Yan-xia Pan

Physiological responses and tolerance mechanisms to Pb in two xerophils: Salsola passerina Bunge and Chenopodium album L.

Lead (Pb) has great toxicity to human beings and other livings. Although there are varied ways to rehabilitate the Pb contaminated area, phytoremediation of Pb pollution in arid lands is still a difficult task, it is therefore urgent to find and identify Pb tolerant plants in arid areas. The physiological responses and tolerance mechanisms to Pb stress (expressed as the Pb concentration, e.g., 0, 50, 150, 300, 600, 800, 1000 mg/L) were investigated for the xerophils Salsola passerina Bunge and Chenopodium album L. Results indicated that S. passerina exhibited higher Pb tolerance than Ch. album in terms of the seed germination rate, bio-activities of SOD and POD, and lower MDA production. There were two ways for S. passerina to reduce Pb toxicity in organism level, e.g., cell wall precipitation and state transfer of free Pb into anchorage. These findings demonstrate that S. passerina is a Pb tolerant species and may have potential application in phytoremediation of Pb contaminated arid lands.

Seedlings growth and antioxidative enzymes activities in leaves under heavy metal stress differ between two desert plants: a perennial ( Peganum harmala ) and an annual ( Halogeton glomeratus ) grass

The present study showed the toxicity caused by heavy metal and its detoxification responses in two desert plants: perennial Peganum harmala and annual Halogeton glomeratus. In pot experiments, 1-month-old seedlings were grown under control and three levels of combined heavy metal stress. Seedling growth as well as heavy metal accumulation, antioxidative enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)] activities and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in leaves was examined after 2 months of heavy metal exposure. Compared with H. glomeratus, growth of P. harmala was more severely inhibited. In leaves, the heavy metal accumulation pattern in both the plants was dose-dependent, being more in H. glomeratus. H. glomeratus exhibited a typical antioxidative defense mechanism, as evidenced by the elevated activities of all the three enzymes tested. P. harmala exhibited a different enzyme response pattern, with a significant reduction in CAT activity, and elevated SOD and APX activities, but significantly elevated APX activity was only at the lowest heavy metal concentration. MDA and H2O2 contents were significantly enhanced in leaves of heavy metal-treated P. harmala, but in H. glomeratus were elevated only at the highest heavy metal treatment. These results indicated that H. glomeratus had a greater capacity than P. harmala to adapt to oxidative stress caused by heavy metal stress, and antioxidative defense in H. glomeratus might play an important role in heavy metal tolerance.

Variation of albedo to soil moisture for sand dunes and biological soil crusts in arid desert ecosystems

Surface albedo plays a crucial role in the energy balance of soils. The surface albedo and surface soil moisture of bare sand and biological soil crusts (BSCs) were concurrently observed on field plots of shifting sand dune and in revegetated desert ecosystems at Shapotou, northwestern China, to study relationships between surface albedo, solar elevation angle, and surface soil moisture. Results indicated that rainfall exerted a remarkable lowering effect on the variation of surface albedo by increasing surface soil moisture. Surface albedo was an exponential function of solar elevation angle, and the normalized surface albedo (solar elevation angle effect was removed) decreased exponentially with the increase of surface soil moisture. Sand surface had a higher albedo (0.266) than BSCs (0.226) when the surfaces were very dry. However, sand surface albedo became increasingly lower than that of BSCs when the surfaces were in wet conditions and when the soil moisture exceeded a critical value. The changes in soil surface albedo from sand dune to BSCs after revegetation in shallow soil profiles associated with the variation of the surface soil moisture can be seen as an indicator of the degree of sand dune stabilization when compared with the original shifting sand dune soil.

Diurnal Relationship Between the Surface Albedo and Surface Temperature in Revegetated Desert Ecosystems, Northwestern China

Quantification of the relationship between surface albedo and surface temperature was done by analyzing measured diurnal variations of surface albedo and surface temperature on the biological soil crusts and sand dunes within vegetation-stabilized desert ecosystems. The surface albedos and surface temperatures of sand dunes and biological soil crusts were measured concurrently over field plots of the moving sand area and the artificially revegetated area established in 1964 in Shapotou area, on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert. Results indicated that the diurnal variation of surface albedo for both dry surfaces showed an upward-facing parabolic curve on clear days and was symmetrical at about local noon. Whereas, the diurnal trend of surface temperature was opposite to that of surface albedo in the daytime and asymmetrical at about local noon times. Thereby, the data were empirically divided into forenoon and afternoon data with respect to local noon to analyze the relationship between surface albedo and surface temperature. A highly correlated negative linear relationship was found in the two time periods, respectively, and we proposed an empirical model between surface albedo and surface temperature based on that relationship. The model results indicate a good potential application for using the surface temperature to specify surface albedo.

Diurnal and seasonal variations of surface albedo in a spring wheat field of arid lands of Northwestern China

Surface albedo greatly affects the radiation energy balance of croplands and is a significant factor in crop growth monitoring and yield estimation. Precise determination of surface albedo is thus important. This study aimed to examine the influence of growth stages (tillering, jointing, heading, filling and maturity) on albedo and its diurnal asymmetry by measuring diurnal albedo variations. Results indicated that the daily mean surface albedo generally exhibited an increased tendency during tillering to heading but decreased after heading. Surface albedos were much higher in the morning than the corresponding values of the same solar elevation angles in the afternoon when the solar elevation angle was less than 40°, indicating a diurnal asymmetry in surface albedo. However, less difference was found in surface albedos between forenoon and afternoon when the solar elevation angle was greater than 40°. Dew droplets on the leaf surface in the morning were assumed to be the main factor resulting in the diurnal asymmetry in albedo of spring wheat.

Condensation of water vapour on moss-dominated biological soil crust, NW China

Characteristics of water vapour condensation, including the onset, duration, and amount of water vapour condensation on moss-dominated biological soil crust (BSC) and dune sand were studied under simulated conditions with varying air temperature and relative humidity. The simulations were performed in a plant growth chamber using an electronic balance recording the weight of condensation. There was a positive linear correlation between the water vapour condensation and relative humidity while the mean temperature was negatively linearly related to amounts of water vapour condensation for both soil surfaces. The amount of water vapour condensation on BSC and dune sand can be described by the difference between air temperature and dew point with an exponential function, indicating that when the difference of air temperature and dew point exceeds a value of 35.3◦C, there will be zero water vapour condensed on BSC. In contrast, when the difference of air temperature and dew point exceeds a value of 20.4◦C, the water vapour condensation will be zero for dune sand. In general, when the air is fully saturated with water and the dew point is equal to the current air temperature, the water vapour condensed on BSC attained its maximum value of 0.398 mm, whereas it was 0.058 mm for dune sand. In comparison, water vapour condensed on BSC was at a relatively high temperature and low relative humidity, while we did not detect water vapour condensation on the dune sand under the similar conditions. Physical and chemical analyses of the samples pointed to a greater porosity, high content of fine particles, and high salinity for BSC compared to the dune sand. These results highlight that soil physicochemical properties are the likely factors influencing the mechanism of water vapour condensation under specific meteorological conditions, as onset was earlier and the duration was longer for water vapour condensation on BSC in comparison with that of dune sand. This contributed to the greater amount of vapour absorbed on BSC compared to the dune sand under an identical meteorological condition. The feedback of water vapour condensation on BSC formation and its contribution to sustain the revegetation desert ecosystems was discussed.

Variation in Soil Seed Banks Composition at the Desert Microhabitats of Caragana korshinskii Shrubs

The species composition of the soil seed banks and their distribution in the revegetated desert ecosystems were studied with the seedling emergence method around re-established Caragana korshinskii shrubs by comparing these with that of natural C. korshinskii shrubs patches, which grow under identical bioclimatic conditions. The results indicated that there were significant differences in the soil seed banks composition among the microhabitats in both areas, while the orientation effects were detected at the revegetated site, where the wind plays an important role in structuring the soil seed banks. There were more forb seeds in southeastern and southwestern directions of the C. korshinskii shrubs than in the northwest and northeast, and their abundance decreased from microhabitats under the shrub canopies, to the shrub edges, and to the intercanopy spaces. The grass seeds, by contrast, were most abundant at the intercanopy spaces, intermediate at the edges of the shrub canopies, and lowest at the centre of the patch under the shrub canopies. There was high seed density heterogeneity within the four microhabitat classes of the orientation from the revegetated shrub patches. Differences between microhabitats were greatest in the revegetated site and tended to disappear in the natural site. Seed densities in the natural site were around 3.6 times greater than in the revegetated site, this difference was mainly accounted for by the annual forbs and grasses in the natural site and suggests that for the desert ecosystems restoration will be a long-term process in terms of the spatial soil seed banks variation.

Variations of Nutrients in Gross Rainfall, Stemflow, and Throughfall Within Revegetated Desert Ecosystems

Revegetation in arid desert ecosystems is emerging as a practical strategy to cease sand dune encroachment and combat desertification worldwide. The revegetation is expected to affect the spatial distribution of rainfall to the ground within vegetation communities. However, the impact of revegetation on the temporal distribution of dry and/or wet dust fall trapped by shrub canopies via stemflow and throughfall remains a topic of concern for shrub “fertile islands.” This study investigated whether xerophytic shrub community acts as a sink of various cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), inorganic anions (Cl− and SO42−), total nitrogen, and total phosphorus to the revegetated desert ecosystems. Gross rainfall, the stemflow, and throughfall of two codominated xerophytic shrubs (Caragana korshinskii and Artemisia ordosica) were volumetrically measured after natural rainfall events, and their samples were chemically analyzed in the laboratory. Results showed that ions had higher concentrations in stemflow than in throughfall, followed by gross rainfall. Ion concentrations in stemflow and throughfall strongly depends on the first flush effect, rainfall depth, and the antecedent dry period before a rainfall event occurring. Concentrations of most of the ions in stemflow and throughfall collected after the first rainfall event of a year were obviously higher than other rainfall events for both shrub species, suggesting a first flush effect. Ion concentrations generally decreased with the increasing depth of gross rainfall, stemflow, and throughfall, while increased with prolonged antecedent dry period. Based on nutrient input by stemflow and throughfall at the community scale, we conclude that chemical enrichment of stemflow and throughfall plays an important role in forming the shrub fertile islands and contributes significantly to a sustainable succession of the revegetated desert ecosystems.

The influence of Caragana korshinskii shrub on soil and hydrological properties in a revegetation-stabilized desert ecosystem

Abstract Shrub-induced spatial heterogeneity of soil and hydrological properties are common in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. To examine the influence of shrubs on spatial patterns of soil physical, chemical and hydrological properties, the typical sand-fixation species, Caragana korshinskii, was studied in the Shapotou area of the Tengger Desert, China. Miniature cylinder infiltrometers were used to quantify the spatial variations of infiltration rate in the soils, and were installed at 20-cm intervals around the shrubs. Meanwhile, soil samples were collected at 0–5 cm depth every 10 cm to analyse their physical and chemical properties and soil moisture content. The results indicate that the various measured parameters showed a gradational change from sub-canopy to open space. The establishment of shrubs formed obvious “fertile islands” where more soil nutrients collected. The total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), electrical conductivity (EC) and surface soil moisture content decreased gradually from around shrub stems to the interspace. The sand content around shrub stems was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and decreased gradually from the centre towards the outside microsites. The silt and clay contents showed opposite variability characteristics. The variation of soil bulk density was less within 140 cm distance from the stem, and no abrupt change was found at the shrub’s drip line. No significant tendency was found for the soil pH values. The steady infiltration rates declined with increasing stem distance and then tended to be stable, and no abrupt change occurred at the position of the overhead canopy margin. The increase of infiltration rate was rapid nearer to the stem; the variability trend can be fitted by a log-log (power function) model. This study indicated the gradational change in soil and hydrological properties, which was not consistent with the binary division of shrubs into “canopy” and “interspace” zones. Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz

Effects of shrub species and microhabitats on dew formation in a revegetation-stabilized desert ecosystem in Shapotou, northern China

Dew is an important supplement water source in arid and semi-arid areas. In order to determine the dew formation on different kinds of soils associated with various shrub species and microhabitats, we performed measurement of accumulated dew formation amount and duration in October 2009 in a revegetation-stabilized arid desert ecosystem in Shapotou area, northern China. The results indicated that the accumulated dew formation amount was four times larger at open spaces as compared to under the canopy, and it was nearly twice as much under living Artemisia ordosica plants (L.A.) as compared to under living Caragana korshinskii plants (L.C.). The opposite characteristics were found for dew duration between different microhabitats. Dew amounts at different vertical heights around the shrub stands were in the order of 50 cm above the canopy>the canopy edge>under the canopy. Dew amount continued to increase after dawn, and the proportion of average accumulated dew amount after dawn accounting for the average maximum amount increased from above the canopy to under the canopy. Dew formation duration after sunrise accounted for more than 50% of the total formation duration during the day time. Contrary to the distribution characteristics of dew amount, dew duration after dawn and total dew formation duration during the day time were both highest under the canopy, followed by at the canopy edge and then at 50 cm above the canopy. The portion of dew duration after dawn accounting for the total dew duration during the day time increased from above the canopy to under the canopy. From these results, we may conclude that dew availability as a supplemental water resource for improving the microhabitats in water-limited arid ecosystems is position dependent especially for the plant microhabitats at different stands layers.