Analysis of wild medicinal vascular plant resources and diversity in Dabie Mountains, Anhui Province

Dabie Mountains are located at the junction of Anhui,Henan and Hubei provinces in the East of China.With its varied altitude,climate,and soil texture,Dabie Mountains are extremely rich in wild plant resources.The 12th Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)Resources Scientific Expedition Team of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University conducted a study on wild vascular plants resources,especially medicinal vascular plants,through field investigation,literature review and specimen identification.There were 472 species of vascular plants belonging to 347 genera and 125 families collected during July 2018 in this area,of which 424 species were medicinal vascular plants,accounting for 89.83%of the total.From the perspective of medicinal parts,most of the medicinal plants there have values in their roots and rhizomes,as well as the whole plants.The efficacy and characteristics of these pharmaceutical dimensions were also summarized and analyzed in detail.Besides,among the wild vascular plants collected,the most dominant families with the biggest numbers of species are Compositae,Lamiaceae,Liliaceae,Rosaceae,Leguminosae,Ranunculaceae,Saxifragaceae and Polygonaceae,and the dominant genus are Viola and Sedum.In terms of life form,perennial herbs are dominant,accounting for 55.72%of the total species,followed by some annual(or biennial)herbs,shrubs and lianas.Finally,recommendations are put forward for strengthening the protection and utilization of wild medicinal plant resources in Dabie Mountains.

Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Future Scenario Simulation of the Trade-offs and Synergies of Mountain Ecosystem Services: A Case Study of the Dabie Mountains Area, China

Mountain ecosystems play an essential role in supporting regional sustainable development and improving local ecological environments. However, economic development in mountainous areas has long been lagging, and multiple conflicts related to resource assurance, ecological protection, and economic development have emerged. An accurate grasp of the current status and evolutionary trends of mountain ecosystems is essential to enhance the overall benefits of ecosystem services and maintain regional ecological security. Based on the In VEST(Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs) model, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and the trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services(ES) in the Dabie Mountains Area(DMA) of eastern China. The Markov-PLUS(Patch-generating Land Use Simulation) model was used to conduct a multi-scenario simulation of the area's future development. Water yield(WY) and soil conservation(SC) had overall increasing trends during 2000-2020, carbon storage(CS)decreased overall but slowed with time, and habitat quality(HQ) increased and then decreased. The ecological protection scenario is the best scenario for improving ES in the DMA by 2030;compared to 2020, the total WY would decrease by 3.77 × 10^(8) m^(3), SC would increase by 0.65 × 10^(6) t, CS would increase by 1.33 × 10^(6) t, and HQ would increase by 0.06%. The comprehensive development scenario is the second-most effective scenario for ecological improvement, while the natural development scenario did not have a significant effect. However, as the comprehensive development scenario considers both environmental protection and economic development, which are both vital for the sustainable development of the mountainous areas, this scenario is considered the most suitable path for future development. There are trade-offs between WY, CS, and HQ, while there are synergies between SC, CS, and HQ. Spatially, the DMA's central core district is the main strong synergistic area, the marginal zone is the weak synergistic area, and trade-offs are mainly distributed in the transition zone.

The Basic Indexes and Practices of Regional Ecological Agricultural Construction in Dabie Mountains——A Case Study of Huanggang,Hubei

Taking Huanggang city as an example, the requirements of basic indexes for the regional ecological agricultural construction in Dabie Mountains were ana- lyzed and the measures that must be taken in implementing the in the Dabie Mountains were proposed.

Role of the Nocturnal Low-level Jet in the Formation of the Morning Precipitation Peak over the Dabie Mountains

The diurnal variation of precipitation over the Dabie Mountains(DBM) in eastern China during the 2013 mei-yu season is investigated with forecasts of a regional convection-permitting model. Simulated precipitation is verified against surface rain-gauge observations. The observed morning precipitation peak on the windward(relative to the prevailing synoptic-scale wind) side of the DBM is reproduced with good spatial and temporal accuracy. The interaction between the DBM and a nocturnal boundary layer low-level jet(BLJ) due to the inertial oscillation mechanism is shown to be responsible for this precipitation peak. The BLJ is aligned with the lower-level southwesterly synoptic-scale flow that carries abundant moisture.The BLJ core is established at around 0200 LST upwind of the mountains. It moves towards the DBM and reaches maximum intensity at about 70 km ahead of the mountains. When the BLJ impinges upon the windward side of the DBM in the early morning, mechanical lifting of moist air leads to condensation and subsequent precipitation.

^(207)Pb/^(206)Pb Zircon Dating of the Huangtuling Hypersthene-Garnet-Biotite Gneiss from the Dabie Mountains, Luotian County, Hubei Province, China: New Evidence for Early Precambrian Evolution

The Huangtuling hypersthene-garnet-biotite gneiss at Luotian County, Hubei Provine, is a typicalgranulite-facies rock of the Dabie Group Complex in the Dabie orogenic belt. Investigations on the morphology andoccurrence of zircons and their internal structures shown in the thin sections lead to the recognition of three types ofzircons, which are in good agreement with the types identified on the basis of morphology, colour and external fea-tures from the related zircon concentrates. The observation of zircons in the rock reveals that part of type 1 zirconsshow signs of a double-layered structure. The interval part existed in the protolith prior to the granulite-facies meta-morphism. Type 2, the prismatic zircons which mainly occur in garnet and hypersthene are metamorphic minerals ofthe granulite-facies metamorphism. Type 3, the round multifaceted zircons in felsic minerals and biotite, are proba-bly attributed to a later geological event related to migmatization. The ^(207)Pb/^(206)Pb zircon dating by direct evaporationon (thermal evaporation ion mass spectrometer) yields ages ranging from 2814 Ma to 1992 Ma. The age discrepancyamong these different zircon types is conspicuous. The yellow-brown(type 1) zircons give ages of 2814±29 Ma to2527±6 Ma, the prismatic euhedral zircons (type 2), 2456±7 Ma to 2254±4 Ma, and the round multifaceted zircons(type 3), 1992±10 Ma. The results are geologically interpreted in consideration of the complicated behaviours of zir-cons during Precambrian geological evolution of the Dabie area. (1) If the protolith of the gneiss is a sedimentaryrock, then type 1 zircons are clastic ones and the ages 2814±29 Ma and 2811±27 Ma may reflect the minimum age ofthe rocks of its source region. also the first geological event in the area. Sedimentation of the protolith occurred be-tween 2814 Ma and 2527 Ma, probably close to 2814 Ma. If the protolith is a volcanic rock, then the formation age ofthe supracrustal rocks of the Dabie Group Complex is around 2814 Ma. The age 2456±7 Ma reflects the time whenthe granulite-facies metamorphism took place. The later migmatization event is dated at aboat 1992±10 Ma, and isprobably the latest early Precambrian event in the area. The present work provides geochronological evidence for the existence of the Dabie Archaean craton, whichhad probably experienced 3 or 4 geological events during its early Precambrian evolution.

Geochemical Characteristics and Genesis of the Granitic Gneisses from the Southeastern Dabie Mountains

The granitic gneisses from the ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrain of the southeastern Dabie Mountains encompass two types: monzonitic granitic gneiss and alkali-feldspar granitic gneiss, which are characterized by rich alkalis, poor CaO, high FeO/MgO, particularly high Ba, Rb, Th, Ta, REE (except Eu), Ga, Nb and Zn, and low Sr, Eu, Cr, Co and Ni. The gneisses, particularly the alkali-feldspar granitic gneiss, have typical chemical characteristics of A-type granites. They resulted from partial melting of crustal materials existing in the rift zone along the northern margin of the South China block during the Neoproterozoic. These gneisses might not have undergone UHP metamorphism during the late Triassic, but were involved into UHP rocks by the tectonic mixing process and kept the exhumation message of the UHP rocks from the middle and upper crust.

A New Species of the Genus Tylototriton(Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae) from the Southern Dabie Mountains in Anhui Province

A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described,from Yuexi county,Anhui province,in the south of the Dabie Mountains.It is based on morphological and molecular analysis.The new species is identified as belonging to the Tylototriton asperrimus group and shares a number of similarities with T.wenxianensis,T.broadoridgus and T.dabienicus.The diagnostic characteristics of the new species are as follows： the head length is greater than the width of the head; bony ridges on the head are prominent and necked-in; the distal digit ends,ventral digits,peripheral area of the cloaca and the tail＇s lower edge are orange.The result from the molecular analysis of the genus Tylototriton（including the type specimen of the new species） based on three mitochondrial genes（ND1,ND2 and CYTB） indicated that the new species was close to T.wenxianensis,T.dabienicus,and T.broadoridgus,but formed an independent clade.This result was consistent with the morphological analysis above,which supports the theory that the population distributed in the south of the Dabie Mountains,namely in from Yuexi county,Anhui province,represented a distinct species,Tylototriton anhuiensis sp.nov.

Convective Initiation by Topographically Induced Convergence Forcing over the Dabie Mountains on 24 June 2010

The initiation of convective cells in the late morning of 24 June 2010 along the eastward extending ridge of the Dabie Mountains in the Anhui region, China, is studied through numerical simulations that include local data assimilation. A primary convergence line is found over the ridge of the Dabie Mountains, and along the ridge line several locally enhanced convergence centers preferentially initiate convection. Three processes responsible for creating the overall convergence pattern are identified. First, thermally-driven upslope winds induce convergence zones over the main mountain peaks along the ridge, which are shifted slightly downwind in location by the moderate low-level easterly flow found on the north side of a Mei-yu front. Second, flows around the main mountain peaks along the ridge create further convergence on the lee side of the peaks. Third, upslope winds develop along the roughly north-south oriented valleys on both sides of the ridge due to thermal and dynamic channeling effects, and create additional convergence between the peaks along the ridge. The superposition of the above convergence features creates the primary convergence line along the ridge line of the Dabie Mountains. Locally enhanced convergence centers on the primary line cause the initiation of the first convection cells along the ridge. These conclusions are supported by two sensitivity experiments in which the environmental wind （dynamic forcing） or radiative and land surface thermal forcing are removed, respectively. Overall, the thermal forcing effects are stronger than dynamic forcing given the relatively weak environmental flow.

A New Species of the Genus Rhacophorus (Anura： Rhacophoridae) from Dabie Mountains in East China

A new species of rhacophorid of the genus Rhacophorus is described from the Dabie Mountains of west Anhui, east China. The new species, Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters： 1） the ventral surface and front-and-rear of the femur is paler yellowish and decorated with irregular grayish blotching, and without obvious spots on the dorsum of the hand and foot webbing; 2） the outer metatarsal tubercle is small; 3） outer fingers are half-webbed and outer toes two third webbed; 4） the skin on the dorsum is smooth and without compressed warts; 5） the throat, chest and belly are pure paler yellowish; 6） the dorsal part of the fingers and toes are grayish-white; 7） the iris is golden-yellow. In addition, the phylogenetic tree showed that all the individuals of R. zhoukaiyae sp. nov. clustered into one distinct clade which suggested the validity of this species. This results could also be used to the support of species delimitation. Currently, this species is known only from mid-elevation montane evergreen forest in the Dabie Mountains of west Anhui, China.

Role of Water in Deformed Omphacite in UHP Eclogite from the Dabie Mountains,Eastern China

Omphacite grains from UHP eclogite of the Dabie Mountains in eastern China are elongated and show strong lattice preferred orientations (LPOs). Observations by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) identified not only structures of plastic deformation occurring as free dislocation, dislocation loops and dislocation walls, but also bubbles of water present in the deformed omphacite. The bubbles attach to the dislocation loops which are often connected to one another via a common bubble. Using infrared spectroscopy (IR), two types of hydrous components are identified as hydroxyl and free-water in the omphacite. An analysis of deformation mechanism of microstructure in omphacite suggests that the mineral deformed plastically under UHP metamorphic conditions by dislocation creep through hydrolitic weakening.

Isotopic Geochronology of the Xianghongdian Alkaline Complex, Northern Margin of the Dabie Mountains, China

To the north of the Qinling-Dabie orogen there exists a Mesozoic (K1) granite-syenite belt called the Beihuaiyang granite-syenite belt, in which the Xianghongdian alkaline complex outcrops in the Devonian Foziling schist and also intruded into the slightly earlier volcanic rocks. This alkaline complex is composed of syenite, alkaline syenite and nepheline syenite, but the nepheline syenite occurs inside the alkaline syenite in the pod-like, irregular, lenticular or layered shape. Researches on the petrogenesis of the alkaline complex and the relationship between the alkaline syenite and the nepheline syenite must rely on precise isotopic ages. Previous researches have reported isotopic dating results merely by the 40Ar/39Ar method on hornblende and biotite separated from the alkaline syenite and nepheline syenite. In view of this, the authors have made fairly detailed isotopic geochronological studies of the alkaline syenite and nepheline syenite by using Rb-Sr isochron for the whole rock and minerals, U-Pb for single zircon separate and the 40Ar/39Ar method for hornblende and potash feldspar. The results of this research are completely different from those of previous researches and show that the nepheline syenite was formed far earlier than the alkaline syenite.

A TEM Study on Fluid Inclusions in Coesite-bearing Jadeite Quartzite in Shuanghe in the Dabie Mountains

Fluid inclusions at a nano to sub-micron scale in quartz from jadeite quartzite at Shuanghe, Dabie Mountains, have been investigated by using the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Most fluid inclusions are spherical or negative crystal shaped, forming wide swarm-like trails. The TEM reveals that the relationship between coesite and the host quartz is syntaxic and provides strong evidence of the occurrence of high-salty fluids at peak metamorphic conditions. The fluid inclusions are often connected to dislocations, which are undetected at the scale of optical microscopy. Non-decrepitation leakage of fluid inclusions may occur by pipe diffusion of molecule H2O or CO2 along dislocations from the inclusions into the host quartz, thus leading to original inclusion density and composition changes. It should be taken into full account for the correct petrological interpretation of micro-thermometric results.

Petrographic and SHRIMP Studies of Zircons fromthe Caledonian Xiongdian Eclogite, NorthwesternDabie Mountains

The Xiongdian eclogite occurring in the Sujiahe tectonic melange zone at Luoshan County, Henan Province, in the western Dabie Mountains, is typical high-pressure (HP)-ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) and medium-temperature eclogite. The occurrence, internal texture and surface characteristics of zircons in eclogite were studied rather systematically petrographically combined with the cathodoluminescence (CL) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) methods. Zircons are mainly hosted in garnet and other metamorphic minerals with sharp boundaries, have a multifaceted morphology and are homogeneous or exhibit a metamorphic growth texture in the interior, thus indicating that they are the product of metamorphism. SHRIMP analyses give zircon 206Pb/238U ages of 335 to 424 Ma and show a certain degree of radiogenic Pb loss; therefore it may be inferred that the age of 424? Ma represents the minimum age of a HP-UHP metamorphic age. From the above analyses coupled with previous Sm-Nd, 40Ar-39Ar, U-Pb and 207Pb/206Pb age data, it is suggested that the peak metamorphic age of the Xiongdian eclogite should be between 424 and 480 Ma. This study further validate the view of the existence of a Caledonian HP-UHP metamorphic event in the western Dabie Mountains.

Accelerated Exhumation During the Cenozoic in the Dabie Mountains: Evidence from Fission-Track Ages

Abstract: Zircon and apatite fission-track dating indicates that the exhumation of the Dabie Mountains tended to be accelerated in the Cenozoic and that the exhumation of the eastern Dabie Mountains was more and more intense from south to north, which is in accordance with the more and more intense dissection from south to north, as is reflected by the modern geomorphologic features of the Dabie Mountains. The accelerated exhumation during the Cenozoic was related to the high elevation of the Dabie Mountains resulting from Late Cretaceous-Palaeogene detachment faulting and subsequent fault-block uplift and subsidence. The average elevation at that time was at least about 660 m higher than that at the present. The intense exhumation lagged behind intense uplift.

Geochronological Study of Caledonian Granulite and High-Pressure Gneiss in the Dabie Mountains

: Using the single—zircon evaporation technique and U—Pb method, the authors have conducted an isotope geochonological study of the Huilanshan granulite and Shima garnet-bearing plagioclase gneiss (“country rocks” of the Shima eclogite) in the Dabie Mountains. The study shows that these rocks have peak metamorphic ages of 443–455 Ma, which are essentially consistent with that of the Caledonian high—ultrahigh pressure eclogites. This indicates the existence of the Caledonian collisional orogeny in the Dabie Mountains.

Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements of Mesozoic-Cenozoic Sandstones in North Margin of Dabie Mountains and Adjacent Areas: Constraints to Source Rocks

Based on the study of REE in Mesozoic-Cenozoic sandstones, the paper indicates that Jurassic Fanghushan and Yuantongshan Formations and Lower Cretaceous Zhougongshan Formation have ∑REE of 157 μg·g^(-1), δ_(Eu) of 0.69 and (La/Yb)_N of 11.1, which are similar to the Foziling and Luzhenguan Groups, and it implies that the latter may be the source rocks of the former. The Sanjianpu and Heishidu Formations have high REE concentrations (∑REE=264.8 μg·g^(-1), 328.2 μg·g^(-1) respectively), high Eu anomaly (δ_(Eu)=0.57, 0.67 respectively) and lower Eu/Sm ratios (0.18～0.19), which differs from existent metamorphic rocks in the Dabie Mountains, so where their source rocks came from remains to be studied. The REE features of the Zhengyangguan Formation can be comparable to the Dabie complex and Luzhenguan Group, which shows that the Dabie complex had suffered unroofing in Neocene and constituted the source rocks. Mesozoic sandstones in Huainan area have lower REE concentrations (∑REE=80.9 μg·g^(-1)), high Eu anomaly (δ_(Eu)=0.66) and (La/Yb)_N of 5.7, and it indicates that their source rocks may not come from the Dabie Mountains.

Tectonic Affinity, T-t Path and Uplift Trajectory of Eclo gites from Northern Dabie Mountains, Central-Eastern China

Petrologic geochemistry and isotopic chronology of the eclogites sug ge st that most of the eclogites in northern Dabie Mountains produced from the Tria ssic Yangtze subducted continental crust (lower crust and formed during the deep subduction) and the metamorphosed mafic untramafic belt with eclogite, marble and meta peridotite blocks around the Mozitan Xiaotian fault zone may represen t the meta tectonic melange produced during the active subduction of an ancient oceanic slab and subsequent collision between the Yangtze and North China conti nental plates. The cooling history of the eclogites from ～900 ℃ to 300 ℃ can b e subdivided into three stages: one isothermal stage and two rapid cooling stage s. The initial stage between (230±6) and 210 Ma was a near isothermal or tempe rature rise process corresponding to the retrograded metamorphism of granulite facies with a rapid uplift of 4 mm/a, then two fast cooling stages occurred with cooling rate of ～10 ℃/Ma during 210 Ma to (172±3) Ma and ～4 ℃/Ma durin g (172±3) Ma to 130 Ma. After the peak metamorphism of eclogite facies, their in itial isothermal stage with slower uplift rate and cooling rate and high T overprinting of granulite facies metamorphism is the major difference between t he eclogites in northern Dabie Mountains from those in southern Dabie Mountains. This may be one of the most important reasons to preserve few evidences of earl ier ultrahigh pressure metamorphism.

TEM and HRTEM Study of Microstructures in Omphacite from UHP Eclogites at Shima,Dabie Mountains,China

Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) analyses have been performed on omphacite from ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogites at the locality of Shima, Dabie Mountains, China. TEM reveals that the microstructures consist dominantly of dislocation substructures, including free dislocations, loops, tiltwalls, dislocation tangles and subboundaries. They were produced by high-temperature ductile deformation, of which the main mechanism was dislocation creep. Antiphase domain (APD) boundaries are common planar defects; an age of 470 ± 6 Ma for UHP eclogite formation has been obtained from the equiaxial size of APDs in ordered omphacites from Shima, coincident with ages given by single-zircon U-Pb dating (471 ± 2 Ma). HRTEM reveals C2/c and P2/n space groups in different parts of one single omphacite crystal, and no exsolution is observed in the studied samples, which is attributed to rapid cooling. It is suggested that the UHP eclogites underwent a long period of annealing at high temperatures, followed by relatively rapid cooling. These data provide valuable information for the formation and exhumation mechanism of UHP eclogites in the Dabie high-pressure (HP) and UHP metamorphic belt.

The Carboniferous at the Northern Foot of the Dabie Mountains and Its Tectonic Implications

In the Qinling orogenic belt. oceanic crust originated in the Early Palaeozoic. while the product of conti-nental collision appeared as late as after the Triassic. The Late Palaeozoic records there are of major impor-tance for understanding the tectonic regime at that time. The Carboniferous and even Permian sequences andthe distribution of sedimentary facies in northern Huaiyang indicate that the rocks were formed in a large basinopening towards the south. Regional stratigraphic correlation shows that the interior of the Qinling orogenicbelt was a sea trough lying between the Yangtze and North China plates in the middle part of the LatePalaeozoic. With subsequent northward migration of the South China Sea, the two seas were connected witheach other. Both the melanges and the Dabie block ia the eastern sector of the Qinling belt were formed in theMesozoic ?.

Exploitation Countermeasures of Farming Culture Tourism in the Dabie Mountains: Thinking on the Investigation of Hani Terrace Tourism Development in Yunan Province

Farming culture is the main part of Chinese outstanding traditional culture and also the important spiritual and cultural resources to construct the core values of the Chinese nation. In the new era, fully exploring and making full use of farming culture resources has important practical significance for the protection, inheritance and innovation of Chinese excellent traditional culture. The rapid development and successful brand shaping of Hani terrace tourism could provide experience for the exploration and utilization of farming culture tourism resources in other areas of China. Based on the analysis of development process of Hani terrace tourism as well as the successful experience of other regions for reference, ideas of developing farming culture tourism in the Dabie Mountains were proposed.