Zhang LiYun

Impact of habitat heterogeneity on plant community pattern in Gurbantunggut Desert

This paper reports a geomorphologic landscape investigation, vegetation survey and soil sampling at 14 sites across the Gurbantunggut Desert between 87°37′09″-88°24′04″E and 44°14′04″-45°41′52″N. The study encountered 8 species of low trees and shrubs, 5 of perennial herbs, 8 of annual plants and 48 of ephemeral and ephemeroid plants. These species of plants represent one-third of the species found in the Gurbantunggut Desert, and their communities make up a large proportion of desert vegetation with great landscape significance. In the investigation we found that the plant communities are accordingly succeeded with the spatial variation of macro-ecoenvironment. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Correlation Analysis (CA) we found that the micro-ecoenvironment heterogeneity of aeolian sandy soil’s physical and chemical properties such as soil nutrient, soil moisture, soil salt, pH etc. only impacted the diversity of herb synusia (PIEherb) of the desert, with a negative correlation. Meanwhile, the impact of microhabitat on the plant community pattern with an antagonistic interaction made vegetation’s eco-distribution in a temporary equilibrium.

Spatial patterns of ephemeral plants in Gurbantünggüt Desert

In the present research, the authors measured parameters of richness, cover and importance value of ephemeral and ephemeroid plants on south-north and east-west transects in the Gurbantünggüt Desert in early spring, and investigated and analyzed the microhabitats, such as terrain, geomorphology, soil physical-chemical properties and crusts. By comparison, the regional differences in the ephemeral distribution in the desert were revealed. The species of ephemeral plants in the south and center are the richest and those in the west are the poorest in the desert. The cover of ephemeral plants in the mid-south is higher than that in the north, and that in the mid-east is higher than that in the west. The response of ephemeral plants to the spatial variation of the desert habitat forms the population-habitat gradient of ephemeral plants. The characteristics are: (1) In the habitat with higher terrain, coarser textured soil with poorer sorting and correspondingly higher organic matter and lower alkali-saline contents, Carex physoides and Eremopyrum orientale are the dominant ephemeral plants; (2) In the dry habitat with lower terrain, looser textured soil, some organic matter, alkali-saline soil, and developed crust, the ephemeral plants Alyssum linifolium and Erodium oxyrrhynchum are of characteristic of drought and alkali-saline tolerance; (3) In the habitat with lower terrain, some water and more alkalisaline soil, the ephemeral plants Neotorularia torulosa and Hypecoum parviflorum being of alkali-saline tolerance are mainly developed. However, most ephemerals are distributed in a habitat order of higher terrain, some organic, and less alkali-saline soil on the above-mentioned ephemeral population-habitat gradient. The spatial gradient of variation in desert microhabitats is small, and as a whole, the physiological character of mesophytism is represented by the desert ephemerals.

Diversity and zonal distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal status of the 20 most common plant species distributed in 4 vegetation types (meadow steppe, desert steppe, steppe desert and typical desert) on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains was investigated. Samples of the plant species and their rhizosphere soils were collected from the 4 vegetation zones and examined to compare their mycorrhizal status, AM fungal spore densities, biovolumes, and community structures. 28 AM fungal species were isolated from the rhizosphere soils: of these, 5 belonged to Acaulospora, 1 to Archaeospora and 22 to Glomus. 5 AM fungi, Glomus aggregatum, G. claroideum, G. deserticola, G. etunicatum and G. sinuosum, were observed in all 4 zonal types. No significant differences were observed in mean proportion of root length colonized by AM fungi among the plant species within each zonal type. Comparing the 4 zonal types, Plantago minuta (84.5%) in steppe desert and Eremopyrum orientale (83.1%) in typical desert showed the highest root colonizatsion rates. AM fungal spore densities and biovolumes were significantly different in the different zonal types. AM fungal spore densities and biovolumes, species richness and diversity were highest in meadow steppe and lowest in typical desert.

Damage and recovery of the Gurbantunggut Desert vegetation following engineering activities

The fragile ecological environment of the Gurbantunggut Desert is damaged/disturbed by human activities relating to the development of oil-gas resources and the constructions of desert road and great engineering in the Jungger Basin. It was mainly represented: soil compaction, vegetation cleaning, burial of vegetation, oil polluting, and soil disturbance. With investigation and experiment, we found that when the way and intensity of engineering activities disturbing the eco-environment does not make its ecological stability disintegrated, the desert vegetation has a capacity of natural recovery. To speed and strengthen the process of vegetation recovery efficient assistant measurements, including stabilizing mobile sands promptly and sowing seeds of shrub and herb plants in good time will be needed.The fragile ecological environment of the Gurbantunggut Desert is damaged/disturbed by human activities relating to the development of oil-gas resources and the constructions of desert road and great engineering in the Jungger Basin. It was mainly represented: soil compaction, vegetation cleaning, burial of vegetation, oil polluting, and soil disturbance. With investigation and experiment, we found that when the way and intensity of engineering activities disturbing the eco-environment does not make its ecological stability disintegrated, the desert vegetation has a capacity of natural recovery. To speed and strengthen the process of vegetation recovery efficient assistant measurements, including stabilizing mobile sands promptly and sowing seeds of shrub and herb plants in good time will be needed.

Halophytes and halophytic plant communities in Inner-Asia

The geographic region of Inner-Asia is located in the hinterland far away from the ocean. It is surrounded by mountains and has a typical temperate continental climate with aridity as the basic characteristic. The lowland is a salt accumulating centre. The soil is commonly highly salinized, which contributes to dominance of halophytic vegetation over wide areas. The abundant halophytic resources are of importance to local animal husbandry and have a role in soil protection. Because of increasing soil salinization the further development of animal husbandry, expansion of population and desertification of land, the plant resources have received more attention lately. In order to use the halophytic resources wisely, especially halophytic shrubs, it is urgent and necessary to conduct further research, exchange research findings and establish international cooperation.