Root growth and spatio-temporal distribution of three common annual halophytes in a saline desert, northern Xinjiang

Root growth and spatial and temporal distribution in the 0-100 cm soil profiles of three common annual halophytes Salsola subcrassa, Suaeda acuminate and Petrosimonia sibirica distributed in a saline desert in north- ern Xinjiang, China were studied in 2009 and 2010. The results showed that the root systems of the three halo- phytes were of the taproot type, vertically distributed in the 90-cm soil profile, and were deepest in late July. Their taproots reached maximum depth rapidly, early in the growth period, but with rare lateral roots. They were then dug out in an orderly way, from bottom to top, exhibiting vertical development first and then horizontal development. The distribution of specific root length, which reflects the characteristics of the feeder root, was gradually increased from top to bottom, whereas root weight displayed an opposite distribution pattern. The root length distribution of the three halophytes was concentrated （62% to 76%） in the middle soil profile （20-60 cm）, with less distribution in the surface （0-20 cm） and bottom （60-90 cm） soil profiles. The results indicated that the roots of the three annual halophytes grew rapidly into the deeper soil layer after germination, which ensured the plant survival and uptake of water and nutrition, and thus built up a strong tolerance to an arid, high-salt environment.

Characteristics of mineral elements in shoots of three annual halophytes in a saline desert, Northern Xinjiang

Halophytes are valuable salt-, alkali- and drought-resistant germplasm resources. However, the char- acteristics of mineral elements in halophytes have not been investigated as intensively as those in crops. This study attempted to investigate the characteristics of mineral elements for annual halophytes during their growth period to reveal their possible physiological mechanisms of salt resistance. By using three native annual halophytes （Salsola subcrassa, Suaeda acuminate and Petrosimonia sibirica） distributed in the desert in Northern Xinjiang of China, the dynamic changes in the mineral element contents of annual halophytes were analyzed through field sampling and laboratory analyses. The results demonstrated that the annual halophytes were able to absorb water and mineral nutrients selectively. In the interaction between the annual halophytes and saline soil, the adaptability of the annual halophytes was manifested as the accumulation of S, Na and CI during the growth period and maintenance of water and salt balance in the plant, thus ensuring their selective absorption of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and other mineral nutrients according to their growth demand. By utilizing this property, halophyte planting and mowing （before the wilting and death periods） could bioremediate heavy saline-alkali soil.

Sequence Stratigraphy of the Desert System: A Case Study of the Lower Cretaceous in the Kuqa Basin in Xinjiang, Northwestern China

The Lower Cretaceous strata in the Kuqa Basin in Xinjiang are marked by a set of arid red beds. Several types of sedimentary fades can be identified in this set of arid red beds: mudstones of the plaza and intracontinental sebkha, aeolian sandstones, sandy conglomerates of the intermittent river, conglomerates of the pluvial fan, etc. These types of sedimentary facies constitute a typical desert system. Therefore, the Cretaceous strata in the Kuqa Basin provide a favorable condition for studies of sequence stratigraphic divisions of the desert system. With the rise and fall of the base level of the sedimentary basin, cyclicity is clearly revealed in stratigraphic records, which helps the identification of the third-order sequences. Based on the cyclicity in stratigraphic records, 5 third-order sequences can be found in the strata of the Early Cretaceous in the Kuqa Basin. These sequences comprise a second-order tectonic sequence. The primary feature of these third-order sequences is of an upward-fining sedimentary succession formed by a succession of 'coarse sediments of the alluvial system-fine sediments of the lake system'. The result of this study shows that aeolian sandstones are the best reservoirs of natural gas in the Cretaceous strata in the Kuqa Basin, and that the Kela-2 gas field is the first large gas field dominated by aeolian sandstone reservoirs in China.

Revision of two species of Calligonum from the desert of Xinjiang,Northwestern China

By examination of Calligonum pumilum A. Los. and Calligonum ruoqiangense Liou f.,collected from natural habitats,and the analysis of their variance,this paper revealed that the morphological characters of these specimens are quite different from each other,especially in the twist direction of ribs on fruits,rows of bristles along each rib,rigidity,interweaving degree of bristles,and their geographical distribution. Therefore,it is suggested that C. pumilum and C. ruoqiangense should be considered as two independent species.

Status of the Xinjiang Ground Jay:population,breeding ecology and conservation

The Xinjiang Ground Jay (Podoces biddulphi) is a bird species endemic to China. It has a restricted range, living only in the Taklimakan Desert, southern part of Xinjiang. So far, little information has been known of the status and ecology of the bird in the world. Since 1988, I have been taking field investigations on the distribution, population size and breeding ecology of the Xinjiang Ground Jay in the desert.In this thesis, the desertification in relation to the eastward expansion of the ground jays was discussed.

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.

Storage,pattern and driving factors of soil organic carbon in the desert rangelands of northern Xinjiang,north-west China

Soil organic carbon(SOC)is a critical variable used to determine the carbon balance.However,large uncertainties arise when predicting the SOC stock in soil profiles in Chinese grasslands,especially on desert rangelands.Recent studies have shown that desert ecosystems may be potential carbon sinks under global climate change.Because of the high spatial heterogeneity,time-consuming sampling methods,and difficult acquisition process,the relationships the SOC storage and distribution have with driving factors in desert rangelands remain poorly understood.Here,we investigated and developed an SOC database from 3162 soil samples(collected at depths of 0−10 cm and 10−20 cm)across 527 sites,as well as the climate conditions,vegetation types,and edaphic factors associated with the sampling sites in the desert rangelands of northern Xinjiang,north-west China.This study aims to determine the SOC magnitude and drivers in desert rangelands.Our findings demonstrate that the SOC and SOC density(SOCD)were 0.05−37.13 g·kg^(-1)and 19.23−9740.62 g·m^(-2),respectively,with average values of 6.81±5.31 g·kg^(-1)and 1670.38±1202.52 g·m^(-2),respectively.The spatial distributions of SOC and SOCD all showed gradually decreasing trends from south-west to north-east.High-SOC areas were mainly distributed in the piedmont lowlands of the Ili valley,while low-SOC regions were mainly concentrated in the north-west area of Altay.The redundancy analysis results revealed that all environmental factors accounted for approximately 37.6%of the spatial variability in SOC;climate factors,vegetation factors,and soil properties explained 15.0%,1.7%,and 12.3%,respectively.The structural equation model(SEM)further indicated that evapotranspiration,average annual precipitation,and the SWC were the dominant factors affecting SOC accumulation,mainly through direct effects,although indirect effects were also delivered by the vegetation factors.Taken together,the results obtained herein updated the SOC data pool available for desert rangelands and clarified the main driving factors of SOC variations.This study provided supporting data for the sustainable use and management of desert rangelands and the global ecosystem carbon budget.

About the geographic distribution of the Xinjiang Ground Jay (Podoces biddulphi)

Considering a recent proposition on this journal that the endemic Xinjiang Ground Jay (Podoces biddulphi) would be expanding its range to Qinghai and Gansu, a previously overlooked statement has been found in old literature suggesting that this species has occurred in Gansu at least since the 19th century. The phreatophytic vegetation this desert bird requires likely constrains its distribution. Therefore, although the desert expansion the current global climate warming is producing may make the Xinjiang Ground Jay expand its range, only well-preserved desert might be colonized. Future research in apparently suitable areas, at present inhabited by the Mongolian Ground Jay (P. hendersoni) instead, might make the ecology of these two mutually exclusive species better understood.

The Green Wall of Aksu

An afforestation project transforms a desert prefecture in Xinjiang into an oasis.Yusupjan Alim would win any reality show like Survivor hands down.The 36-year-old forest ranger started his career planting trees in the bleak and blazing Gobi Desert in 2004 in circumstances entirely different from today’s.At that time,there were no mobile phones,no GPS or transportation.The team would go deep into the desert on a truck,carrying naan,the flatbread of Xinjiang that would keep for days.It was their staple,if not only,food.

Formation and evolution of sand deserts in Xinjiang, Northwest China：II. The palaeo-environmental reconstruction

Based on the palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental evidences of geological history and human history periods, this paper reviews the researches and progresses on the development of the sandy deserts in Xinjiang. It pointed out that the features of tectonic structure in Xinjiang had made both the Tarim Basin and the Junggar Basin being influenced greatly by the foehn effects originated from the planetary wind system of westerly, the East Asian ocean-continental monsoon and the topographical mountain-valley winds. The regional patterns of climate and environment since the Quaternary were characterized by the overall persistent drought accompanied by fluctuations in the secondary scale. Formations of aeolian sediments in the basins and at the margins are a potential response to global climate change, particularly the aridification of the Asian hinterland deduced by the uprising of the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding highlands. For the question about the formation time of the Tak- lamakan Desert, because the research methods, objects and information carriers used in previous studies are different, there are many disputes in the academic circles at present. Evidences from aeolian deposits/rocks at the edge and in the hinterland of these sandy de- serts and their chronological data indicate that an arid climate and land surface aeolian processes have occurred at the edge of the Tarim Basin and its hinterland areas since the Tertiary period. However, the duration time of these processes at mass scale should have begun after the middle Pleistocene and lasted to the Holocene. Occurrence of dune fields in recent 2000 years in the oasis areas should be greatly influenced by human factors.

Formation and evolution of sand deserts in Xinjiang, Northwest China： I. Provenances of desert sands

Sandy desert landscape is a geological product of arid climate and abundant sand materials supply in natural conditions, therefore the formation of sandy desert is an ideal studying object for understanding the interaction between various stratigraphic/epigenetic spheres of the earth system. However, until now, the knowledge about the provenance and formation of these deserts in Xinjiang, Central Asia is diverse and inconsistent, a systematic review is necessary. Ancient aeolian sand sediments in the internal areas of these deserts and their twin dust deposits in the Cenozoic strata surrounding the Xinjiang deserts are direct and indirect clues reflecting the provenance of sand materials and the formation and evolution of deserts. Based on the geochemical, mineralogical and isotopic evidences of desert sands and relevant deposits in the peripheral regions, this paper reviews the research progress on the development of the sandy deserts in Xinjiang, Northwest China. Many proofs proposed that desert sands in Xinjiang were mainly sourced from the ancient pluvial, alluvial and fluvial sediments and were eventually achieved because of the local sand supply. It pointed out that the settings of tectonic structure in Xinjiang had made sediments both in the Tarim Basin and the Junggar Basin being influenced greatly by regional hydrological system and aeolian processes originated from the planetary wind system of westerly, the East Asian winter monsoon and the topographical mountain-valley winds. However, the directions of transpor- tation paths are different between the hydrological dynamics and the aeolian dynamics, which are decided by the slantwise structures of the basins tectonics and the regional atmospheric circulation routes, respectively, and have determined anisotropies of the transport pathway of these sediments delivered by different agents. This results in a geological cycle of detrital sediment transportation in the two large sediment mixing, alternation and recycle basins and thus largely increases the degree of between younger and older sediment sources, as well as the complexity and diversity of sand provenances.

Wind tunnel test on the effect of metal net fences on sand flux in a Gobi Desert, China

The Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-speed Railway runs through an expansive windy area in a Gobi Desert, and sand-blocking fences were built to protect the railway from destruction by wind-blown sand. However, the shielding effect of the sand-blocking fence is below the expectation. In this study, effects of metal net fences with porosities of 0.5 and 0.7 were tested in a wind tunnel to determine the effectiveness of the employed two kinds of fences in reducing wind velocity and restraining wind-blown sand. Specifically, the horizontal wind velocities and sediment flux densities above the gravel surface were measured under different free-stream wind velocities for the following conditions： no fence at all, single fence with a porosity of 0.5, single fence with a porosity of 0.7, double fences with a porosity of 0.5, and double fences with a porosity of 0.7. Experimental results showed that the horizontal wind velocity was more significantly decreased by the fence with a porosity of 0.5, especially for the double fences. The horizontal wind velocity decreased approximately 65% at a distance of 3.25 m（i.e., 13 H, where H denotes the fence height） downwind the double fences, and no reverse flow or vortex was observed on the leeward side. The sediment flux density decreased exponentially with height above the gravel surface downwind in all tested fences. The reduction percentage of total sediment flux density was higher for the fence with a porosity of 0.5 than for the fence with a porosity of 0.7, especially for the double fences. Furthermore, the decreasing percentage of total sediment flux density decreased with increasing free-stream wind velocity. The results suggest that compared with metal net fence with a porosity of 0.7, the metal net fence with a porosity of 0.5 is more effective for controlling wind-blown sand in the expansive windy area where the Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-speed Railway runs through.

新疆荒漠植物名录数据集

通过查阅《中国植物志》《新疆植物志》《中国沙漠植物志》《新疆植物志简本》《新疆树木志》等专著及相关文献和各大在线公开数据库,对数据信息进行完善整理,构建了新疆荒漠植物名录数据集。本数据集共收集整理31科150属360种新疆荒漠植物的物种信息,被子植物门355种,裸子植物门5种。其中具有药用价值的植物有80种,具有饲用价值的植物61种,有经济价值的植物26种,分别占数据集中所有植物的22.2%、16.9%、7.2%。本数据集包含荒漠植物的中文名、拉丁名、别名等信息,可为荒漠植物生长环境、植物价值等科学研究提供科学参考和基础数据,对新疆荒漠植物的多样性保护和开发利用具有重要意义。

新时期户外体育产业高质量发展研究——以新疆沙漠体育产业为例

运用文献资料法、逻辑分析法等,对新疆沙漠体育产业高质量发展的价值、契机、困境及其策略进行探索。探索发现,新时期新疆沙漠体育产业高质量发展的困境表现在:沙漠产业交叉融合力需要提升,沙漠体育产业发展缺乏科学监管机制,沙漠景区基建及配套设施有待加强,沙漠体育产业高产人才培育失位问题突出。据此提出发展策略:发挥“沙漠+”综合效应,强化产业融合资源;拓宽客源多元市场,创新营销模式;完善景点基础设施,建构惠民公共服务体系;加强政府资金扶持,健全人才保障体系;践行低碳绿色旅游,守好生态红线。

新疆阜康抽水蓄能电站工程扰动区灌草丛群落结构特征

于2022年,在新疆阜康抽水蓄能电站开工建设5 a后,对电站工程扰动区次生植被的物种组成、群落结构、生活型及物种多样性进行调查与分析。结果表明,次生植被主要由稀疏灌草丛组成,有麻叶荨麻、叉子圆柏、卫矛、狭叶锦鸡儿、山刺玫等5个典型群落,共分布有33科45属共56种植物。其中灌木19种,隶属于14科17属;草本植物47种,隶属于23科28属。灌木植物以豆科和蔷薇科为优势科,而草本植物以禾本科、菊科和罂粟科植物偏多。麻叶荨麻和山刺玫灌草丛的物种数最多,二者为该区域的优势灌草丛;且这2种群落的Simpson多样性指数(D)、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H′)相对较高,但分布最均匀的是卫矛灌草丛。生活型组成以地面芽植物和1年生草本植物为主,占比分别达到64.29%和37.5%。区系组成以亚洲温带分布类型最多,占比达42.22%。研究结果可为水电工程扰动后生态恢复中先锋物种的遴选及次生植被的更新、演替和稳定进化研究提供参考。

南疆地区水资源问题与对策建议

【研究目的】南疆地区是中国重要的能源矿产基地和诸多国家战略的核心区。该区地处干旱区,水资源短缺是制约社会经济发展和生态环境保护修复的主要因素,查明水资源开发利用中的问题,提出针对性的对策建议是实现水资源可持续利用与环境保护的重要保障。【研究方法】通过系统收集分析前人已有成果,从南疆地区的水资源开发利用现状、存在的问题与对策建议3个方面进行论述。【研究结果】南疆地区的水资源主要形成于山区,山区的降水和冰雪融水是河流的主要补给源。河流出山后,地表水与地下水频繁转化,最终以蒸散发的形式消亡于流域下游。南疆地区多年平均水资源451亿m^(3),其中地表水资源量432亿m^(3),地下水资源量268亿m^(3),重复量249亿m^(3)。近年的开发利用量已达327亿m^(3),开发利用程度超过70%,远超过水资源开发利用的警戒线,总体上已处于过度开发状态。南疆地区的地表水水质总体较好,优于Ⅲ类水的地表水占94%。地下水的水质从山前倾斜平原向盆地腹部,浅层地下水水质逐渐变差,由Ⅰ-Ⅲ类转变成Ⅳ-Ⅴ类地下水(高矿化度水),部分地区常规水化学、有机物含量等超标。水资源开发利用中的主要问题有水资源利用效率和效益偏低、水资源不合理开发利用造成土壤盐渍化和沙漠化等环境问题、生态需水量的估算存在较大不确定性以及气候变化对水资源的影响研究不足等。【结论】针对以上问题,应大力发展节水农业及提高咸水的资源化利用程度,统筹上、中、下游的水资源调度,优化水资源在生活、生态、生产之间的配置,加强南疆地区气候变化对水资源的影响研究以及生态需水量研究。

新疆阜康水库东方欧鳊生长特征研究

为了解新疆阜康水库东方欧鳊(Abramis brama orientalis Berg)的种群状况,促进其资源的合理开发,本文对2021年5月采集的45尾东方欧鳊样本的年龄组成和生长特征进行了研究。结果表明:东方欧鳊年龄组成为1+~4+龄,属于匀速生长类型,回归方程为W=0.0208 SL 3.0017;以退算体长拟合Von Bertalanffy生长方程,体长生长参数:生长系数为0.180、极限体长为43.0668 cm、理论生长起点年龄为-0.1795龄,体质量生长参数:生长系数为0.180、极限体质量为1672.0562 g、理论生长起点年龄为-0.1974龄;生长特征指数为5.811,拐点年龄为5.9龄。当种群生物量最大时,东方欧鳊年龄在4.4龄,因此建议其4龄起捕。

南疆沙漠区单炮记录间品质差异的原因分析及解决方法

南疆沙漠区地层平缓,同相轴连续,从浅到深层位也较齐全,但常会遇到“不同位置的原始单炮记录间同相轴信息相差较大”的现象,包括同相轴的数量、清晰度、相对能量关系等,表现为同一条同相轴在某些炮记录中有,而在另一些炮记录中不可见,或者在有的单炮记录中非常清晰,而在另外单炮记录中非常微弱,给人感觉这些同相轴在单炮记录间“上蹿下跳”,而且人们在整个工区都难以挑选到品质相当的典型单炮记录做展示。究其原因,本文分析认为,各个排列上的沙丘鸣震不同,导致单炮资料品质差异大。将沙丘鸣震压制之后,单炮记录的品质趋于统一。同时,通过理论计算和实际资料对比分析,厘清了该区沙丘鸣震波场特征,并据此进一步完善了相应的压制沙丘呜震方法。

新发展理念下对新疆沙漠旅游产业开发的思考

新疆沙漠资源、历史文化与风土民情的结合使沙漠旅游具有广阔的市场前景。基于新发展理念,从时间维度与空间维度、发展优劣势基础上分析新疆沙漠旅游开发问题,通过新理念下对沙漠旅游产业开发的三种模式分析提出相应的对策。

新疆北疆荒漠群落植被的物种多样性及影响因素研究

物种丰富度和多样性对荒漠生态系统的稳定和健康具有重要意义。以新疆北部荒漠群落为研究对象,设置527个野外样点,于2017~2019年期间连续调查取样,探讨北疆荒漠群落物种组成特征和物种多样性分布格局以及气候和海拔因子对物种多样性的影响。结果表明:北疆荒漠群落物种多样性水平整体不高,塔城-伊犁荒漠区、阿勒泰荒漠区和昌吉-乌鲁木齐荒漠区的Simpson指数水平低于东天山荒漠区,Patrick指数和Shannon-Wiener指数水平高于东天山荒漠区。昌吉-乌鲁木齐荒漠区Pielou均匀度指数水平相对较低,塔城-伊犁荒漠区、阿勒泰荒漠区和东天山荒漠区均匀度指数水平相当。年均降水量和海拔是影响北疆荒漠物种多样性的主要驱动因子。北疆荒漠具有明显的过渡性和古老性特征,塔城-伊犁荒漠、阿勒泰荒漠和昌吉-乌鲁木齐荒漠物种多样性结构相对复杂,东天山荒漠群落结构相对较为简单,群落丰富度较低。