e., air temperature rose with increasing height. Over the growing season, the relative humidities of the air in the poplar and tamarisk forests were 8.5% and 4.2% higher respectively than those in areas around the forests. Mean wind velocity in poplar-forested lands was 0.33 m·s^-1, 2.31 m·s^-1 lower than that in the surrounding area. During dust storm days the PAR was significantly lower than that on cloudy or clear days, when it was high and varied in an irregular manner.

Application of Holdridge life-zone model based on the terrain factor in Xinjiang Automous Region

This study improved the application of the Holdridge life-zone model to simulate the distribution of desert vegetation in China which gives statistics to support eco-recovery and ecosystem reconstruction in desert area. This study classified the desert vegetation into four types： （1） LAD： little arbor desert; （2） SD： shrub desert： （3） HLHSD： half-shrub, little half-shrub desert; （4） LHSCD： little halfshrub cushion desert. Based on the classification of Xinjiang desert vegetation, the classical Holdridge life-zone model was used to simulate Xinjiang desert vegetation＇s distribution and compare the Kappa coefficient result of the model with table of accuracy represented by Kappa values. The Kappa value of the model was only 0.19, it means the simulation result was poor. To improve the life-zone model application to Xinjiang desert vegetation type, a set of plot standards for terrain factors was developed by using the plot standard as the reclassification criterion to climate sub-regime. Then the desert vegetation in Xinjiang was simulated. The average Kappa value of the second simulation to the respective climate regime was 0.45. The Kappa value of final modeling result was 0.64, which is the better value. The modification of the model made it in more application region. In the end, the model＇ s ecological relevance to the Xinjiang desert vegetation types was studied.

Response of ants to grazing disturbance at the central Monte Desert of Argentina: community descriptors and functional group scheme

Livestock ranching is one of the main productive activities in arid regions of the world.Grazing produces changes in animal as well as plant communities(e.g.richness,abundance and species dominance relationships).Ants are good biological indicators due to the environmental fidelity of some of their community parameters.We described the functional structure of the ant community in the central Monte of Mendoza,Argentina,and examined the effect of grazing using richness,diversity and the functional group scheme.We used pitfall traps to sample ants at a reserve with 30-year cattle exclusion and at an adjacent ranch.Eleven of the 27 recorded species showed significant differences in their abundance and two species were absent at the ranch.While richness and diversity did not reflect these differences,functional groups did.Hot Climate Specialists were more abundant at the ranch while Cryptic Species and Generalized Myrmicinae increased at the reserve.This study supports the utility of the functional group scheme to study the effects of grazing disturbance in ant communities of arid regions.

Spatio-temporal variation of soil moisture in a fixed dune at the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang, China

Soil moisture is critical for vegetation growth in deserts.However,detailed data regarding the soil moisture distribution in space and time in the Gurbantunggut Desert of China have not yet been reported.In this study,we conducted a series of in situ observation experiments in a fixed sand dune at the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert from February 2014 to October 2016,to explore the spatio-temporal variation of soil moisture content,investigate the impact of Haloxylon ammodendron(C.A.Mey.)Bungeon soil moisture content in its root zone,and examine the factors influencing the soil moisture spatial pattern.One-way analysis of variance,least significant difference tests and correlation analysis were used to analyze the data.The results revealed that the soil moisture content exhibited annual periodicity and the temporal variation of soil moisture content throughout a year could be divided into three periods,namely,a moisturegaining period,a moisture-losing period and a moisture-stable period.According to the temporal and spatial variability,the 0–400 cm soil profile could be divided into two layers:an active layer with moderate variability and a stable layer with weak variability.The temporal variability was larger than the spatial variability in the active layer,and the mean profile soil moisture content at different slope positions displayed the trend of decreasing with increasing relative height and mainly followed the order of interdune area>west and east slopes>slope top.The mean profile soil moisture content in the root zone of dead H.ammodendron individuals was significantly higher than that in the root zones of adult and young individuals,while the soil moisture content in the root zone of adult individuals was slightly higher than that in the root zone of young individuals with no significant difference.The spatial pattern of soil moisture was attributable to the combined effects of snowfall,vegetation and soil texture,whereas the effects of rainfall and evaporation were not significant.The findings may offer a foundation for the management of sandy soil moisture and vegetation restoration in arid areas.