RuiQing ZHU and XinRong LI
Survival Mechanism of Psammophytes in arid desert
Species traits, environmental gradients, and distribution pattern could be three main tools providing mechanistic understanding of ecosystems, predicting the key issues in ecological stability, balance, and succession orientation. Present study is focused on a desert-oasis area, characterized by possible two abiotic environmental gradients and the distribution of seven plant species dominating four types of sand dunes. Aim of this study is to find the desert survival mechanisms for sand-binding application. Within the accessions of this transitional belt, three major types of water use characteristics could be defined. Dominant species including shrubs and herbs were significantly negatively correlated with their diurnal transpiration at rhizosphere moisture (P<0.01,R2=0.94). The results indicate pioneer species surviving arid desert by lavish water use strategies, with less cover, high Pr, high Tr, high WUE and preceding cresting of WUE. Soil property gradient played an important role in affecting the fixed and semi-fixed dunes, while soil moisture gradient was more important in shifting and semi-shifting dunes.
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