Desert vegetation distribution and species-environment relationships in an oasis-desert ecotone of northwestern China

Environmental heterogeneity significantly affects the structure of ecological communities.Exploring vegetation distribution and its relationship with environmental factors is essential to understanding the abiotic mechanism(s)driving vegetation succession,especially in the ecologically fragile areas.In this study,based on the quantitative analysis of plant community and environmental factors in 68 plots at 10 different transects in the Minqin oasis-desert ecotone(ODE)of northwestern China,we investigated desert vegetation distribution and species-environment relationships using multivariate analysis.Two-way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN),detrended correspondence analysis(DCA),and canonical correspondence analysis(CCA)methods were used.A total of 28 species,belonging to 27 genera in 8 families,were identified.Chenopodiaceae,Zygophyllaceae,Gramineae,and Leguminosae were the largest families.Annual and perennial herbs accounted for 28.60%of the total number of plants,while shrubs(42.90%)were the most dominant.Nitraria tangutorum was the constructive species of the desert plant community.We divided the 68 plots surveyed in this study into 7 community types,according to the results of TWINSPAN.The distribution of these 7 communities in the DCA ordination graph showed that species with a similar ecotype were clustered together.Results of CCA indicated that groundwater was the dominant factor influencing vegetation distribution,while distance between plot and oasis(Dis)and soil electrical conductivity(EC)were the local second-order factors.Our study suggests that optimizing the utilization of groundwater in oases is key to controlling the degradation of desert vegetation.The favorable topographic conditions of sand dunes should be fully utilized for vegetal dune stabilization,and the influence of soil salinity on the selection of afforestation tree species should be considered.

Characteristics of Wind Erosion and Deposition in Oasis-desert Ecotone in Southern Margin of Tarim Basin,China

The oasis-desert ecotone is a fragile ecological zone that is affected both by oasis and desert conditions. To understand the impact of the differences in wind power, and the influence of wind erosion and deposition on the ecotone, meteorological data and con- temporaneous wind erosion and deposition data were collected on the southern margin of Tarim Basin with serious sand-blown hazards. The wind velocity, average wind velocity, sand drift potential （DP）, resultant sand drift potential （RDP）, and sand transportation rate decrease significantly and successively across four landscape types with increasing vegetation coverage （VC）. Flat surfaces and areas of shifting sandy ground experience intense wind erosion with fast movement of mobile sand dunes; semi-fixed sand areas experience ex- tensive wind deposition but only slight wind erosion; and fixed sand areas experience only slight wind erosion and deposition. Volume of wind erosion on bare newly reclaimed farmland is up to 6.96 times that of bare shifting sandy ground. Wind erosion volume per unit area and VC follow an exponential function relationship in natural conditions, while wind deposition volume per unit area does not conform to any functions which has close relationship with vary topography and arrangement patterns of vegetation besides for VC. The results indicate that the volume of wind erosion has a close correlation with VC, and different types and distribution patterns of topog- raphy and vegetation also profoundly influence the wind deposition volume in the field, and underground water tables in different land- scape types control the plant community distribution. Keywords： wind erosion; wind deposition; oasis-desert ecotone; vegetation coverage （VC）; topography; Cele County

Quantification of driving factors on NDVI in oasis-desert ecotone using geographical detector method

Within oasis-desert ecotone regions,the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)is an important parameter for evaluating the growth of vegetation.An accurate quantitative study between NDVI and environmental and anthropogenic factors is critical for understand the driving factors of vegetation growth in oasis-desert ecotone.In 2016,four periods Landsat 8 OLI_TIRS images,relevant climatological parameters data(air temperature,air relative humidity,wind velocity and accumulated temperature),land cover type data and soil data were selected as proxies.In order to quantify the explanatory power for NDVI spatial and temporal distribution in the southern edge of Dunhuang City and northern side of the Mingsha Mountain,the geographical detector model was used to explain the potential influences of factors versus the spatial distribution of NDVI,and each explanatory variable's relative importance can be calculated.The factor detector results disclose that the spatial distribution of NDVI is primarily dominated by land cover type.The risk detector results show that,high NDVI region is located within woodland.The mean value of NDVI displays an increase and then decrease trend with air temperature increase.With the increase of wind velocity and decrease of air relative humidity,the NDVI value shows a decrease trend.The interactive q values between the two factors are higher than any q value of separated factors.Results also indicate that the strongest interactive effects of NDVI are different in distinct seasons.Consequently,anthropogenic activity is more important than environmental factors on NDVI in oasis-desert ecotone.We also demonstrate that air relative humidity rather than air temperature have played a greater role in NDVI spatial distribution.

Soil properties and herbaceous characteristics in an age sequence of Haloxylon ammodendron plantations in an oasis-desert ecotone of northwestern China

Haloxylon ammodendron, a typical desert shrub with C4 pathway of photosynthesis, possessing a strong ability to adapt to an extreme drought environment, has a rapid growth rate in sandy lands and is widely used in sand-fixing shelter-forest systems in oasis-desert ecotones. To assess the effects of H. ammodendron plantation on the soil, we measured soil properties and herbaceous characteristics along a nearly 40-year chronosequence after H. ammodendron was planted in shifting sand dunes in an oasis-desert ecotone. Results showed that silt and clay fractions increased significantly in the topsoil. The accumulation rates of soil organic carbon （SOC）, total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorus （TP） were faster in the early stages （0-9 years） and slower in the late stages （9-39 years）. The soil pH and electrical conductivity （EC） were higher than those in the non-vegetation dunes. Moreover, the soil properties in the topsoil （0-5 cm） showed larger variation scope than those in the deeper soil layers （5-20 cm）. The significant relationships of the soil silt＋clay content with the chemical properties mainly appeared in the topsoil. The wind erosion susceptibility of the soil, evaluated by erodible fraction （EF）, decreased significantly with increasing H. ammodendron plantation age. Additionally, the annual pioneer herb, Agriophyllum squarrosum, was gradually substituted by the annual salt-tolerant herb, Bassia dasyphylla, with increasing plantation age. These results showed beneficial effects of H. ammodendron plantation on improving soil conditions. However, the dynamics of the herbaceous species also reminded us that the long- term effects of H. ammodendron plantation, especially on changes in vegetation composition, still need further evaluation.

Stem sap flow of Haloxylon ammodendron at different ages and its response to physical factors in the Minqin oasis-desert transition zone, China

Haloxylon ammodendron, with its tolerance of drought, high temperature, and salt alkali conditions, is one of the main sand-fixing plant species in the oasis-desert transition zone in China. This study used the TDP30(where TDP is the thermal dissipation probe) to measure hourly and daily variations in the stem sap flow velocity of H. ammodendron at three age-classes(10, 15, and 20 years old,which were denoted as H10, H15, and H20, respectively) in the Minqin oasis-desert transition zone,China, from May through October 2020. By simultaneously monitoring temperature, relative humidity,photosynthetically active radiation, wind speed, net radiation, rainfall, and soil moisture in this region, we comprehensively investigated the stem sap flow velocity of different-aged H. ammodendron plants(H10,H15, and H20) and revealed its response to physical factors. The results showed that, on sunny days, the hourly variation curves of the stem sap flow velocity of H. ammodendron plants at the three age-classes were mainly unimodal. In addition, the stem sap flow velocity of H. ammodendron plants decreased significantly from September to October, which also delayed its peak time of hourly variation. On rainy days, the stem sap flow velocity of H. ammodendron plants was multimodal and significantly lower than that on sunny days.Average daily water consumption of H. ammodendron plants at H10, H15, and H20 was 1.98, 2.82, and 1.91kg/d, respectively. Temperature was the key factor affecting the stem sap flow velocity of H. ammodendron at all age-classes. Net radiation was the critical factor influencing the stem sap flow velocity of H.ammodendron at H10 and H15;however, for that at H20, it was vapor pressure deficit. The stem sap flow velocity of H. ammodendron was highly significantly correlated with soil moisture at the soil depths of 50and 100 cm, and the correlation was strengthened with increasing stand age. Altogether, our results revealed the dynamic changes of the stem sap flow velocity in different-aged H. ammodendron forest stands and its response mechanism to local physical factors, which provided a theoretical basis for the construction of new protective forests as well as the restoration and protection of existing ones in this region and other similar arid regions in the world.

Carbon assimilation characteristics of plants in oasis-desert ecotone and their response to CO_2 enrichment

Six species of more than 20-year-old desert woody plants in the oasis-desert ecotone were selected for study. The results showed that: (1) in different growing seasons δ13C values of assimilating organ varied between -14‰ and -16‰ for Haloxylon ammodendron (HA),-14‰-15‰ for Calligonum mongolicum (CM) and-25‰- -28‰ for Caragana korshinskii(CK), Nitraria sphaerocarpa (NS) and Hedysarum scoparium (HS). (2) The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of HA and CM was significantly higher than those of the other species. With the decrease in Pn for the six species, their intercellular CO2 concentration increased, but stomatal limitation value decreased under the intensive light. At the same time, the photochemical efficiency of PS II dropped to different degrees. (3) The CO2 enrichment experiment demonstrated that, Pn of HA and CM increased to different extent under 450 umol/mol, but their Pn reduced or approximated to the current condition under 650 umol/mol. Under 450 umol/mol the efficiency for solar energy utilization of CK and HS significantly reduced and under 650 umol/mol their respiration rate exceeded photosynthesis rate. It can be concluded that HA and CM have some function of pathway for C4, but the other three species have the function for C3. The decline in their Pn is mainly caused by non-stomatal factors. HA, CM, CKand HS exhibited photoinhibition, which disappeared in a short time. This is a kind of positive readjustment to adapting to the desert environment. HA and CM can adapt to the high CO2 environment, but CK and HS cannot. With the rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration and climate warming, the latter two species in the oasis-desert ecotone may be gradually degraded or even disappear.

民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带固沙林土壤微生物数量和酶活性研究

对民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带不同固沙林土壤微生物数量和土壤酶活性进行研究,以裸沙地为对照。结果表明：不同固沙林土壤微生物数量和土壤酶活性均存在差异,且均显著大于裸沙地;在0-60 cm土层中,土壤细菌、放线菌、真菌、过氧化氢酶、脲酶和磷酸酶以梭梭林地最大,分别是对照的2.29倍、2.36倍、10.17倍、2.63倍、1.65倍和1.71倍;土壤微生物数量及其酶活性有明显的垂直分布特征,梭梭林的放线菌、真菌和蔗糖酶活性均随着土层深度增加而减小;相关性研究表明,土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌与土壤过氧化氢酶、脲酶、磷酸酶呈极显著正相关关系,相关系数均达到了69.6%以上。随着民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带植被的恢复,不同固沙林对干旱瘠薄的沙漠环境均有一定的适应性,各固沙林土壤的生物性质不断得到改善。

基于PSR模型的民勤县绿洲-荒漠交错带生态系统健康评价

生态系统健康评价是目前生态系统管理和宏观生态学研究的热点问题之一,是区域生态系统能否可持续发展的关键。以民勤县绿洲—荒漠交错带为例,构建生态系统健康评价体系,运用熵值法、极差标准化法及多因素综合评价法来评价民勤县绿洲—荒漠交错带生态系统健康程度。研究结果表明:利用PSR模型的评价结果与研究区的生态系统实际情况相符,民勤县绿洲—荒漠交错带生态系统健康综合指数处于较健康状态,健康状况不断上升。民勤县绿洲—荒漠交错带生态环境整体良好,同时为其他绿洲—荒漠交错带生态系统健康评价提供了参考依据。

民勤绿洲荒漠交错带不同土地覆被下土壤养分分布特征

以西北干旱区民勤绿洲荒漠交错带为例,选取民勤沙生植物园、东坝镇、苏武山等8个样带221个样点开展不同土地覆被类型下的土壤养分含量及土壤肥力综合评价研究。结果表明:(1)土壤有机质含量表现为绿洲区>绿洲荒漠过渡带>荒漠区的梯度变化;受人类活动影响和荒漠景观特征的影响,不同样带内土壤养分含量离散程度较大,变异系数为16.67%～410.68%,且土壤养分样带内变异程度基本呈现出沿荒漠—绿洲荒漠交错带—绿洲逐渐增加的趋势。(2)荒草地、灌木林地、乔木林地和裸地的土壤N,P,K含量主要受土壤质地和植被类型的影响而呈现出差异。(3)不同土地覆被下土壤肥力质量指数大小为草地(0.552)>灌木地(0.057)>乔木地(-0.642)>裸地(-0.677),草本和灌木具有良好的土壤培肥作用。

民勤荒漠-绿洲过渡带不同沙障的阻沙粒度分析

对民勤沙井子地区荒漠-绿洲过渡带的尼龙网格沙障、白刺沙障和沙拐枣沙障阻截的沙物质进行采样,运用沉积物的粒度分析方法,以流动沙丘和丘间地沉积物为参照,对比分析了研究区内不同沙障所拦截的沙物质的粒度组分及参数特征.结果表明：两种植物沙障拦截的沙物质粒度特征较为相似,拦截的沙物质均以细砂和极细砂为主,对容易形成风沙危害的粒径区间（1.32～4Φ）的拦截量均可达90%以上,而尼龙网格沙障拦截的沙物质相对较粗,对1.32～4Φ区间的拦截量为70%.从阻沙粒度特征上看,植物沙障的阻沙效果明显要好于尼龙网格沙障.此外,在〉2Φ的粒径范围内,两种植物沙障拦截的沙物质主要来源于丘间地,尼龙网格沙障拦截的沙物质主要来源于流动沙丘.

民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带群落特征及其物种多样性研究

【目的】以民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带为研究对象,沿绿洲向荒漠演变方向,测定和分析不同区段各物种在群落组成中的地位和作用,以期为该区域荒漠化防治和生态恢复提供依据。【方法】从绿洲外围边界开始,沿绿洲至荒漠(东南-西北)方向,采用样线调查方法,测计区域内不同区段群落中植物种类、数量、频度、冠幅、高度和地径等,计算获得各物种重要值及其多样性指数。【结果】研究区不同区段共有23种植物,隶属于10科23属,其中灌木6科8种,草本8科15种;灌木层重要值最大的为Ⅲ-灌丛沙包区唐古特白刺,达到153.48%,草本层则以藜科占据主导地位;基于重要值计算得到的不同区段灌木层和草本层的多样性均无明显差异,灌木层和草本层的H′、D和Dmc随着绿洲向荒漠过渡均逐渐减小,Jsw值由于唐古特白刺出现单优现象呈现波动变化。【结论】研究区内群落灌木层更新和生长相对稳定,但群落整体结构简单,物种多样性低,克隆植物的有效生长在一定程度上加速了物种多样性的简单化。

民勤县荒漠—绿洲交错带梭梭种群的数量动态及分布格局

通过对民勤县荒漠—绿洲交错带梭梭种群年龄结构、静态生命表、生存分析等研究来揭示种群数量动态特征;并选取6种常用聚集度指标判断梭梭种群在交错带不同区域、不同龄级分布格局变化规律。结果表明,民勤县荒漠—绿洲交错带梭梭种群以中幼林为主体,为增长型种群。存活曲线趋于Deevey—Ⅲ型;种群数量在Ⅰ～Ⅴ龄级内波动较大,个体死亡现象较多,在Ⅵ～Ⅹ龄级内种群数量趋于稳定,在Ⅹ龄级以后,个体死亡现象又开始升高,呈现衰退趋势,种群期望寿命在Ⅳ～Ⅵ龄级较高。种群分布格局总体呈现聚集分布,从绿洲边缘向沙漠边缘延伸方向,其种群分布格局无明显变化规律;随着龄级的增大,种群分布格局由聚集分布趋向均匀分布,期间有少量随机分布出现。

Comprehensive evaluation on the ecological function of groundwater in the Shiyang River watershed

With an arid climate and shortage of water resources,the groundwater dependent ecosystems in the oasis-desert ecotone of the Shiyang River Watershed has been extremely damaged,and the water crisis in the oasis has become a major concern in the social and the scientific community.In this study,the degene-ration characteristics of the groundwater ecological function was identified and comprehensive evaluated,based on groundwater depth data,vegetation quadrat and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)from Landsat program.The results showed that(1)the suitable groundwater depth for sustainable ecology in the Shiyang River Watershed is about 2-4 m;(2)the terms of degenerative,qualitative and disastrous stages of the groundwater ecological function are defined with the groundwater depths of about 5 m,7 m and 10 m;(3)generally,the groundwater ecological function in the oasis-desert ecotone of the lower reaches of Shiyang River Watershed is weak with an area of 1397.9 km2 identified as the severe deterioration region,which accounted 74.7%of the total area.In the meantime,the percentages of the good,mild and moderate deterioration areas of groundwater ecological function are 3.5%,5.5%and 16.3%,respectively,which were mainly distributed in the Qingtu lake area and the southeastern area of the Shoucheng town;(4)the degradation and shrinkage of natural oasis could be attributed to the dramatic groundwater decline,which is generally caused by irrational use of water and soil resources.This study could provide theoretical basis and scientific support for the decision-making in environmental management and ecological restoration of the Shiyang River Watershed.

民勤荒漠绿洲过渡带灌丛沙堆形态特征及分布格局

以民勤荒漠绿洲过渡带为研究区,通过样方调查,研究了荒漠区、荒漠绿洲过渡区到绿洲内不同梯度生境中灌丛沙堆的形态特征及分布格局。结果表明:(1)3种生境中灌丛沙堆的形态呈极显著性差异(p<0.01);绿洲区灌丛沙堆的平均高度、底面积、纵横断面积和体积均最大,其次为荒漠区,过渡区最小。(2)过渡带3种生境灌丛沙堆的长、短轴之间均呈二次函数关系,但相关程度不同,过渡区相关性最高,相关系数达0.78;绿洲区相关性最低,相关系数为0.57;高度与底面积、体积与高度间均呈幂函数关系,相关系数均在0.59以上;(3)过渡区灌丛沙堆分布密度较大,呈聚集分布,而荒漠区及绿洲区沙堆分布密度较小,均呈随机分布。

民勤绿洲-荒漠过渡带白刺群落空间分布及其环境解释

在野外植被-环境因子调查的基础上,采用双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)和冗余分析(RDA)的方法,研究民勤绿洲-荒漠过渡带白刺群落空间分布与环境因子之间的关系。研究表明:1民勤绿洲-荒漠过渡带白刺群落物种组成简单,31个样方只出现17种植物,隶属8科,17属。2双向指示种分析将白刺群落划分为4个群丛类型,白刺-沙蒿+沙蓬,白刺+红砂-画眉草,白刺-芦苇+猪毛菜,白刺+黑果枸杞-盐生草。不同白刺群丛类型之间环境因子的差异性是其物种组成变化的原因。3 RDA样方-环境因子排序第一轴代表以地下水埋深为主的水分梯度,第二轴代表样方与绿洲不同距离沙源条件及土壤质地的变化。TWINSPAN划分的4个群丛类型在RDA排序图中聚集分布,分类与排序结果较为吻合。所选环境因子的蒙特卡罗检验结果表明,地下水埋深和样方与绿洲之间的距离对白刺群落空间分布有极显著的影响。

民勤绿洲-沙漠过渡带土壤微生物数量特征

对民勤绿洲-沙漠过渡带中固定白刺沙包、半固定白刺沙包、半固定梭梭沙丘和流动白刺沙包中0-20cm土层微生物类群数量研究结果表明:1)不同类型沙地土壤微生物总数量及细菌、真菌和放线菌类群组成比例存在显著差异(P<0.05),同一类型沙地土壤微生物数量垂直分布不规律;2)土壤微生物总数量依次排列为:半固定梭梭沙丘>半固定白刺沙包>流动白刺沙包>固定白刺沙包;3)结皮层厚度和草本植物覆盖度对土壤微生物总数量没有显著影响,而灌木植物覆盖度对土壤微生物总量起着决定性的作用,土壤微生物在半固定人工梭梭林沙丘中数量最多,可见,营造梭梭灌木林对固沙及沙丘土壤形成具有重要的作用。