Desertification is a global crucial ecological and environmental issue,and China is among the countries most seriously affected by desertification.In recent decades,numerous independent studies on desertification dyna...Desertification is a global crucial ecological and environmental issue,and China is among the countries most seriously affected by desertification.In recent decades,numerous independent studies on desertification dynamics have been carried out using remote sensing technology,but there has been a lack of systematic research on desertification trends in China.This study employed the meta-analysis to integrate the findings of 140 published research cases and examined the dynamics of desertification in the eight major deserts,four major sandy lands,and their surrounding areas in China from 1970 to 2019,with a comparative analysis of differences between the eastern(including the Mu Us Sandy Land,the Otindag Sandy Land,the Hulunbuir Sandy Land,the Horqin Sandy Land,and the Hobq Desert)and western(including the Taklimakan Desert,the Gurbantunggut Desert,the Kumtagh Desert,the Ulan Buh Desert,the Qaidam Basin Desert,the Badain Jaran Desert,and the Tengger Desert)regions.The results revealed that from 1970 to 2019,desertification first expanded and then reversed in the whole region.Specifically,desertification expanded from 1980 to 1999 and reversed after 2000.The desertification trend exhibited distinct spatio-temporal variations between the eastern and western regions.From 1970 to 2019,the western region experienced relatively minor changes in desertified land area compared to the eastern region.In the context of global climate change,beneficial climatic conditions and ecological construction projects played a crucial role in reversing desertification.These findings provide valuable insights for understanding the development patterns of desertification in the most representative deserts and sandy lands in China and formulating effective desertification control strategies.展开更多
Due to irrational human activities and extreme climate,the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China,faces a serious threat of desertification.Desertification has a detrimental effect on the ecological environment and socioeconomi...Due to irrational human activities and extreme climate,the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China,faces a serious threat of desertification.Desertification has a detrimental effect on the ecological environment and socioeconomic development.In this study,the desertification sensitivity index(DSI)model was established by integrating the spatial distance model and environmentally sensitive area index evaluation method,and then the model was used to quantitatively analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of desertification sensitivity of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau from 1990 to 2020.The results revealed that:(1)a general increasing tendency from southeast to northwest was identified in the spatial distribution of desertification sensitivity.The low-sensitivity areas were mostly concentrated in the Hengduan and Nyaingqêntanglha mountains and surrounding forest and meadow areas.The high-sensitivity areas were located mainly in the Kunlun and Altun mountains and surrounding decertified areas.The center of gravity of all types of desertification-sensitive areas moved to the northwest,and the desertification sensitivity showed a decreasing trend as a whole;(2)the area of highly sensitive desertification areas decreased by 8.37%,with extreme sensitivity being the largest change among the sensitivity types.The desertification sensitivity transfer was characterized by a greater shift to lower sensitivity levels(24.56%)than to higher levels(2.03%),which demonstrated a declining trend;(3)since 1990,the change in desertification sensitivity has been dominated by the stabilizing type Ⅰ(29.30%),with the area of continuously increasing desertification sensitivity accounting for only 1.10%,indicating that the management of desertification has achieved positive results in recent years;and(4)natural factors have had a more significant impact on desertification sensitivity on the Xizang Plateau,whereas socioeconomic factors affected only localized areas.The main factors influencing desertification sensitivity were vegetation drought tolerance and aridity index.Studying spatiotemporal variations in desertification sensitivity and its influencing factors can provide a scientific foundation for developing strategies to control desertification on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.Dividing different desertification-sensitive areas on the basis of these patterns of change can facilitate the formulation of more targeted management and protection measures,contributing to ecological construction and sustainable economic development in the area.展开更多
Land desertification severely compromises the core function of ecosystem and significantly disrupts biodiversity.Caragana korshinskii Kom.plays a pivotal role as a critical plant resource in the restoration and ecolog...Land desertification severely compromises the core function of ecosystem and significantly disrupts biodiversity.Caragana korshinskii Kom.plays a pivotal role as a critical plant resource in the restoration and ecological reconstruction of desertified areas in Northwest China.Kytorhinus immixtus Motschulsky is the primary pest responsible for causing substantial damage to the seeds of C.korshinskii.In this study,field surveys were utilized in three distinct desertified types(lightly,moderately,and severely desertified areas)in north central Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,Northwest China.This research was focused on investigating the population dynamics and damage rates of K.immixtus,with an emphasis on examining the relationships among K.immixtus distribution,levels of soil desertification,and associated environmental factors.The results revealed marked variations in the population distribution and abundance of K.immixtus across habitats with different degrees of desertification.Due to the sand-fixing ability of C.korshinskii,the severity of soil desertification decreased progressively from severe to moderate and light with C.korshinskii establishment.This reduction in desertification,along with habitat restoration and an increase in plant diversity,was correlated with a gradual increase in K.immixtus population size and damage rate.Generalized linear mixed model analysis revealed significantly positive correlations of soil total potassium,C.korshinskii height,maximum temperature during the survey,precipitation,and the plant species richness index with K.immixtus population.In contrast,the soil total phosphorus content,organic matter content,minimum temperature during the survey,C.korshinskii canopy width,and branch number were significantly and negatively correlated with K.immixtus population.Due to the sand-fixing capacity of C.korshinskii,the plant mitigated soil desertification,but as desertification severity decreased,habitat restoration and increased plant diversity drove a gradual increase in the population and damage rate of K.immixtus.Both biotic and abiotic factors in the habitat significantly influenced K.immixtus occurrence.To achieve the sustainable restoration of desert ecosystem,optimization of plant community structure with soil nutrient management in ecological rehabilitation is necessary to balance the benefits of sand fixation with pest risks.展开更多
Desertification poses a significant ecological threat to global sustainability,notably within arid regions such as the Tarim Basin surrounding the extensive Taklimakan Desert in Northwest China.This study used the Goo...Desertification poses a significant ecological threat to global sustainability,notably within arid regions such as the Tarim Basin surrounding the extensive Taklimakan Desert in Northwest China.This study used the Google Earth Engine(GEE)platform and Random Forest(RF)to analyze multi-temporal Landsat images to reveal desertification dynamics in the Tarim Basin spanning from 1990 to 2020.The results showed that land use types of the Tarim Basin were classified into three types:artificial oases,natural oases,and desertified land.To robustly quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use,we introduced the Desertification Change Index(DCI),a novel metric specifically designed to measure the transformation sensitivity of land use types.Our analysis demonstrated that from 1990 to 2020,artificial oases showed a continuous increasing trend,while desertified land decreased significantly.Natural oases decreased during 1990–2000,then continued to grow,and showed a decreasing trend again after 2015.Moreover,natural oases have mainly been converted into desertified land and artificial oases.Artificial oases were mainly converted into natural oases,and most of desertified land was converted into natural oases.Regions with significant oasis expansion(DCI=2)were mostly concentrated within the influence radius of artificial oases.In contrast,regions with significant oasis degradation(DCI=–2)were generally farther from artificial oases.Finally,this study found that the changes in land use types of the Tarim Basin are mainly driven by human activities,which play a dual role—mitigating desertification by controlling oasis expansion and exacerbating desertification through unsustainable resource utilization.Ultimately,this research provides essential insights for policy-makers and land managers aiming to devise adaptive and sustainable desertification control measures in the Tarim Basin and similarly arid regions globally.展开更多
Tibetan alpine steppes are large and sensitive terrestrial carbon(C)reservoirs that are experiencing desertification due to global change and overgrazing,which can lead to stronger resource limitations for both above-...Tibetan alpine steppes are large and sensitive terrestrial carbon(C)reservoirs that are experiencing desertification due to global change and overgrazing,which can lead to stronger resource limitations for both above-and belowground communities.Soil nutrients,especially nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P),are the crucial resources for plant growth and microbial metabolism.However,whether both plant and soil microbial communities in the degraded alpine steppes are limited by these soil nutrients remains unclear,which limits our understanding of the mechanisms of desertification and subsequent ecosystem restoration.Here,we evaluated potential nutrient limitations of the plant and soil microbial communities in the alpine steppe across five stages of desertification using stoichiometry-based approaches.Our results showed that soil microbial metabolism was mainly limited by C and P,and the plant N limitation and microbial C limitation were intensified while the microbial P limitation was relieved during desertification.Plant-soil-microbe interactions had significant impacts on the microbial C and P limitations,explaining 72 and 61%of the variation,respectively.Specifically,desertification ultimately affected microbial metabolic limitations by regulating soil pH,soil nutrients,and the plant N limitation.Moreover,the microbial C limitation further reduced microbial C use efficiency(CUE)with desertification,which is detrimental for organic C retention in the degraded soil.Overall,this study revealed that microbial metabolic limitations through plant-microbe interactions were the key drivers affecting soil microbial CUE,and it provided insights that can advance our knowledge of the microbial regulation of nutrient cycles and C sequestration.展开更多
As a major worldwide issue,desertification poses significant threats to ecosystem stability and long-term socioeconomic growth.Within China,the Mu Us Sandy land represents a crucial region for studying desertification...As a major worldwide issue,desertification poses significant threats to ecosystem stability and long-term socioeconomic growth.Within China,the Mu Us Sandy land represents a crucial region for studying desertification phenomena.Comprehending how desertification risks are distributed spatially and what mechanisms drive them remains fundamental for implementing effective strategies in land management and risk mitigation.Our research evaluated desertification vulnerability across the Mu Us Sandy land by applying the MEDALUS model,while investigating causal factors via geographical detector methodology.Findings indicated that territories with high desertification vulnerability extend across 71,401.7 km^(2),constituting 76.87%of the entire region,while zones facing extreme desertification hazard cover 20,578.9 km^(2)(22.16%),primarily concentrated in a band-like pattern along the western boundary of the Mu Us Sandy land.Among the four primary indicators,management quality emerged as the most significant driver of desertification susceptibility,followed by vegetation quality and soil quality.Additionally,drought resistance,land use intensity,and erosion protection were identified as the key factors driving desertification sensitivity.The investigation offers significant theoretical perspectives that can guide the formulation of enhanced strategies for controlling desertification and promoting sustainable land resource utilization within the Mu Us Sandy land region.展开更多
Desertification research in arid and semi-arid regions has always been actively pursued.In China,the problem of desertification in Xinjiang has also received extensive attention.Due to its unique geography,many schola...Desertification research in arid and semi-arid regions has always been actively pursued.In China,the problem of desertification in Xinjiang has also received extensive attention.Due to its unique geography,many scholars have conducted corresponding research on the desertification status of Xinjiang.In this paper,we comprehensively reviewed desertification in Xinjiang,and compared the underlying mechanisms of desertification and the status of desertification conditions after the implementation of ecological control projects.On a larger scale,desertification in Xinjiang can be divided into soil salinization inside oases and sandy desertification on the edges of oases.Human activities are considered the main cause of desertification,but natural factors also contribute to varying degrees.Research on the mechanisms of desertification has effectively curbed the development of desertification,but unreasonable use of land resources accelerates the risk of desertification.For desertification control,there are several key points.First,desertification monitoring and the early warning of desertification expansion should be strengthened.Second,monitoring and reversing soil salinization also play an important role in the interruption of desertification process.It is very effective to control soil salinization through biological and chemical methods.Third,the management of water resources is also essential,because unreasonable utilization of water resources is one of the main reasons for the expansion of desertification in Xinjiang.Due to the unreasonable utilization of water resources,the lower reaches of the Tarim River are cut off,which leads to a series of vicious cycles,such as the deterioration of ecological environment on both sides of the river and the worsening of desertification.However,in recent years,various desertification control projects implemented in Xinjiang according to the conditions of different regions have achieved remarkable results.For future studies,research on the stability of desert-oasis transition zone is also significantly essential,because such investigations can help to assess the risk of degradation and control desertification on a relatively large scale.展开更多
[Objective] The research aimed to study change law of phosphorus content of soil in karst rocky desertification region(KRD) during eco-restoration process such as Northwest Guangxi Province.[Method] The soil samples w...[Objective] The research aimed to study change law of phosphorus content of soil in karst rocky desertification region(KRD) during eco-restoration process such as Northwest Guangxi Province.[Method] The soil samples were collected from typical KRD in Pingguo County and Yizhou City.The determining quotas of different soil samples such as soil total phosphorus content and available phosphorus content were detected,in addition the soil total phosphorus content,available phosphorus content, urease activity, catalase activity and organic matter content in different soil samples were analyzed comparatively.[Result] Aspect,vegetation type and recovery time generated obviously influences on phosphorus contents in different soil samples.The concrete influence order was listed as follow: phosphorus content in soil of south slope was higher than that in soil of north slope;phosphorus content in soil where Zenia insignis Chun was planted was higher than that in soil of closed forest and that of soil where Dendrocalamus minor Var. amoen was planted,additionally,phosphorus increased with recovery time. Urease activity could be used as a monitoring index of soil fertility because it is related to the change of phosphorus content.[Conclusion] The soil of karst rocky desertification region in Northwest Guangxi Province could be recovered gradually if excessive human disturbance was stopped.If proper natural method of recovery promoted by human was taken,the recovery would reach a better result.展开更多
[Objective] To extract desertification information of Hulun Buir region based on MODIS image data. [Method] Based on MODIS image data with the spatial res- olution of 1 km, 5 indicators which could reflect different d...[Objective] To extract desertification information of Hulun Buir region based on MODIS image data. [Method] Based on MODIS image data with the spatial res- olution of 1 km, 5 indicators which could reflect different desertification features were selected to conduct inversion. The desertification information of Hulun Buir region was extracted by decision tree classification. [Result] The desertification area of Hu- lun Buir region is 33 862 km2, accounting for 24% of the total area, and it is mainly dominated by sandiness desertification. Though field verification and mining point validation of high-resolution interpretation data, the overall accuracy of this evaluation is above 89%. [Conclusion] Evaluation method used in this study is not only effectively for large scale regional desertification monitoring but also has a better evaluation performance.展开更多
With the background of severe rocky desertification in the west of China and the ohjective of ecological environment construction and poverty elimination, the management information system of rocky desertification was...With the background of severe rocky desertification in the west of China and the ohjective of ecological environment construction and poverty elimination, the management information system of rocky desertification was designed according to the natural and humane characteristics in Nanchuan of Sichuan Province. The system was composed of data management module, information query module for rocky desertification, spatial analysis module and dynamic monitoring module.展开更多
In the Haishi Park Demonstration Base of Zhongliang Mountain in Chongqing, ecological restoration modes were established based on growth status of local plants and other natural environmental conditions, including for...In the Haishi Park Demonstration Base of Zhongliang Mountain in Chongqing, ecological restoration modes were established based on growth status of local plants and other natural environmental conditions, including forestry ecology, tourism ecology, agricultural ecology as well as the combined mode of various ecological types.展开更多
Based on the definition of desertification adopted by United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,particularly in Africa, first,the pat...Based on the definition of desertification adopted by United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,particularly in Africa, first,the patterns of desertification in China are introduced.Second,desertification assessment indicator system that used in China is presented.It includes:(1)climate classification;(2)classification of land use;(3)classification of desertification patterns which include wind erosion,water erosion,salinization,and grassland degradation;(4)grading index of desertification that includes grading index of desertification caused by wind erosion,desertification caused by water erosion,desertification caused by salinization,indicators of grassland degradation classification.At last,some detailed factors that can be used as indicators in desertification assessment are discussed.展开更多
Karst rocky desertification is a geo-ecological problem in Southwest China. The rocky desertification risk zone delineation could be used as a guide for the regional and hierarchical rocky desertification management a...Karst rocky desertification is a geo-ecological problem in Southwest China. The rocky desertification risk zone delineation could be used as a guide for the regional and hierarchical rocky desertification management and prevention. We chose the middle and lower reaches of the Houzhai underground basin on the karst plateau in Puding County, Guizhou Province, China as the study area and selected land use type, elevation, slope, aspect, lithology and settlement buffer as the main driving factors of the rocky desertification. The potential risk of rocky desertification was quantifed with the factor-weights union method and statistical analysis method. Five grades of rocky desertification risk were delineated based on Geographic Information System. The extremely low, low, moderate, high and extremely high rocky desertification risk zones accounted for 5.01%, 44.17%, 33.92%, 15.59% and 1.30%, respectively. As a whole, the rocky desertification risk level was moderate because the area of low and moderate rocky desertification risk zones occupied 78.09% of the study area. However, more than half of the area （about 50.81%） was predicted to have moderate rocky desertification risk and above, indicating that the study area was subject to rocky desertification. Rocky desertification risk was higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest of the study area. Distinct differences in the distribution of rocky desertification risk zones corresponding to different factors have been found.展开更多
Mycorrhizal mulberry is a plant, whose mulberry root and Arbuscular Myc-orrhizal fungi came into being a symbiotic relationship by a mean of natural or artifi-cial inoculation. Mycorrhizal mulberry coupling with main ...Mycorrhizal mulberry is a plant, whose mulberry root and Arbuscular Myc-orrhizal fungi came into being a symbiotic relationship by a mean of natural or artifi-cial inoculation. Mycorrhizal mulberry coupling with main ecological barriers, such as barren soil drought in rocky desertification area, wil be beneficial to recovering the karst degraded ecosystem by removing these stresses. So, mycorrhizal mulberry is considered a new effective way in ecological control of karst rocky desertification. The research summarized the structures and the characteristic eco-physiological functions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi （AMF）, and preliminarily discussed its availability and research in karst rocky desertification restoration ,including investiga-tion of AMF diversity, the key affecting factor of AMF species diversity, the sym-biosis mechanism between AMF and mulberry, promoting the development of agri-cultural economy in Karst Rocky Desertification area by mycorrhizal mulberry. These elaborate efforts are to demonstrate mycorrhizal mulberry adapting to karst environ-ment from a new view, lay a theoretical basis for karst degraded-ecosystem restoration, and final y guarantee sustainable development of mycorrhizal mulberry in rocky desertification area.展开更多
Alpine grassland is the typical vegetation in the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau,which has important ecological service functions,and also supports the development of alpine stock farming.In recent years,under both ...Alpine grassland is the typical vegetation in the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau,which has important ecological service functions,and also supports the development of alpine stock farming.In recent years,under both the natural and human disturbance,alpine grasslands in this area have appeared to different degrees of desertification.A diagnosis of the desertification degree serves as the basis for grassland ecological restoration.This study constructs a comprehensive index based on remote sensing called alpine grassland desertification index(AGDI)to monitor the areas and degree of desertification.The most relevant indicators of desertification,namely,vegetation fraction,aboveground biomass,soil moisture,and land surface temperature,were selected to establish AGDI.The geographical detector is used to reselect and assess these indicators.The results show that the overall verification accuracy of AGDI is 82.05%.In particular,the accuracy of identifying severe desertification is the highest.Our study confirms that the desertification of alpine grasslands in the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau is characterized by fragmentation.Thus,Landsat-8 OLI data with a spatial resolution of 30 m is more suitable than MODIS data for alpine grasslands desertification monitoring.The research results can provide a methodological reference for monitoring desertification of alpine grasslands and other grassland regions in the world.展开更多
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of the major sandy desertification regions of China. Based on the recent investigation on sandy desertification, this paper analyses the status such as the type, area, distribution and...The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of the major sandy desertification regions of China. Based on the recent investigation on sandy desertification, this paper analyses the status such as the type, area, distribution and damage of sandy land desertification in the plateau. Through the analysis on the factors affecting sandy desertification in the region’s natural and socio-economic systems as well as the processes and their interrelations, it can be concluded that sandy desertification in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau resulted from the combined actions of normal natural sand drift processes, natural sandy desertification processes caused by climatic changes and man-made sandy desertification caused by improper human activities. In addition, it also predicts the possible developmental trend including the increase in desertification area and the enhancement in desertification developmental degree with the exacerbation of the complex processes, and finally puts forward some strategic suggestions to combat sandy desertification in the coming years.展开更多
The karst region of southern China is a fragile ecological zone with widespread rocky desertification. This paper describes the rocky desertification occurring in this region in terms of both natural and anthropogenic...The karst region of southern China is a fragile ecological zone with widespread rocky desertification. This paper describes the rocky desertification occurring in this region in terms of both natural and anthropogenic factors. During geological time periods, the region’s changing environment governed the natural rocky desertification processes, whereas during historical and modern times, anthropogenic processes have been superimposed on these natural processes. Human activities have accelerated and exacerbated rocky desertification. The period from the beginning to the middle of the Qing dynasty was an important transitional period in which human activities began to exert a particularly strong influence on rocky desertification. Since then, the effect of anthropogenic factors has increasingly exceeded the effect of natural factors. The rocky desertification process in southern China’s karst region combines surface ecological processes (including vegetation degradation and loss, soil erosion, surface water loss, and bedrock solution) with a reduction of the land’s biological productivity, leading to degradation that produces rocky desert. Controlling rocky desertification requires comprehensive development of sustainable agriculture and economic development that provides employment alternatives to agriculture and thereby promotes the rehabilitation of rocky desertified land.展开更多
Desertification has had a significant impact on the ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin(YRB)in China.However,previous studies on the evaluation of the ecological environment quality(EEQ)in the YRB have pa...Desertification has had a significant impact on the ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin(YRB)in China.However,previous studies on the evaluation of the ecological environment quality(EEQ)in the YRB have paid limited attention to the indicator of desertification.It is of great significance to incorporate the desertification index into the spatiotemporal assessment of the EEQ in the YRB in order to protect the ecological environment in the region.In this study,based on multi-source remote sensing data from 91 cities in the YRB,this article proposes a desertification remote sensing ecological index(DRSEI)model,which builds upon the traditional Remote Sensing Ecological Index(RSEI)model,to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in the EEQ in the YRB from 2001 to 2021.Furthermore,using the geographic detector(GD),and geographically and temporally weighted regression(GTWR)model,the study assesses the impact of human and natural factors on the EEQ in the YRB.The research findings indicate that:(1)Compared to the traditional RSEI,the improved DRSEI shows a decreasing trend in the evaluation results of the EEQ.Among the 24 cities,the change in DRSEI exceeds 0.05 compared to RSEI,accounting for 26.37%of the YRB.The remaining 67 cities have changes within a range of less than 0.05,accounting for 73.63%of the YRB.(2)The results of the GD for individual and interactive effects reveal that rainfall and elevation have significant individual and interactive effects on the EEQ.Furthermore,after the interaction with natural factors,the explanatory power of human factors gradually increases over time.The spatial heterogeneity results of GTWR demonstrate that rainfall has a strong direct positive impact on the EEQ,accounting for 98.90%of the influence,while temperature exhibits a more pronounced direct inhibitory effect,accounting for 76.92%of the influence.Human activities have a strong negative impact on the EEQ and a weak positive impact.展开更多
The paper had introduced geographical location,natural condition and social development status of Nanchuan District of Chongqing City,analyzed the development principle,necessity and feasibility of characteristic agri...The paper had introduced geographical location,natural condition and social development status of Nanchuan District of Chongqing City,analyzed the development principle,necessity and feasibility of characteristic agriculture at rocky desertification area.In view of features of desertification area,it had discussed construction mode of ecological restoration in the perspectives of engineering management measures,development and utilization of water resources,and ecological restoration measures.In line with agricultural characteristic of Nanchuan District of Chongqing City,the development mode of characteristic agriculture had been discussed from the aspects of characteristic Chinese medicinal crops,fruits,breeding,poultries,and cultivation.It emphasized adopting corresponding planning measures,making the best use of advantages and avoiding shortcomings,with scientific planning,reasonable layout and highlighted emphasis,so as to strive to form circular economic development tendency of good environment and harmonious ecology.展开更多
The unique desertification processes occurring under the Alpine climate and ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau could provide critical clues to the natural and anthropogenic impacts on desertification.This study used the...The unique desertification processes occurring under the Alpine climate and ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau could provide critical clues to the natural and anthropogenic impacts on desertification.This study used the Landsat data to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of desertification from 1990 to 2020 in two areas(Shannan and Mainling),within the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin.The results show not only distinct spatial patterns but also various temporal changes of desertification.In Shannan,aeolian sand was distributed over wide areas from valley floor to mountain slope,while in Mainling,it is distributed sporadically at the footslope.The aeolian sandy land initially expanded before undergoing long-term shrinkage in Shannan.While in Mainling,it steadily expanded followed by a rapid decrease.These changes are attributed to both climate change and human activites.The increase in temperature causes desertification expansion in Shannan,while favorable climate conditions coupled with decreasing human activity promoted desertification reversal.However,both the expansion and shrinkage of desertification were sensitive to human activity in Mainling.This highlights the diverse responses of desertification to natural and anthropogenic impacts on different backgrounds of climatic and vegetation coverage.A threshold of climatic conditions may control the dominance factors in desertification,shifting from natural to anthropogenic elements.展开更多
基金supported by the State Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFF1305304)the Open Bidding for Selecting the Best Candidates Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(2024JBGS0020).
文摘Desertification is a global crucial ecological and environmental issue,and China is among the countries most seriously affected by desertification.In recent decades,numerous independent studies on desertification dynamics have been carried out using remote sensing technology,but there has been a lack of systematic research on desertification trends in China.This study employed the meta-analysis to integrate the findings of 140 published research cases and examined the dynamics of desertification in the eight major deserts,four major sandy lands,and their surrounding areas in China from 1970 to 2019,with a comparative analysis of differences between the eastern(including the Mu Us Sandy Land,the Otindag Sandy Land,the Hulunbuir Sandy Land,the Horqin Sandy Land,and the Hobq Desert)and western(including the Taklimakan Desert,the Gurbantunggut Desert,the Kumtagh Desert,the Ulan Buh Desert,the Qaidam Basin Desert,the Badain Jaran Desert,and the Tengger Desert)regions.The results revealed that from 1970 to 2019,desertification first expanded and then reversed in the whole region.Specifically,desertification expanded from 1980 to 1999 and reversed after 2000.The desertification trend exhibited distinct spatio-temporal variations between the eastern and western regions.From 1970 to 2019,the western region experienced relatively minor changes in desertified land area compared to the eastern region.In the context of global climate change,beneficial climatic conditions and ecological construction projects played a crucial role in reversing desertification.These findings provide valuable insights for understanding the development patterns of desertification in the most representative deserts and sandy lands in China and formulating effective desertification control strategies.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42371219)the Key Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province(24JRRA135)the Oasis Scientific Research Achievements Breakthrough Action Plan Project of Northwest Normal University(NWNU-LZKX-202302).
文摘Due to irrational human activities and extreme climate,the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China,faces a serious threat of desertification.Desertification has a detrimental effect on the ecological environment and socioeconomic development.In this study,the desertification sensitivity index(DSI)model was established by integrating the spatial distance model and environmentally sensitive area index evaluation method,and then the model was used to quantitatively analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of desertification sensitivity of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau from 1990 to 2020.The results revealed that:(1)a general increasing tendency from southeast to northwest was identified in the spatial distribution of desertification sensitivity.The low-sensitivity areas were mostly concentrated in the Hengduan and Nyaingqêntanglha mountains and surrounding forest and meadow areas.The high-sensitivity areas were located mainly in the Kunlun and Altun mountains and surrounding decertified areas.The center of gravity of all types of desertification-sensitive areas moved to the northwest,and the desertification sensitivity showed a decreasing trend as a whole;(2)the area of highly sensitive desertification areas decreased by 8.37%,with extreme sensitivity being the largest change among the sensitivity types.The desertification sensitivity transfer was characterized by a greater shift to lower sensitivity levels(24.56%)than to higher levels(2.03%),which demonstrated a declining trend;(3)since 1990,the change in desertification sensitivity has been dominated by the stabilizing type Ⅰ(29.30%),with the area of continuously increasing desertification sensitivity accounting for only 1.10%,indicating that the management of desertification has achieved positive results in recent years;and(4)natural factors have had a more significant impact on desertification sensitivity on the Xizang Plateau,whereas socioeconomic factors affected only localized areas.The main factors influencing desertification sensitivity were vegetation drought tolerance and aridity index.Studying spatiotemporal variations in desertification sensitivity and its influencing factors can provide a scientific foundation for developing strategies to control desertification on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.Dividing different desertification-sensitive areas on the basis of these patterns of change can facilitate the formulation of more targeted management and protection measures,contributing to ecological construction and sustainable economic development in the area.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31860619,31560611)the Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China(2021AAC02009).
文摘Land desertification severely compromises the core function of ecosystem and significantly disrupts biodiversity.Caragana korshinskii Kom.plays a pivotal role as a critical plant resource in the restoration and ecological reconstruction of desertified areas in Northwest China.Kytorhinus immixtus Motschulsky is the primary pest responsible for causing substantial damage to the seeds of C.korshinskii.In this study,field surveys were utilized in three distinct desertified types(lightly,moderately,and severely desertified areas)in north central Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,Northwest China.This research was focused on investigating the population dynamics and damage rates of K.immixtus,with an emphasis on examining the relationships among K.immixtus distribution,levels of soil desertification,and associated environmental factors.The results revealed marked variations in the population distribution and abundance of K.immixtus across habitats with different degrees of desertification.Due to the sand-fixing ability of C.korshinskii,the severity of soil desertification decreased progressively from severe to moderate and light with C.korshinskii establishment.This reduction in desertification,along with habitat restoration and an increase in plant diversity,was correlated with a gradual increase in K.immixtus population size and damage rate.Generalized linear mixed model analysis revealed significantly positive correlations of soil total potassium,C.korshinskii height,maximum temperature during the survey,precipitation,and the plant species richness index with K.immixtus population.In contrast,the soil total phosphorus content,organic matter content,minimum temperature during the survey,C.korshinskii canopy width,and branch number were significantly and negatively correlated with K.immixtus population.Due to the sand-fixing capacity of C.korshinskii,the plant mitigated soil desertification,but as desertification severity decreased,habitat restoration and increased plant diversity drove a gradual increase in the population and damage rate of K.immixtus.Both biotic and abiotic factors in the habitat significantly influenced K.immixtus occurrence.To achieve the sustainable restoration of desert ecosystem,optimization of plant community structure with soil nutrient management in ecological rehabilitation is necessary to balance the benefits of sand fixation with pest risks.
基金supported by the Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition and Research Program-Investigation and Risk Assessment of Drought and Aeolian Disasters in Tarim River Basin(2021xjkk0300)the Xinjiang Tianshan Talent Program(2022TSYCLJ0002)the Basic Frontier Project of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography,Chinese Academy of Sciences(E3500201).
文摘Desertification poses a significant ecological threat to global sustainability,notably within arid regions such as the Tarim Basin surrounding the extensive Taklimakan Desert in Northwest China.This study used the Google Earth Engine(GEE)platform and Random Forest(RF)to analyze multi-temporal Landsat images to reveal desertification dynamics in the Tarim Basin spanning from 1990 to 2020.The results showed that land use types of the Tarim Basin were classified into three types:artificial oases,natural oases,and desertified land.To robustly quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use,we introduced the Desertification Change Index(DCI),a novel metric specifically designed to measure the transformation sensitivity of land use types.Our analysis demonstrated that from 1990 to 2020,artificial oases showed a continuous increasing trend,while desertified land decreased significantly.Natural oases decreased during 1990–2000,then continued to grow,and showed a decreasing trend again after 2015.Moreover,natural oases have mainly been converted into desertified land and artificial oases.Artificial oases were mainly converted into natural oases,and most of desertified land was converted into natural oases.Regions with significant oasis expansion(DCI=2)were mostly concentrated within the influence radius of artificial oases.In contrast,regions with significant oasis degradation(DCI=–2)were generally farther from artificial oases.Finally,this study found that the changes in land use types of the Tarim Basin are mainly driven by human activities,which play a dual role—mitigating desertification by controlling oasis expansion and exacerbating desertification through unsustainable resource utilization.Ultimately,this research provides essential insights for policy-makers and land managers aiming to devise adaptive and sustainable desertification control measures in the Tarim Basin and similarly arid regions globally.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFF1304304)。
文摘Tibetan alpine steppes are large and sensitive terrestrial carbon(C)reservoirs that are experiencing desertification due to global change and overgrazing,which can lead to stronger resource limitations for both above-and belowground communities.Soil nutrients,especially nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P),are the crucial resources for plant growth and microbial metabolism.However,whether both plant and soil microbial communities in the degraded alpine steppes are limited by these soil nutrients remains unclear,which limits our understanding of the mechanisms of desertification and subsequent ecosystem restoration.Here,we evaluated potential nutrient limitations of the plant and soil microbial communities in the alpine steppe across five stages of desertification using stoichiometry-based approaches.Our results showed that soil microbial metabolism was mainly limited by C and P,and the plant N limitation and microbial C limitation were intensified while the microbial P limitation was relieved during desertification.Plant-soil-microbe interactions had significant impacts on the microbial C and P limitations,explaining 72 and 61%of the variation,respectively.Specifically,desertification ultimately affected microbial metabolic limitations by regulating soil pH,soil nutrients,and the plant N limitation.Moreover,the microbial C limitation further reduced microbial C use efficiency(CUE)with desertification,which is detrimental for organic C retention in the degraded soil.Overall,this study revealed that microbial metabolic limitations through plant-microbe interactions were the key drivers affecting soil microbial CUE,and it provided insights that can advance our knowledge of the microbial regulation of nutrient cycles and C sequestration.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42301336)the Open Research Fund of Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Hydrosphere and Watershed Water Security(Grant No.HWWSF202302).
文摘As a major worldwide issue,desertification poses significant threats to ecosystem stability and long-term socioeconomic growth.Within China,the Mu Us Sandy land represents a crucial region for studying desertification phenomena.Comprehending how desertification risks are distributed spatially and what mechanisms drive them remains fundamental for implementing effective strategies in land management and risk mitigation.Our research evaluated desertification vulnerability across the Mu Us Sandy land by applying the MEDALUS model,while investigating causal factors via geographical detector methodology.Findings indicated that territories with high desertification vulnerability extend across 71,401.7 km^(2),constituting 76.87%of the entire region,while zones facing extreme desertification hazard cover 20,578.9 km^(2)(22.16%),primarily concentrated in a band-like pattern along the western boundary of the Mu Us Sandy land.Among the four primary indicators,management quality emerged as the most significant driver of desertification susceptibility,followed by vegetation quality and soil quality.Additionally,drought resistance,land use intensity,and erosion protection were identified as the key factors driving desertification sensitivity.The investigation offers significant theoretical perspectives that can guide the formulation of enhanced strategies for controlling desertification and promoting sustainable land resource utilization within the Mu Us Sandy land region.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41971017,41861144020)the Double Track Implementation Mechanism for Combating Desertification in China and the Experiences-Sharing in the Affected Countries along the Belt and Road Region(ANSO-SBA-2021-06).
文摘Desertification research in arid and semi-arid regions has always been actively pursued.In China,the problem of desertification in Xinjiang has also received extensive attention.Due to its unique geography,many scholars have conducted corresponding research on the desertification status of Xinjiang.In this paper,we comprehensively reviewed desertification in Xinjiang,and compared the underlying mechanisms of desertification and the status of desertification conditions after the implementation of ecological control projects.On a larger scale,desertification in Xinjiang can be divided into soil salinization inside oases and sandy desertification on the edges of oases.Human activities are considered the main cause of desertification,but natural factors also contribute to varying degrees.Research on the mechanisms of desertification has effectively curbed the development of desertification,but unreasonable use of land resources accelerates the risk of desertification.For desertification control,there are several key points.First,desertification monitoring and the early warning of desertification expansion should be strengthened.Second,monitoring and reversing soil salinization also play an important role in the interruption of desertification process.It is very effective to control soil salinization through biological and chemical methods.Third,the management of water resources is also essential,because unreasonable utilization of water resources is one of the main reasons for the expansion of desertification in Xinjiang.Due to the unreasonable utilization of water resources,the lower reaches of the Tarim River are cut off,which leads to a series of vicious cycles,such as the deterioration of ecological environment on both sides of the river and the worsening of desertification.However,in recent years,various desertification control projects implemented in Xinjiang according to the conditions of different regions have achieved remarkable results.For future studies,research on the stability of desert-oasis transition zone is also significantly essential,because such investigations can help to assess the risk of degradation and control desertification on a relatively large scale.
文摘[Objective] The research aimed to study change law of phosphorus content of soil in karst rocky desertification region(KRD) during eco-restoration process such as Northwest Guangxi Province.[Method] The soil samples were collected from typical KRD in Pingguo County and Yizhou City.The determining quotas of different soil samples such as soil total phosphorus content and available phosphorus content were detected,in addition the soil total phosphorus content,available phosphorus content, urease activity, catalase activity and organic matter content in different soil samples were analyzed comparatively.[Result] Aspect,vegetation type and recovery time generated obviously influences on phosphorus contents in different soil samples.The concrete influence order was listed as follow: phosphorus content in soil of south slope was higher than that in soil of north slope;phosphorus content in soil where Zenia insignis Chun was planted was higher than that in soil of closed forest and that of soil where Dendrocalamus minor Var. amoen was planted,additionally,phosphorus increased with recovery time. Urease activity could be used as a monitoring index of soil fertility because it is related to the change of phosphorus content.[Conclusion] The soil of karst rocky desertification region in Northwest Guangxi Province could be recovered gradually if excessive human disturbance was stopped.If proper natural method of recovery promoted by human was taken,the recovery would reach a better result.
基金Supported by the Special Fundation of China Geological Survey(1212010911084)~~
文摘[Objective] To extract desertification information of Hulun Buir region based on MODIS image data. [Method] Based on MODIS image data with the spatial res- olution of 1 km, 5 indicators which could reflect different desertification features were selected to conduct inversion. The desertification information of Hulun Buir region was extracted by decision tree classification. [Result] The desertification area of Hu- lun Buir region is 33 862 km2, accounting for 24% of the total area, and it is mainly dominated by sandiness desertification. Though field verification and mining point validation of high-resolution interpretation data, the overall accuracy of this evaluation is above 89%. [Conclusion] Evaluation method used in this study is not only effectively for large scale regional desertification monitoring but also has a better evaluation performance.
基金the National Science and Technology Key Project (2006BAC01A16)Program of Chongqing Science Committee (2004-8258)~~
文摘With the background of severe rocky desertification in the west of China and the ohjective of ecological environment construction and poverty elimination, the management information system of rocky desertification was designed according to the natural and humane characteristics in Nanchuan of Sichuan Province. The system was composed of data management module, information query module for rocky desertification, spatial analysis module and dynamic monitoring module.
文摘In the Haishi Park Demonstration Base of Zhongliang Mountain in Chongqing, ecological restoration modes were established based on growth status of local plants and other natural environmental conditions, including forestry ecology, tourism ecology, agricultural ecology as well as the combined mode of various ecological types.
文摘Based on the definition of desertification adopted by United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,particularly in Africa, first,the patterns of desertification in China are introduced.Second,desertification assessment indicator system that used in China is presented.It includes:(1)climate classification;(2)classification of land use;(3)classification of desertification patterns which include wind erosion,water erosion,salinization,and grassland degradation;(4)grading index of desertification that includes grading index of desertification caused by wind erosion,desertification caused by water erosion,desertification caused by salinization,indicators of grassland degradation classification.At last,some detailed factors that can be used as indicators in desertification assessment are discussed.
基金Under the auspices of Major Basic Reseach Development Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2006CB403201)
文摘Karst rocky desertification is a geo-ecological problem in Southwest China. The rocky desertification risk zone delineation could be used as a guide for the regional and hierarchical rocky desertification management and prevention. We chose the middle and lower reaches of the Houzhai underground basin on the karst plateau in Puding County, Guizhou Province, China as the study area and selected land use type, elevation, slope, aspect, lithology and settlement buffer as the main driving factors of the rocky desertification. The potential risk of rocky desertification was quantifed with the factor-weights union method and statistical analysis method. Five grades of rocky desertification risk were delineated based on Geographic Information System. The extremely low, low, moderate, high and extremely high rocky desertification risk zones accounted for 5.01%, 44.17%, 33.92%, 15.59% and 1.30%, respectively. As a whole, the rocky desertification risk level was moderate because the area of low and moderate rocky desertification risk zones occupied 78.09% of the study area. However, more than half of the area （about 50.81%） was predicted to have moderate rocky desertification risk and above, indicating that the study area was subject to rocky desertification. Rocky desertification risk was higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest of the study area. Distinct differences in the distribution of rocky desertification risk zones corresponding to different factors have been found.
基金Supported by Special Foundation for Innovation Capacity Construction of Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology([2012]4003)~~
文摘Mycorrhizal mulberry is a plant, whose mulberry root and Arbuscular Myc-orrhizal fungi came into being a symbiotic relationship by a mean of natural or artifi-cial inoculation. Mycorrhizal mulberry coupling with main ecological barriers, such as barren soil drought in rocky desertification area, wil be beneficial to recovering the karst degraded ecosystem by removing these stresses. So, mycorrhizal mulberry is considered a new effective way in ecological control of karst rocky desertification. The research summarized the structures and the characteristic eco-physiological functions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi （AMF）, and preliminarily discussed its availability and research in karst rocky desertification restoration ,including investiga-tion of AMF diversity, the key affecting factor of AMF species diversity, the sym-biosis mechanism between AMF and mulberry, promoting the development of agri-cultural economy in Karst Rocky Desertification area by mycorrhizal mulberry. These elaborate efforts are to demonstrate mycorrhizal mulberry adapting to karst environ-ment from a new view, lay a theoretical basis for karst degraded-ecosystem restoration, and final y guarantee sustainable development of mycorrhizal mulberry in rocky desertification area.
基金funded by the Youth Projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants No.41701100)the Science and technology project of Sichuan Provincial Department of Education(Grants No.15ZB0023)。
文摘Alpine grassland is the typical vegetation in the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau,which has important ecological service functions,and also supports the development of alpine stock farming.In recent years,under both the natural and human disturbance,alpine grasslands in this area have appeared to different degrees of desertification.A diagnosis of the desertification degree serves as the basis for grassland ecological restoration.This study constructs a comprehensive index based on remote sensing called alpine grassland desertification index(AGDI)to monitor the areas and degree of desertification.The most relevant indicators of desertification,namely,vegetation fraction,aboveground biomass,soil moisture,and land surface temperature,were selected to establish AGDI.The geographical detector is used to reselect and assess these indicators.The results show that the overall verification accuracy of AGDI is 82.05%.In particular,the accuracy of identifying severe desertification is the highest.Our study confirms that the desertification of alpine grasslands in the eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau is characterized by fragmentation.Thus,Landsat-8 OLI data with a spatial resolution of 30 m is more suitable than MODIS data for alpine grasslands desertification monitoring.The research results can provide a methodological reference for monitoring desertification of alpine grasslands and other grassland regions in the world.
基金Underthe auspices ofthe K ey ProjectofScience and Technology B ureau ofTibetA utonom ous R egion
文摘The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of the major sandy desertification regions of China. Based on the recent investigation on sandy desertification, this paper analyses the status such as the type, area, distribution and damage of sandy land desertification in the plateau. Through the analysis on the factors affecting sandy desertification in the region’s natural and socio-economic systems as well as the processes and their interrelations, it can be concluded that sandy desertification in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau resulted from the combined actions of normal natural sand drift processes, natural sandy desertification processes caused by climatic changes and man-made sandy desertification caused by improper human activities. In addition, it also predicts the possible developmental trend including the increase in desertification area and the enhancement in desertification developmental degree with the exacerbation of the complex processes, and finally puts forward some strategic suggestions to combat sandy desertification in the coming years.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No: 30870469, 30471421)
文摘The karst region of southern China is a fragile ecological zone with widespread rocky desertification. This paper describes the rocky desertification occurring in this region in terms of both natural and anthropogenic factors. During geological time periods, the region’s changing environment governed the natural rocky desertification processes, whereas during historical and modern times, anthropogenic processes have been superimposed on these natural processes. Human activities have accelerated and exacerbated rocky desertification. The period from the beginning to the middle of the Qing dynasty was an important transitional period in which human activities began to exert a particularly strong influence on rocky desertification. Since then, the effect of anthropogenic factors has increasingly exceeded the effect of natural factors. The rocky desertification process in southern China’s karst region combines surface ecological processes (including vegetation degradation and loss, soil erosion, surface water loss, and bedrock solution) with a reduction of the land’s biological productivity, leading to degradation that produces rocky desert. Controlling rocky desertification requires comprehensive development of sustainable agriculture and economic development that provides employment alternatives to agriculture and thereby promotes the rehabilitation of rocky desertified land.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant Number: 72004116)the Hubei Social Science Foundation (Grant NO. 2022CFB292)
文摘Desertification has had a significant impact on the ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin(YRB)in China.However,previous studies on the evaluation of the ecological environment quality(EEQ)in the YRB have paid limited attention to the indicator of desertification.It is of great significance to incorporate the desertification index into the spatiotemporal assessment of the EEQ in the YRB in order to protect the ecological environment in the region.In this study,based on multi-source remote sensing data from 91 cities in the YRB,this article proposes a desertification remote sensing ecological index(DRSEI)model,which builds upon the traditional Remote Sensing Ecological Index(RSEI)model,to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in the EEQ in the YRB from 2001 to 2021.Furthermore,using the geographic detector(GD),and geographically and temporally weighted regression(GTWR)model,the study assesses the impact of human and natural factors on the EEQ in the YRB.The research findings indicate that:(1)Compared to the traditional RSEI,the improved DRSEI shows a decreasing trend in the evaluation results of the EEQ.Among the 24 cities,the change in DRSEI exceeds 0.05 compared to RSEI,accounting for 26.37%of the YRB.The remaining 67 cities have changes within a range of less than 0.05,accounting for 73.63%of the YRB.(2)The results of the GD for individual and interactive effects reveal that rainfall and elevation have significant individual and interactive effects on the EEQ.Furthermore,after the interaction with natural factors,the explanatory power of human factors gradually increases over time.The spatial heterogeneity results of GTWR demonstrate that rainfall has a strong direct positive impact on the EEQ,accounting for 98.90%of the influence,while temperature exhibits a more pronounced direct inhibitory effect,accounting for 76.92%of the influence.Human activities have a strong negative impact on the EEQ and a weak positive impact.
基金Supported by Science and Technology Support Projects of National "Eleventh Five Years"(2006BAC01A16)~~
文摘The paper had introduced geographical location,natural condition and social development status of Nanchuan District of Chongqing City,analyzed the development principle,necessity and feasibility of characteristic agriculture at rocky desertification area.In view of features of desertification area,it had discussed construction mode of ecological restoration in the perspectives of engineering management measures,development and utilization of water resources,and ecological restoration measures.In line with agricultural characteristic of Nanchuan District of Chongqing City,the development mode of characteristic agriculture had been discussed from the aspects of characteristic Chinese medicinal crops,fruits,breeding,poultries,and cultivation.It emphasized adopting corresponding planning measures,making the best use of advantages and avoiding shortcomings,with scientific planning,reasonable layout and highlighted emphasis,so as to strive to form circular economic development tendency of good environment and harmonious ecology.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program of China(No.2019QZKK0205)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41522101,41971005)the West Light Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
文摘The unique desertification processes occurring under the Alpine climate and ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau could provide critical clues to the natural and anthropogenic impacts on desertification.This study used the Landsat data to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of desertification from 1990 to 2020 in two areas(Shannan and Mainling),within the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin.The results show not only distinct spatial patterns but also various temporal changes of desertification.In Shannan,aeolian sand was distributed over wide areas from valley floor to mountain slope,while in Mainling,it is distributed sporadically at the footslope.The aeolian sandy land initially expanded before undergoing long-term shrinkage in Shannan.While in Mainling,it steadily expanded followed by a rapid decrease.These changes are attributed to both climate change and human activites.The increase in temperature causes desertification expansion in Shannan,while favorable climate conditions coupled with decreasing human activity promoted desertification reversal.However,both the expansion and shrinkage of desertification were sensitive to human activity in Mainling.This highlights the diverse responses of desertification to natural and anthropogenic impacts on different backgrounds of climatic and vegetation coverage.A threshold of climatic conditions may control the dominance factors in desertification,shifting from natural to anthropogenic elements.
