地下水位变化对干旱区植被盖度的影响及其空间变异特征

Sampling and testing are conducted on groundwater depth and vegetation coverage in the 670 km^2 of the Sangong River Basin and semi-variance function analysis is made afterwards on the data obtained by the application of geo-statistics. Results showed that the variance curve of the groundwater depth and vegetation coverage displays an exponential model. Analysis of sampling data in 2003 indicates that the groundwater depth and vegetation coverage change similarly in space in this area. The Sangong River Basin is composed of upper oasis, middle ecotone and lower sand dune. In oasis and ecotone, influenced by irrigation of the adjoining oasis, groundwater level has been raised and soil water content also increased compared with sand dune nearby, vegetation developed well. But in the lower reaches of the Sangong River Basin, because of descending of groundwater level, soil water content decreased and vegetation degenerated. From oasis to abandoned land and desert grassland, vegetation coverage and groundwater level changed greatly with significant difference respectively in spatial variation. Distinct but similar spatial variability exists among the groundwater depth and vegetation coverage in the study area, namely, the vegetation coverage decreasing (increasing) as the groundwater depth increases (decreases). This illustrates the great dependence of vegetation coverage on groundwater depth in arid regions and further implies that among the great number of factors affecting vegetation coverage in arid regions, groundwater depth turns out to be the most determinant one.     

Water sources of plants and groundwater in typical ecosystems in the lower reaches of the Heihe River Basin

Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions （δ18O and δD） of soil water and shallow groundwater of a riparian forest, an artificial shrub forest, and Gobi of the lower reaches of the Heihe River Basin are used to study the recharge water sources of those ecosystems. IsoSource software is used to determine the δ180 values for root water of Populous euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima in the riparian forest ecosystem, Haloxylon ammodendron in the artificial shrub forest, and Reaumuria soongorica in the Gobi, as well as for local soil water and groundwater, and precipitation in the upper reaches of the Heihe River Basin. Our results showed that soil water and shallow groundwater of the riparian forest and the artificial shrub forest were recharged by river water which originated from precipitation in the upper reaches, and strong evaporation occurred in the artificial shrub forest. Soil water of the Gobi was not affected by Heihe River water due to this area being far away from the river channel. The main water sources of Populous euphratica were from 40-60-cm soil water and groundwater, and of Tamarix ramosissima were from 40-80-cm soil water in the riparian forest ecosystem. In the artificial forest, Haloxylon ammodendron used 200-cm saturated-layer soil water and shallow groundwater. The Reaumuria soongorica mainly used soil water from the 175-200-cm depth in the Gobi. Therefore, soil water and groundwater are the main water sources which maintain survival and growth of the plants in the extremely arid regions of the lower reaches of the Heihe River Basin.     

塔里木河中游植物群落的数量分类与分析

Plant communities were sampled in the lower reaches of the Tarim River,Xinjiang,The results showed that there are 23 species belonging to 21 genera in 11 families,most of which have low occurrence frequency in quadrats.The most common species is Tamarix ramosissima,which occurred in 17 sites accounting for 89.47% of the total 19 sites,Quantitative classification (TWINSPAN) and ordination(CCA) methods were used to study the distribution Patterns of 23 plant species in 19 sites in this valley.TWINSPAN results showed that the plant communities in the middle reaches of the Tarim River could be divided into 3 groups and the sampling sites could be diveded into 7 types in 3 groups .CCA results were consistent with TWINSPAN results ,and showed species distribution patterns correlated with major environmental variables of groundwater level and soil moisture.     

Dynamical variations in groundwater chemistry influenced by intermittent water delivery at the lower reaches of the Tarim River

The water of Bosten Lake was released to lower reaches of the Tarim River for 5 times from 2000 to 2002. The changes of total dissolved solid (TDS) and the major ions (SO4^2-, Cl^-, Na^-,Ca^2 , Mg^2- and HCO3^- ) were analyzed during this period. It was found out that TDS and the concentrations of the major ions initially and quickly increased and then decreased, but finally increased again. These changes were different at different distances from the river, which indicated that the groundwater changes relied on the distance from the river. In addition, the salt in groundwater was only diluted but not removed by the water. It was suggested that ecological measures should be sought to really promote the quality of the groundwater at the lower reaches of the Tarim River.     

塔里木河下游土壤水分和地下水位变化对植被的影响

Based on data collected over five years of monitoring the Lower Tarim River,we analyzed the variability of soil moisture content (SMC) and the relationship between SMC,groundwater table depth (GWD) and vegetation by using the methods of coefficient of variation (Cv),Pearson correlation and regression. The results of the variability of SMC indicate that it rose with increase in depth of soil layer -SMC in the soil layer of 0-60 cm was relatively small compared to SMC in the soil layer of 100-260 cm which showed a significant increase in variability. SMC and GWD before and after ecological water diversions exhibited significant differences at the site of the Yingsu transect and its vicinity of the watercourse,especially SMC in the soil layer of 100-260 cm increased significantly with a significant rise of GWD and reached maximum values at a GWD of about 4 m. Plant coverage and species diversity significantly improved with increases in SMC in the soil layer of 100-260 cm,both of them approached the maximum values and 92.3% of major plant species were able to grow when SMC was > 10%. To restore the ecosystem of desert riparian forest along the Lower Tarim River,the GWD must be maintained at < 4 m in the vicinity of the watercourse and at about 4 m for the rest of this arid region.     

Species diversity and its relation with soil factors under different site conditions in a desert-oasis ecotone

Vegetation and soil surveys were conducted under different site conditions in 2007–2011 to study species diversity using richness, evenness and diversity indices, in the middle portion of the Heihe River Basin. The relationship between species distribution and soil environmental factors was also studied by Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Results show that vegetation coverage and species diversity were the highest in the interdune lowland, and the lowest in the mobile dune. Results of the Hill’s index (diversity ordering) shows that species diversity is reduced along decreasing soil water content, and the order of species diversity was interdune lowland, flat slope, fixed dune, semifixed dune and mobile dune. The influence degree of soil factors on vegetation distribution was soil water content > pH > total K > organic matter > available N > total N > available K > total P > saline content > available P. Soil water content and pH were important factors significantly affecting spatial distribution difference of vegetation, the environmental explanation was 98%.     

The response of Caragana microphylla seedlings to water table changes in Horqin Sandy Land, China

This paper focuses on the growth response of Caragana microphylla seedlings to changes of artificially controlled water table in Horqin Sandy Land, China. Monitoring results of soil water content shows that soil moisture is closely correlated to groundwater depths. Soil volumetric water increased rapidly when close to water sources and finally stabilized in a saturated state. The soil moisture trend of CK(control) increased gradually at 0–50 cm of soil depth then decreased to 4% below 50 cm soil depth. C. microphylla can adapt to different soil environments by changes in ecological and physiological characteristics. By comparing the ecological characteristics of C. microphylla seedlings at various water tables, we found that a shallow water table of 40 cm depth inhibited seedling growth because of weak ecological characteristics. A groundwater depth of 120 cm was more advantageous for plant height and canopy growth of C. microphylla seedlings. During the first two years, the most suitable water depth for root biomass was 120 cm, and 180 cm for root length. The growth of vertical roots is positively correlated with groundwater depth, and root thickness is the determinate factor for root biomass while the fine root is the determinate factor for root length. A thick root would grow much more in a natural drought environment while access to ground water promotes the growth of fine roots.     

A quantitative assessment on groundwater salinization in the Tarim River lower reaches, Northwest China

Based on monitored data from 840 samples, we assessed the spatial and temporal variability of groundwater salinization in the Tarim River lower reaches combining classical statistics and geostatistics. Results show that total dissolved solids （TDS） is significantly correlated with other related ions, such as Na＋, Mg2＋, Ca2-, C1- and K＋. TDS and underground water level have characteristics of spatial autocorrelation, both of which present the isotropic characteristic and con- form to the spherical model in each year from 2001-2009. TDS is basically greater than 1 g/L but less than 2 g/L in the Tarim River lower reaches, which indicates that salt stagnation pollution is more serious. The most serious salinization （3 g/L 〈 TDS _〈 35 g/L） contaminated area is mainly in the middle and lower part of the study area.     

Study on the impact of vegetation degeneration to hydrology characteristic of the Alpine soil

Alpine soil infiltration process is an important part of the hydrological characteristics of alpine soil in permafrost. This research is carried out in the source region of the Yellow River where the permafrost is severely degraded, using various methods for choosing typical sample areas, and to experiment, study and simulate the soil water curve, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil infiltration and soil moisture under different characteristics of degraded vegetation. The results indicate that the empirical equation θ=AS^−B, proposed by Gradner and Visser, is very reliable in simulating the soil moisture curve; soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil infiltration are significantly different under different vegetation coverage: in the soil surface within 0–10 cm, the saturated hydraulic conductivity and infiltration intensity of Black Beach are the strongest; respectively, in soil layers below 30 cm, vegetation has almost no impacts on the saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration intensity and soil moisture content. Significant reduction of soil moisture occurs in soil surfaces with degraded vegetation. The more serious the degradation, the more water loss, and it can be up to 38.6% in the worst situation. Soil moisture of developed vegetation root systems in depths within 10–20 cm has the greatest impact on the soil environment, and the loss of moisture induces difficulty in the restoration of degraded meadows. Through a comparative study, the Kostiakov infiltration equation f(t) = at^−b is more applicable for studies on the process of soil moisture infiltration of the alpine meadow in the source region of the Yellow River.     

A quantitative assessment on groundwater salinization in the Tarim River lower reaches, Northwest China

Based on monitored data from 840 samples, we assessed the spatial and temporal variability of groundwater salinization in the Tarim River lower reaches combining classical statistics and geostatistics. Results show that total dissolved solids (TDS) is significantly correlated with other related ions, such as Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^? and K⁺. TDS and underground water level have characteristics of spatial autocorrelation, both of which present the isotropic characteristic and conform to the spherical model in each year from 2001–2009. TDS is basically greater than 1 g/L but less than 2 g/L in the Tarim River lower reaches, which indicates that salt stagnation pollution is more serious. The most serious salinization (3 g/L < TDS ≤ 35 g/L) contaminated area is mainly in the middle and lower part of the study area.     

Ecological water demand of natural vegetation in the lower Tarim River

We have appraised the relationships between soil moisture, groundwater depth, and plant species diversity in the lower reaches of the Tarim River in western China, by analyzing field data from 25 monitoring wells across eight study sites and 25 permanent vegetation survey plots. It is noted that groundwater depth, soil moisture and plant species diversity are closely related. It has been proven that the critical phreatic water depth is five meters in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. We acquired the mean phreatic evaporation of different groundwater levels every month by averaging the two results of phreatic evaporation using the Qunk and Averyanov formulas. Based on different vegetation types and acreage with different groundwater depth, the total ecological water demand (EWD) of natural vegetation in 2005 was 2.4×108 m3 in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Analyzing the monthly EWD, we found that the EWD in the growth season (from April to September) is 81% of the year’s total EWD. The EWD in May, June and July was 47% of the year’s total EWD, which indicates the best time for dispensing artificial water. This research aims at realizing the sustainable development of water resources and provides a scientific basis for water resource management and sound collocation of the Tarim River Basin.     

基于生态水文过程的塔里木河下游 植被生态需水量研究

根据2005年塔里木河下游8个断面25眼地下水位观测井和25个植物样地野外采集的数据,运用DPS统计软件计算植被物种多样性指数,进而对地下水、土壤水与植被的关系进行了分析,结果表明地下水位、土壤含水量与植被多样性之间都有极强的相关性,在此基础上确定出塔里木河下游潜水蒸发的极限埋深是5 m。并采用阿维里扬诺夫公式和群克水均衡场公式对塔里木河下游天然植被的月潜水蒸发量进行计算,将两者计算结果加以算术平均得到塔里木河下游不同埋深对应的潜水蒸发量;采用两种方法对植被面积进行分类,在此分类基础上计算生态需水量,将两个结果再次平均,得到天然植被全年最低需水量约为3.2×10⁸ m³。通过对月生态需水量的分析发现4月到9月的生态需水量占全年的81%,尤其是5、6、7三个月占全年总需水量的47%,是生态需水的主要时期。     

塔里木河中下游荒漠河岸林植被对地下水埋深变化的响应

结合塔里木河中下游74 个植被样地和74 眼地下水位监测井(2005-2007 年) 数据, 将 地下水位按不同埋深划分为0~2 m, 2~4 m, 4~6 m, 6~8 m, 8~10 m 和>10 m 6 个梯度, 对不同地下水埋深下的群落盖度、物种多样性进行了分析, 并探讨了主要植物种分布频率与地 下水埋深的关系。结果表明： 在地下水位2~4 m 时, 物种多样性最高, 其次为4~6 m, 再次为0~2 m; 当地下水位在6 m 以下时, 物种多样性锐减。塔里木河中下游主要植物最适宜水位在2~4 m 之间; 这些植物能够正常生长的地下水埋深区间为3~6 m。这表明, 塔里木河下 游植被恢复的地下水位应确保达到6 m 以上。     

塔里木河下游荒漠植物多样性、地上生物量与地下水埋深的关系

样带是研究植物群落沿环境因子梯度变化的重要方法。用样带法研究了塔里木河下游荒漠植被群落物种多样性和地上生物量在垂直河道方向随地下水埋深梯度变化的关系。结果表明：（1）样带植物群落物种多样性与地下水埋深极显著负线性相关（P〈0.01）,Margalaf指数、Pielou指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和Simpson指数均随地下水埋深增大而减小,地下水埋深是影响群落组成和物种多样性的重要因素。（2）单一乔木层、灌木层、草本层地上生物量和乔灌草地上总生物量与地下水埋深均极显著负相关（P〈0.01）,地下水埋深从3 m增大到7 m时,地上总生物量由912.2 g·m^-2减少到不足30 g·m^-2,地下水埋深是制约荒漠植被地上生物量和分布的主要因素。（3）群落多样性与地上生物量之间显著正线性相关（P〈0.05）,即随多样性增加,地上生物量呈增加趋势。     

Quantitative classification and analysis on plant communities in the middle reaches of the Tarim River

Plant communities were sampled in the lower reaches of the Tarim River, Xinjiang. The results showed that there are 23 species belonging to 21 genera in 11 families, most of which have low occurrence frequency in quadrats. The most common species is Tamarix ramosissima, which occurred in 17 sites accounting for 89.47% of the total 19 sites. Quantitative classification (TWINSPAN) and ordination (CCA) methods were used to study the distribution patterns of 23 plant species in 19 sites in this valley. TWINSPAN results showed that the plant communities in the middle reaches of the Tarim River could be divided into 3 groups and the sampling sites could be divided into 7 types in 3 groups. CCA results were consistent with TWINSPAN results, and showed species distribution patterns correlated with major environmental variables of groundwater level and soil moisture.     

塔里木河下游优势草本植物与地下水埋深的关系

对塔里木河下游区域的草本群落进行了调查,获取了其分布状况和群落特征资料,并记录相应的地下水埋深,探讨了区域内距离河流不同处地下水埋深与草本群落特征之间的关系。结果表明:(1)地下水埋深越大,草本群落的生物多样性越小,覆盖度越低,生态结构趋于简单,其中地下水埋深<6 m处草本群落的种类组成和物种多样性相对较高,>7 m处草本植物分布很少,部分地区也受到微地形和地下水埋深的双重影响;(2)在大尺度空间上,草本群落随地下水的分布特点与其他荒漠地区的分布规律基本一致,随着地下水埋深的增加,草本群落的演替次序为:高水位芦苇(Phragmites communis)群落、中水位鹿角草(Glossogyne tenuifolia)群落、中低水位骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsif)群落,不同地下水埋深对应的草本群落之间具有一定的差异性、相似性和连续性;(3)塔里木河下游优势草本物种的生态位宽度均不大,主要是受水环境条件的限制,芦苇与骆驼刺的生态位宽度相对较大,在区域内分布较广。     

塔里木河下游植物群落分布格局及其环境解释

研究表明,塔里木河下游地区共有植物18种,分别隶属于9科、15属。其中藜科 (Chenopodiaceae)、柽柳科 (Tamaricaceae)、豆科 (Leguminosae) 3个科有10种,约占所有种数的56%,反映了干旱区旱生耐盐种类占优势的特点。样地排序结果表明,沿样地CA第一排序轴,所有18个调查样地可划分为3种类型,分别对应3种不同地下水位,即浅地下水位区 (<3 m)、中地下水位区 (3~5 m) 和深地下水位区 (>5 m),不同的植被类型组合亦分别对应不同类型的地下水位。CCA排序表明,影响该地区植物群落分布格局的环境因子主要是地下水位、土壤含水量、土壤pH值。CCA排序分析可将18种植物分为4个组,分别对应于不同的环境因子变化梯度。从管理的角度出发,在塔里木河流域下游地区进行受损生态系统的恢复与重建过程中,要重点考虑到上述提及的主要环境因子,尤其是重视水资源的合理开发与利用,采用适宜的灌溉方式,防止地下水位下降和土壤盐渍化的发生。     

塔里木河下游丛枝菌根植物的侵染

通过对塔里木河下游自然和人工植物群落中的15种主要建群种植物根系菌根的定殖状况的调查及对菌根侵染部位、菌根中的泡囊、丛枝和菌丝的观察,其结果显示:其中11种植物可被AM真菌侵染,占所调查植物种总数的73.33%,野生乡土植物表现出较高的菌根侵染率和侵染强度,其中有84.62%的植物为菌根植物,且乔木、多年生草本和灌木类植物全部为菌根植物,一年生草本植物未见AM真菌侵染;人工引入种蓼科的泡果沙拐枣(Calligonum junceum)和藜科的梭梭柴(Haloxylon ammodendron)均未见有AM真菌侵染。丛枝菌根真菌侵染率、侵染强度与植物所属的科属关系较密切,也与真菌群落所处时空环境及土壤深度有关。     

塔里木河下游绿洲-荒漠过渡带植物多样性特征及优势种群分布格局

结合10个断面的30个样地野外调查结果,采用物种丰富度指数(R)、Shannon-Wiener指数(H)、Simpson优势度指数(D)、物种均匀度指数(JSW)、Whittaker指数、Cody指数、扩散系数(C)、负二项参数(K)、平均拥挤度(m*)、丛生指标(I)、聚块性指标(PI)、Green指数(CA)、Cassie指标(GI) 综合分析了塔里木河下游绿洲-荒漠过渡带植物群落多样性及优势种群的空间分布格局。结果表明:塔里木河下游绿洲-荒漠过渡带优势种群为胡杨(Populus euphratica)、柽柳(Tamarix spp.)、黑果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum)、盐穗木(Halostachys caspica)、花花柴(Karelinia caspica)、芦苇(Phragmites communis)、骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)、甘草(Glycyrrhiza inflata)、罗布麻(Apocynum hendersonii),受生境中水分条件的影响,各种群均呈聚集分布格局;各群落α-多样性指数低,物种多样性呈梯度变化,受环境水土资源条件限制,物种丰富度变化为:绿洲内>交错区>荒漠区;受地下水埋深的影响,群落结构呈规律性变化:乔-灌-草结构—灌-草结构—单一灌木结构—灌-草结构—乔-灌-草结构;Whittaker指数、Cody指数显示群落β-多样性随着地下水埋深梯度发生变化,过渡带是绿洲和荒漠物种分布变化的分界地带。因此,地下水埋深是决定塔里木河下游绿洲-荒漠过渡带物种多样性和种群分布的决定因素。