Agricultural trade promotes the transfer of water resources,which has an impact on regional water scarcity,particularly in arid regions.Nevertheless,the understanding of how agricultural trade influences water scarcit...Agricultural trade promotes the transfer of water resources,which has an impact on regional water scarcity,particularly in arid regions.Nevertheless,the understanding of how agricultural trade influences water scarcity and the populations under different water scarcity levels is still insufficient.This study examines the impact of domestic agricultural(food crop)trade on water scarcity in Northwest China by integrating a grid-based dynamic water balance model with a linear programming model.The results indicate that the agricultural blue water(surface and groundwater)footprint and green water(soil water)footprint in the Northwest region peaked in 2014,with the green water footprint being 17%higher than the blue water footprint.The increase in trade volume has effectively alleviated water scarcity in Northwest China,with green water playing a greater role than blue water,especially in Shaanxi and Ningxia.As trade volumes rise,the population facing mild water scarcity continues to grow after trade,with increases of 4.56%,6.70%,and 5.36%in 2000,2010 and 2014.Agricultural trade significantly alleviates the pressure of severe water scarcity and boosts the region's population carrying capacity.This study provides scientific evidence to support stronger coordination of water resources between regions,especially agricultural water trade between water-rich and water-scarce areas,and to inform the formulation of rational allocation policies for balancing regional water resource distribution and benefits.展开更多
Understanding the elevational patterns of soil microbial carbon(C)metabolic potentials is instrumental for predicting changes in soil organic C(SOC)stocks in the face of climate change.However,such patterns remain unc...Understanding the elevational patterns of soil microbial carbon(C)metabolic potentials is instrumental for predicting changes in soil organic C(SOC)stocks in the face of climate change.However,such patterns remain uncertain in arid mountain ecosystems,where climosequences are quite different from other ecosystems.To address this gap,this study investigated the distribution determinants of microbial communities,C cycling-related genes,and SOC fractions along an elevational gradient(1707–3548 m),with a mean annual precipitation(MAP)range of 38 to 344 mm,on the north slope of the central part of the Kunlun Mountains,China using a metagenomic approach.The results showed that elevation significantly influenced the α-diversity(Shannon index)and composition of microbial communities as well as the C cycling-related genes.The α-diversities of microbial taxa and C cycling-related genes linearly increased with the increase in MAP along the elevational gradient.The elevational patterns of the genes encoding glycoside hydrolases and glycosyl transferases(GTs)were mainly driven by soil electrical conductivity(EC),mean annual temperature(MAT),MAP,and plant diversity.Furthermore,mineral-associated organic C(MAOC),particulate organic C(POC),and their sum generally increased with elevation.However,the MAOC/POC ratio followed a unimodal pattern,suggesting greater stability of the SOC pool in the mid-elevation regions.This unimodal pattern was likely influenced by the abundances of Actinobacteria and the genes encoding GTs and carbohydrate esterases and the threshold effects of soil EC and MAT.In summary,our findings indicate that the distribution patterns of microbial communities and C cycling-related genes along the elevational gradient in an arid ecosystem are distinct from those in the regions with higher MAP,facilitating the prediction of climate change effects on SOC metabolism under more arid conditions.Soil salinity,plant diversity,precipitation,and temperature are the main regulatory factors of microbial C metabolism processes,and they potentially play a central role in mediating SOC pool stability.展开更多
Climate change is expected to alter the frequency and intensity of drying-rewetting cycles,impacting water availability and consequently soil nutrient availability.However,the effects of these fluctuations on the chem...Climate change is expected to alter the frequency and intensity of drying-rewetting cycles,impacting water availability and consequently soil nutrient availability.However,the effects of these fluctuations on the chemical speciation and bioavailability of phosphorus(P)in soil remain uncertain,both in the presence of desert species and in their absence.We conducted a pot experiment involving bare soil(absence of plants)and two desert species(Alhagi sparsifolia and Calligonum mongolicum)to determine the short-term impacts of drought(no water supply),drying-rewetting 1(D-RW1,high frequency of low water inputs),and drying-rewetting 2(D-RW2,low frequency of high water inputs)on soil Hedley P pools,plant P concentration,and plant biomass accumulation.Results demonstrated that the presence of plants significantly increased soil labile P and organic P(Po)concentrations by 60%–150%and 1%–68%,respectively,compared to the absence of plants.Both D-RW1 and D-RW2 treatments significantly increased soil dissolved organic carbon concentration by 2%–35%relative to the drought treatment.Moreover,in the presence of A.sparsifolia,soil resin-extractable P and NaHCO_(3)-extractable inorganic P(Pi)concentrations in the D-RW1 treatment significantly increased by 31%and 75%,respectively,when compared to the drought treatment,with the NaHCO_(3)-and NaOH-extractable Po concentrations in the D-RW2 treatment rising by 14%and 32%,respectively.Furthermore,the D-RW2 treatment significantly increased leaf P concentration and plant biomass compared to the D-RW1 and drought treatments.Overall,compared to the drought treatment,frequent low-intensity drying-rewetting cycles enhanced soil Pi turnover,whereas infrequent high-intensity drying-rewetting cycles increased Po turnover and P bioavailability.These findings will inform better water management strategies for desertification restoration in hyper-arid desert ecosystems.展开更多
The diversity and discontinuity of plant communities in the oasis–desert ecotone are largely shaped by variations in groundwater depth,yet the relationships between spatial distribution patterns and ecological niches...The diversity and discontinuity of plant communities in the oasis–desert ecotone are largely shaped by variations in groundwater depth,yet the relationships between spatial distribution patterns and ecological niches at a regional scale remain insufficiently understood.This study examined the oasis–desert ecotone in Qira County located in the Tarim Basin of China to investigate the spatial distribution of plant communities and groundwater depth as well as their relationships using an integrated approach that combined remote sensing techniques,field monitoring,and numerical modeling.The results showed that vegetation distribution exhibits marked spatial heterogeneity,with coverage ranked as follows:Tamarix ramosissima>Phragmites australis>Populus euphratica>Alhagi sparsifolia.Numerical simulations indicated that groundwater depths range from 2.00 to 65.00 m below the surface,with the system currently in equilibrium,sustaining an average annual recharge of 1.06×10^(8) m^(3) and an average annual discharge of 1.01×10^(8) m^(3).Groundwater depth strongly influences vegetation composition and structure:Phragmites australis dominates at average groundwater depth of 5.83 m,followed by Populus euphratica at average groundwater depth of 7.05 m.As groundwater depth increases,the community is initially predominated by Tamarix ramosissima(average groundwater depth of 8.35 m),then becomes a mixture of Tamarix ramosissima,Populus euphratica,and Karelinia caspia(average groundwater depth of 10.50 m),and finally transitions to Alhagi sparsifolia(average groundwater depth of 14.30 m).These findings highlight groundwater-dependent ecological thresholds that govern plant community composition and provide a scientific basis for biodiversity conservation,ecosystem stability,and vegetation restoration in the arid oasis–desert ecotone.展开更多
Vegetation fractional coverage （VFC） is an important index to describe and evaluate the ecological system. The vegetation index is widely used to monitor vegetation coverage in the field of remote sensing （RS）. In...Vegetation fractional coverage （VFC） is an important index to describe and evaluate the ecological system. The vegetation index is widely used to monitor vegetation coverage in the field of remote sensing （RS）. In this paper, the author conducted a case study of the delta oasis of Weigan and Kuqa rivers, which is a typical saline area in the Tarim River Watershed. The current study was based on the TM/ETM＋ images of 1989, 2001, and 2006, and supported by Geographic Information System （GIS） spatial analysis, vegetation index, and dimidiate pixel model. In addition, VBSl （vegetation, bare soil and shadow indices） suitable for TM/ETM＋ irrlages, constructed with FCD （forest canopy density） model principle and put forward by ITTO （International Tropical Timber Organization）, was used, and it was applied to estimate the VFC. The estimation accuracy was later prow^n to be up to 83.52%. Further, the study analyzed and appraised the changes in vegetation patterns and revealed a pattern of spatial change in the vegetation coverage of the study area by producing the map of VFC levels in the delta oasis. Forest, grassland, and farmland were the three main land-use types with high and extremely-high coverage, and they played an important role in maintaining the vegetation. The forest area determined the changes of the coverage area, whereas the other two land types affected the directions of change. Therefore, planting trees, protecting grasslands, reclaiming farmlands, and controlling unused lands should be included in a long-term program because of their importance in keeping regional vegetation coverage. Finally, the dynamic variation of VFC in the study area was evaluated according to the quantity and spatial distribution rendered by plant cover diigital images to deeply analyze the reason behind the variation.展开更多
The oasis-desert ecotone is a fragile ecological zone that is affected both by oasis and desert conditions. To understand the impact of the differences in wind power, and the influence of wind erosion and deposition o...The oasis-desert ecotone is a fragile ecological zone that is affected both by oasis and desert conditions. To understand the impact of the differences in wind power, and the influence of wind erosion and deposition on the ecotone, meteorological data and con- temporaneous wind erosion and deposition data were collected on the southern margin of Tarim Basin with serious sand-blown hazards. The wind velocity, average wind velocity, sand drift potential （DP）, resultant sand drift potential （RDP）, and sand transportation rate decrease significantly and successively across four landscape types with increasing vegetation coverage （VC）. Flat surfaces and areas of shifting sandy ground experience intense wind erosion with fast movement of mobile sand dunes; semi-fixed sand areas experience ex- tensive wind deposition but only slight wind erosion; and fixed sand areas experience only slight wind erosion and deposition. Volume of wind erosion on bare newly reclaimed farmland is up to 6.96 times that of bare shifting sandy ground. Wind erosion volume per unit area and VC follow an exponential function relationship in natural conditions, while wind deposition volume per unit area does not conform to any functions which has close relationship with vary topography and arrangement patterns of vegetation besides for VC. The results indicate that the volume of wind erosion has a close correlation with VC, and different types and distribution patterns of topog- raphy and vegetation also profoundly influence the wind deposition volume in the field, and underground water tables in different land- scape types control the plant community distribution. Keywords： wind erosion; wind deposition; oasis-desert ecotone; vegetation coverage （VC）; topography; Cele County展开更多
This is the first study seasonally applying Sphagnum papillosum moss bags and vertical snow samples for monitoring atmospheric pollution.Moss bags,exposed in January,were collected together with snow samples by early ...This is the first study seasonally applying Sphagnum papillosum moss bags and vertical snow samples for monitoring atmospheric pollution.Moss bags,exposed in January,were collected together with snow samples by early March 2012 near the Harjavalta Industrial Park in southwest Finland.Magnetic,chemical,scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy（SEM-EDX）,K-means clustering,and Tomlinson pollution load index（PLI）data showed parallel spatial trends of pollution dispersal for both materials.Results strengthen previous findings that concentrate and slag handling activities were important（dust）emission sources while the impact from Cu–Ni smelter＇s pipe remained secondary at closer distances.Statistically significant correlations existed between the variables of snow and moss bags.As a summary,both methods work well for sampling and are efficient pollutant accumulators.Moss bags can be used also in winter conditions and they provide more homogeneous and better controlled sampling method than snow samples.展开更多
Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. （Fabaceae） is a spiny, perennial herb. The species grows in the salinized, arid regions in North China. This study investigated the response characteristics of the root growth and the dis- t...Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. （Fabaceae） is a spiny, perennial herb. The species grows in the salinized, arid regions in North China. This study investigated the response characteristics of the root growth and the dis- tribution of one-year-old A. sparsifolia seedlings to different groundwater depths in controlled plots. The eco- logical adaptability of the root systems of A. sparsifolia seedlings was examined using the artificial digging method. Results showed that： （1） A. sparsifolia seedlings adapted to an increase in groundwater depth mainly through increasing the penetration depth and growth rate of vertical roots. The vertical roots grew rapidly when soil moisture content reached 3%-9%, but slowly when soil moisture content was 13%-20%. The vertical roots stopped growing when soil moisture content reached 30% （the critical soil moisture point）. （2） The morphological plasticity of roots is an important strategy used by A. sparsifolia seedlings to obtain water and adapt to dry soil conditions. When the groundwater table was shallow, horizontal roots quickly expanded and tillering increased in order to compete for light resources, whereas when the groundwater table was deeper, vertical roots developed quickly to exploit space in the deeper soil layers. （3） The decrease in groundwater depth was probably respon- sible for the root distribution in the shallow soil layers. Root biomass and surface area both decreased with soil depth. One strategy of A. sparsifolia seedlings in dealing with the increase in groundwater depth is to increase root biomass in the deep soil layers. The relationship between the root growth/distribution of A. sparsifolia and the depth of groundwater table can be used as guidance for harvesting A. sparsifolia biomass and managing water resources for forage grasses. It is also of ecological significance as it reveals how desert plants adapt to arid environments.展开更多
The countries of Central Asia are collectively known as the five "-stans": Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. In recent times, the Central Asian region has been affected by the ...The countries of Central Asia are collectively known as the five "-stans": Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. In recent times, the Central Asian region has been affected by the shrinkage of the Aral Sea, widespread desertification, soil salinization, biodiversity loss, frequent sand storms, and many other ecological disasters. This paper is a review article based upon the collection, identification and collation of previous studies of environmental changes and regional developments in Central Asia in the past 30 years. Most recent studies have reached a consensus that the temperature rise in Central Asia is occurring faster than the global average. This warming trend will not only result in a higher evaporation in the basin oases, but also to a significant retreat of glaciers in the mountainous areas. Water is the key to sustainable development in the arid and semi-arid regions in Central Asia. The uneven distribution, over consumption, and pollution of water resources in Central Asia have caused severe water supply problems, which have been affecting regional harmony and development for the past 30 years. The widespread and significant land use changes in the 1990 s could be used to improve our understanding of natural variability and human interaction in the region. There has been a positive trend of trans-border cooperation among the Central Asian countries in recent years. International attention has grown and research projects have been initiated to provide water and ecosystem protection in Central Asia. However, the agreements that have been reached might not be able to deliver practical action in time to prevent severe ecological disasters. Water management should be based on hydrographic borders and ministries should be able to make timely decisions without political intervention. Fully integrated management of water resources, land use and industrial development is essential in Central Asia. The ecological crisis should provide sufficient motivation to reach a consensus on unified water management throughout the region.展开更多
Nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)are two essential nutrients that determine plant growth and many nutrient cycling processes.Increasing N and P deposition is an important driver of ecosystem changes.However,in contrast to ...Nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)are two essential nutrients that determine plant growth and many nutrient cycling processes.Increasing N and P deposition is an important driver of ecosystem changes.However,in contrast to numerous studies about the impacts of nutrient addition on forests and temperate grasslands,how plant foliar stoichiometry and nutrient resorption respond to N and P addition in alpine grasslands is poorly understood.Therefore,we conducted an N and P addition experiment(involving control,N addition,P addition,and N+P addition)in an alpine grassland on Kunlun Mountains(Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China)in 2016 and 2017 to investigate the changes in leaf nutrient concentrations(i.e.,leaf N,Leaf P,and leaf N:P ratio)and nutrient resorption efficiency of Seriphidium rhodanthum and Stipa capillata,which are dominant species in this grassland.Results showed that N addition has significant effects on soil inorganic N(NO_(3)^(-)-N and NH_(4)^(+)-N)and leaf N of both species in the study periods.Compared with green leaves,leaf nutrient concentrations and nutrient resorption efficiency in senesced leaves of S.rhodanthum was more sensitive to N addition,whereas N addition influenced leaf N and leaf N:P ratio in green and senesced leaves of S.capillata.N addition did not influence N resorption efficiency of the two species.P addition and N+P addition significantly improved leaf P and had a negative effect on P resorption efficiency of the two species in the study period.These influences on plants can be explained by increasing P availability.The present results illustrated that the two species are more sensitive to P addition than N addition,which implies that P is the major limiting factor in the studied alpine grassland ecosystem.In addition,an interactive effect of N+P addition was only discernable with respect to soil availability,but did not affect plants.Therefore,exploring how nutrient characteristics and resorption response to N and P addition in the alpine grassland is important to understand nutrient use strategy of plants in terrestrial ecosystems.展开更多
Net primary productivity (NPP) of the vegetation in an oasis can reflect the productivity capacity of a plant community under natural environmental conditions. Owing to the extreme arid climate conditions and scarce p...Net primary productivity (NPP) of the vegetation in an oasis can reflect the productivity capacity of a plant community under natural environmental conditions. Owing to the extreme arid climate conditions and scarce precipitation in the arid oasis regions, groundwater plays a key role in restricting the development of the vegetation. The Qira Oasis is located on the southern margin of the Taklimakan Desert (Tarim Basin, China) that is one of the most vulnerable regions regarding vegetation growth and water scarcity in the world. Based on remote sensing images of the Qira Oasis and daily meteorological data measured by the ground stations during the period 2006-2019, this study analyzed the temporal and spatial patterns of NPP in the oasis as well as its relation with the variation of groundwater depth using a modified Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model. At the spatial scale, NPP of the vegetation decreased from the interior of the Qira Oasis to the margin;at the temporal scale, NPP of the vegetation in the oasis fluctuated significantly (ranging from 29.80 to 50.07 g C/(m2•month)) but generally showed an increasing trend, with the average increase rate of 0.07 g C/(m2•month). The regions with decreasing NPP occupied 64% of the total area of the oasis. During the study period, NPP of both farmland and grassland showed an increasing trend, while that of forest showed a decreasing trend. The depth of groundwater was deep in the south of the oasis and shallow in the north, showing a gradual increasing trend from south to north. Groundwater, as one of the key factors in the surface change and evolution of the arid oasis, determines the succession direction of the vegetation in the Qira Oasis. With the increase of groundwater depth, grassland coverage and vegetation NPP decreased. During the period 2008-2015, with the recovery of groundwater level, NPP values of all types of vegetation with different coverages increased. This study will provide a scientific basis for the rational utilization and sustainable management of groundwater resources in the oasis.展开更多
Background: Trunk volume(Vt) is an essential parameter for estimating forest stand volume, biomass, and carbon sequestration potential. As the dominant tree species in desert riparian forests, Euphrates poplar(Populus...Background: Trunk volume(Vt) is an essential parameter for estimating forest stand volume, biomass, and carbon sequestration potential. As the dominant tree species in desert riparian forests, Euphrates poplar(Populus euphratica) has a high proportion of irregularly shaped tree trunks along the Tarim River, NW China, where the habitat is very fragile owing to long-term water stress. This causes uncertainty in estimation accuracy as well as technical challenges for forest surveys. Our study aimed to acquire P. euphratica Vtusing terrestrial laser scanning(TLS) and to establish a species-specific Vtprediction model.Methods: A total of 240 individual trees were measured by TLS multiple-station in 12 sampling plots in three sections along the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Vtwas calculated by a definite integration method using trunk diameters(Di) at every 0.1-m tree height obtained from TLS, and all data were split randomly into two sets:70% of data were used to estimate the model parameter calibration, and the remaining 30% were used for model validation. Sixteen widely used candidate tree Vtestimation models were fitted to the TLS-measured Vtand tree structural parameter data, including tree height(H), diameter at breast height(DBH), and basal diameter(BD). All model performances were evaluated and compared by the statistical parameters of determination coefficient(R^(2)),root mean square error(RMSE), Bayesian information criterion(BIC), mean prediction error(ME), mean absolute error(MAE), and modeling efficiency(EF), and accordingly the best model was selected.Results: TLS point cloud reflection intensity(RI) has advantageous in the extraction of data from irregular tree trunk structures. The P. euphratica tree Vtvalues showed obvious differences at the same tree height(H). There was no significant correlation between Vtand H(R^(2)=0.11, P < 0.01), which reflected the irregularity of P. euphratica trunk shape in the study area. Among all the models, model(14): Vt=0.909DBH1.184H0.487BD0.836(R^(2)=0.97, RMSE=0.14) had the best prediction capability for irregularly shaped Vtwith the highest R^(2), BIC(-37.96), and EF(0.96), and produced a smaller ME(0.006) and MAE(1.177) compared to other models. The prediction accuracy was 93.18%.Conclusions: TLS point cloud RI has a potential for nondestructively measuring irregularly shaped trunk structures of P. euphratica and developed Vtprediction models. The multivariate models more effectively predicted Vtfor irregularly shaped trees compared to one-way and general volume models.展开更多
The effect of variation in water supply on woody seedling growth in arid environments remain poorly known.The subshrub Alhagi sparsifolia Shap.（Leguminosae）,distributed in the southern fringe of the Taklimakan Deser...The effect of variation in water supply on woody seedling growth in arid environments remain poorly known.The subshrub Alhagi sparsifolia Shap.（Leguminosae）,distributed in the southern fringe of the Taklimakan Desert,Xinjiang,northwestern China,has evolved deep roots and is exclusively dependent on groundwater,and performs a crucial role for the local ecological safety.In the Cele oasis,we studied the responses of A.sparsifolia seedling roots to water supplement at 10 and 14 weeks under three irrigation treatments （none water supply of 0 m3/m2 （NW）,middle water supply of 0.1 m3/m2 （MW）,and high water supply of 0.2 m3/m2 （HW））.The results showed that the variations of soil water content （SWC） significantly influenced the root growth of A.sparsifolia seedlings.The leaf area,basal diameter and crown diameter were significantly higher in the HW treatment than in the other treatments.The biomass,root surface area （RSA）,root depth and relative growth rate （RGR） of A.sparsifolia roots were all significantly higher in the NW treatment than in the HW and MW treatments at 10 weeks.However,these root parameters were significantly lower in the NW treatment than in the other treatments at 14 weeks.When SWC continued to decline as the experiment went on （until less than 8％ gravimetric SWC）,the seedlings still showed drought tolerance through morphological and physiological responses,but root growth suffered serious water stress compared to better water supply treatments.According to our study,keeping a minimum gravimetric SWC of 8％ might be important for the growth and establishment of A.sparsifolia during the early growth stage.These results will not only enrich our knowledge of the responses of woody seedlings to various water availabilities,but also provide a new insight to successfully establish and manage A.sparsifolia in arid environments,further supporting the sustainable development of oases.展开更多
Central Asia is located in the hinterland of Eurasia,comprising Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,Turkmenistan,and Tajikistan;over 93.00%of the total area is dryland.Temperature rise and human activities have severe im...Central Asia is located in the hinterland of Eurasia,comprising Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,Turkmenistan,and Tajikistan;over 93.00%of the total area is dryland.Temperature rise and human activities have severe impacts on the fragile ecosystems.Since the 1970s,nearly half the great lakes in Central Asia have shrunk and rivers are drying rapidly owing to climate changes and human activities.Water shortage and ecological crisis have attracted extensive international attention.In general,ecosystem services in Central Asia are declining,particularly with respect to biodiversity,water,and soil conservation.Furthermore,the annual average temperature and annual precipitation in Central Asia increased by 0.30℃/decade and 6.9 mm/decade in recent decades,respectively.Temperature rise significantly affected glacier retreat in the Tianshan Mountains and Pamir Mountains,which may intensify water shortage in the 21st century.The increase in precipitation cannot counterbalance the aggravation of water shortage caused by the temperature rise and human activities in Central Asia.The population of Central Asia is growing gradually,and its economy is increasing steadily.Moreover,the agricultural land has not been expended in the last two decades.Thus,water and ecological crises,such as the Aral Sea shrinkage in the 21st century,cannot be attributed to agriculture extension any longer.Unbalanced regional development and water interception/transfer have led to the irrational exploitation of water resources in some watersheds,inducing downstream water shortage and ecological degradation.In addition,accelerated industrialization and urbanization have intensified this process.Therefore,all Central Asian countries must urgently reach a consensus and adopt common measures for water and ecological protection.展开更多
Salt-affected soils classification using remotely sensed images is one of the most common applications in remote sensing,and many algorithms have been developed and applied for this purpose in the literature.This stud...Salt-affected soils classification using remotely sensed images is one of the most common applications in remote sensing,and many algorithms have been developed and applied for this purpose in the literature.This study takes the Delta Oasis of Weigan and Kuqa Rivers as a study area and discusses the prediction of soil salinization from ETM +Landsat data.It reports the Support Vector Machine(SVM) classification method based on Independent Component Analysis(ICA) and Texture features.Meanwhile,the letter introduces the fundamental theory of SVM algorithm and ICA,and then incorporates ICA and texture features.The classification result is compared with ICA-SVM classification,single data source SVM classification,maximum likelihood classification(MLC) and neural network classification qualitatively and quantitatively.The result shows that this method can effectively solve the problem of low accuracy and fracture classification result in single data source classification.It has high spread ability toward higher array input.The overall accuracy is 98.64%,which increases by10.2% compared with maximum likelihood classification,even increases by 12.94% compared with neural net classification,and thus acquires good effectiveness.Therefore,the classification method based on SVM and incorporating the ICA and texture features can be adapted to RS image classification and monitoring of soil salinization.展开更多
The runoff in alpine river basins where the runoff is formed in nearby mountainous areas is mainly affected by temperature and precipitation. Based on observed annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and runoff...The runoff in alpine river basins where the runoff is formed in nearby mountainous areas is mainly affected by temperature and precipitation. Based on observed annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and runoff time-series datasets during 1958-2012 within the Kaidu River Basin, the synchronism of runoff response to climate change was analyzed and iden- tified by applying several classic methods, including standardization methods, Kendall＇s W test, the sequential version of the Mann-Kendall test, wavelet power spectrum analysis, and the rescaled range （R/S） approach. The concordance of the nonlinear trend variations of the annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and runoff was tested significantly at the 0.05 level by Kendall＇s W method. The sequential version of the Mann-Kendall test revealed that abrupt changes in annual runoff were synchronous with those of annual mean temperature. The periodic characteristics of annual runoff were mainly consistent with annual precipitation, having synchronous 3-year significant periods and the same 6-year, 10-year, and 38-year quasi-periodicities. While the periodic characteristics of annual runoff in the Kaidu River Basin tracked well with those of annual precipitation, the abrupt changes in annual runoff were synchronous with the annual mean temperature, which directly drives glacier- and snow-melt processes. R/S analysis indicated that the annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and runoff will continue to increase and remain synchronously persistent in the future. This work can improve the understanding of runoff response to regional climate change to provide a viable reference in the management of water resources in the Kaidu River Basin, a regional sustainable socio-economie development.展开更多
The parasitic plant Cistanche deserticola attaches to Haloxylon ammodendron, a perennial shrub with high tolerance to salinity and drought. However, little was known about the parasite-host relation between the two sp...The parasitic plant Cistanche deserticola attaches to Haloxylon ammodendron, a perennial shrub with high tolerance to salinity and drought. However, little was known about the parasite-host relation between the two species. Effects of the parasite on chlorophyll a fluorescence and nutrient accumulation in the host plant （H. am- modendron） were investigated in the Taklimakan Desert. Some photosynthetic parameters of both host and non-host H. ammodendron plants were measured by in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence technology in the field. The assimilating branches of host and non-host plants were collected and nutrient and inorganic ion contents were analyzed. The results from field experiments showed that the infection of C. deserticola reduced the non-photochemical quenching of the variable chlorophyll fluorescence （NPQ） and the potential maximum quantum yield for primary photochemistry （Fv/Fm） of the host. Compared with non-host plants, the host H. ammodendron had low nutrient, low inorganic ion contents （Na~ and K~） and low K~/Na~ ratios in the assimilating branches. It suggested that C. deserticola infection reduced the nutrient acquisition and caused damage to the photoprotection through thermal dissipation of the energy of the photosystem II in the host, resulting in a decrease in the tolerance to salinity and high radiation. It was concluded that the attachment of the parasite plant （C. deserticola） had negative effects on the growth of its host.展开更多
Saline lakes are useful repositories for paleo-climatic records. In recent years, magnetic properties of saline lake sediments have been widely applied to establish paleo-climatic change. However,the influence factors...Saline lakes are useful repositories for paleo-climatic records. In recent years, magnetic properties of saline lake sediments have been widely applied to establish paleo-climatic change. However,the influence factors of magnetic properties in saline lakes have not been fully understood, which complicates the paleoenvironmental interpretation.Here, we present a rock magnetic analyses result of LOP_1 profile(40°26′09″′N, 90°21′23″E) from Lop Nur, a well-known saline lake, located in the eastern Tarim Basin in northwestern China. We combined the particle size, total organic content, and mineral characteristics analysis to assess the influence factors of magnetic properties in Lop Nur and its environmental significance. The results indicate that early diagenesis is the major influence factor on magnetic properties of Lop Nur saline sediments.Authigenic greigite and pyrite are identified within organic-rich sediments, which produce zones with high and low magnetic susceptibilities, respectively.The different authigenic iron sulfide contents in different layers are related to sedimentary environment changes. Sufficient supplies of organic matter and sulphate and low sedimentation rates favour the pyritization process. Moreover, if pyritization was constrained, intermediate greigite formed and was preserved. In oxidizing environments, sediment magnetic properties are consistent with those of source materials from Tarim Basin and are mainly controlled by particle size and hydrodynamic sorting of mainly detrital magnetite is largely unaffected by early diagenesis. Our study demonstrates that magnetic properties can provide a robust approach for studying depositional environment change in saline lake. In addition, the information obtained in this study would also provide insights into the geochemical processes of iron element in saline lakes.展开更多
Desert phreatophytes are greatly dependent on groundwater, but how their root systems adapt to different groundwater depths is poorly understood. In the present study, shoot and root growths of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap...Desert phreatophytes are greatly dependent on groundwater, but how their root systems adapt to different groundwater depths is poorly understood. In the present study, shoot and root growths of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. seedlings were studied across a gradient of groundwater depths. Leaves, stems and roots of different orders were measured after 120 days of different groundwater treatments. Results indicated that the depth of soil wetting front and the vertical distribution of soil water contents were highly controlled by groundwater depths. The shoot growth and biomass of A. sparsifolia decreased, but the root growth and rooting depth increased under deeper groundwater conditions. The higher ratios of root biomass, root/shoot and root length/leaf area under deeper groundwater conditions implied that seedlings of A. sparsifolia economized carbon cost on their shoot growths. The roots of A. sparsifolia distributed evenly around the soil wetting fronts under deeper groundwater conditions. Root diameters and root lengths of all orders were correlated with soil water availabilities both within and among treatments. Seedlings of A. sparsifolia produced finer first- and second-order roots but larger third- and fourth-order roots in dry soils. The results demonstrated that the root systems of desert phreatophytes can be optimized to acquire groundwater resources and maximize seedling growth by balancing the costs of carbon gain.展开更多
Most previous research on areas with abundant rainfall shows that simulations using rainfall-runoff modes have a very high prediction accuracy and applicability when using a back-propagation(BP), feed-forward, multila...Most previous research on areas with abundant rainfall shows that simulations using rainfall-runoff modes have a very high prediction accuracy and applicability when using a back-propagation(BP), feed-forward, multilayer perceptron artificial neural network(ANN). However, in runoff areas with relatively low rainfall or a dry climate, more studies are needed. In these areas—of which oasis-plain areas are a particularly good example—the existence and development of runoff depends largely on that which is generated from alpine regions. Quantitative analysis of the uncertainty of runoff simulation under climate change is the key to improving the utilization and management of water resources in arid areas. Therefore, in this context, three kinds of BP feed-forward, three-layer ANNs with similar structure were chosen as models in this paper.Taking the oasis–plain region traverse by the Qira River Basin in Xinjiang, China, as the research area, the monthly accumulated runoff of the Qira River in the next month was simulated and predicted. The results showed that the training precision of a compact wavelet neural network is low; but from the forecasting results, it could be concluded that the training algorithm can better reflect the whole law of samples. The traditional artificial neural network(TANN) model and radial basis-function neural network(RBFNN) model showed higher accuracy in the training and prediction stage. However, the TANN model, more sensitive to the selection of input variables, requires a large number of numerical simulations to determine the appropriate input variables and the number of hidden-layer neurons. Hence, The RBFNN model is more suitable for the study of such problems. And it can be extended to other similar research arid-oasis areas on the southern edge of the Kunlun Mountains and provides a reference for sustainable water-resource management of arid-oasis areas.展开更多
基金supported by the Tianshan Talents Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2022TSYCJU0002)the Basic and cross-cutting frontier scientific research pilot projects of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB0720100)+3 种基金the Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region-Research and demonstration of nature-based restoration and conservation technology for degraded vegetation in the desert-oasis ecotone(2024A03009-4)the original innovation project of the basic frontier scientific research program,Chinese Academy of Sciences(ZDBS-LY-DQC031)the water system evolution and risk assessment in arid regions for original innovation project of institute(2023-2025)the Outstanding Member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(2019)(2024-2026).
文摘Agricultural trade promotes the transfer of water resources,which has an impact on regional water scarcity,particularly in arid regions.Nevertheless,the understanding of how agricultural trade influences water scarcity and the populations under different water scarcity levels is still insufficient.This study examines the impact of domestic agricultural(food crop)trade on water scarcity in Northwest China by integrating a grid-based dynamic water balance model with a linear programming model.The results indicate that the agricultural blue water(surface and groundwater)footprint and green water(soil water)footprint in the Northwest region peaked in 2014,with the green water footprint being 17%higher than the blue water footprint.The increase in trade volume has effectively alleviated water scarcity in Northwest China,with green water playing a greater role than blue water,especially in Shaanxi and Ningxia.As trade volumes rise,the population facing mild water scarcity continues to grow after trade,with increases of 4.56%,6.70%,and 5.36%in 2000,2010 and 2014.Agricultural trade significantly alleviates the pressure of severe water scarcity and boosts the region's population carrying capacity.This study provides scientific evidence to support stronger coordination of water resources between regions,especially agricultural water trade between water-rich and water-scarce areas,and to inform the formulation of rational allocation policies for balancing regional water resource distribution and benefits.
基金sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China(No.2022D01B213)the Key Scientific and Technological Research Projects in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps,China(No.2023AB017-02)+1 种基金the West Light Foundation for Young Scholar of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.2021-XBQNXZ-018)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2022YFF1302504)。
文摘Understanding the elevational patterns of soil microbial carbon(C)metabolic potentials is instrumental for predicting changes in soil organic C(SOC)stocks in the face of climate change.However,such patterns remain uncertain in arid mountain ecosystems,where climosequences are quite different from other ecosystems.To address this gap,this study investigated the distribution determinants of microbial communities,C cycling-related genes,and SOC fractions along an elevational gradient(1707–3548 m),with a mean annual precipitation(MAP)range of 38 to 344 mm,on the north slope of the central part of the Kunlun Mountains,China using a metagenomic approach.The results showed that elevation significantly influenced the α-diversity(Shannon index)and composition of microbial communities as well as the C cycling-related genes.The α-diversities of microbial taxa and C cycling-related genes linearly increased with the increase in MAP along the elevational gradient.The elevational patterns of the genes encoding glycoside hydrolases and glycosyl transferases(GTs)were mainly driven by soil electrical conductivity(EC),mean annual temperature(MAT),MAP,and plant diversity.Furthermore,mineral-associated organic C(MAOC),particulate organic C(POC),and their sum generally increased with elevation.However,the MAOC/POC ratio followed a unimodal pattern,suggesting greater stability of the SOC pool in the mid-elevation regions.This unimodal pattern was likely influenced by the abundances of Actinobacteria and the genes encoding GTs and carbohydrate esterases and the threshold effects of soil EC and MAT.In summary,our findings indicate that the distribution patterns of microbial communities and C cycling-related genes along the elevational gradient in an arid ecosystem are distinct from those in the regions with higher MAP,facilitating the prediction of climate change effects on SOC metabolism under more arid conditions.Soil salinity,plant diversity,precipitation,and temperature are the main regulatory factors of microbial C metabolism processes,and they potentially play a central role in mediating SOC pool stability.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 42271071, 42207163,and 32250410301)the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of China (No. GZC20232964)+5 种基金the “Tianchi Talents” Introduction Program, Xinjiang, China, the Ministry of Science and Technology, China (Nos. QN2022045005L and WGXZ2023078L)the National Key Research and Development Project of China (No. 2022YFF1302504)Josep PENUELAS and Jordi SARDANS were funded by the Spanish Government grants PID2020115770RB-I, TED2021132627 B-I00, and PID2022-140808NB-I00funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN) and the Agencia Espa?ola de Investigación (AEI), Spainsupported by the European Union’s Next Generation EU/PRTR program, the Fundación Ramón Areces grant CIVP20A6621Spain, and the Catalan Government grant SGR 2021–1333, Spain
文摘Climate change is expected to alter the frequency and intensity of drying-rewetting cycles,impacting water availability and consequently soil nutrient availability.However,the effects of these fluctuations on the chemical speciation and bioavailability of phosphorus(P)in soil remain uncertain,both in the presence of desert species and in their absence.We conducted a pot experiment involving bare soil(absence of plants)and two desert species(Alhagi sparsifolia and Calligonum mongolicum)to determine the short-term impacts of drought(no water supply),drying-rewetting 1(D-RW1,high frequency of low water inputs),and drying-rewetting 2(D-RW2,low frequency of high water inputs)on soil Hedley P pools,plant P concentration,and plant biomass accumulation.Results demonstrated that the presence of plants significantly increased soil labile P and organic P(Po)concentrations by 60%–150%and 1%–68%,respectively,compared to the absence of plants.Both D-RW1 and D-RW2 treatments significantly increased soil dissolved organic carbon concentration by 2%–35%relative to the drought treatment.Moreover,in the presence of A.sparsifolia,soil resin-extractable P and NaHCO_(3)-extractable inorganic P(Pi)concentrations in the D-RW1 treatment significantly increased by 31%and 75%,respectively,when compared to the drought treatment,with the NaHCO_(3)-and NaOH-extractable Po concentrations in the D-RW2 treatment rising by 14%and 32%,respectively.Furthermore,the D-RW2 treatment significantly increased leaf P concentration and plant biomass compared to the D-RW1 and drought treatments.Overall,compared to the drought treatment,frequent low-intensity drying-rewetting cycles enhanced soil Pi turnover,whereas infrequent high-intensity drying-rewetting cycles increased Po turnover and P bioavailability.These findings will inform better water management strategies for desertification restoration in hyper-arid desert ecosystems.
基金financially supported by the Tianchi Talents Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(E5358525,2025–2026)the Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2024A03009-4)+4 种基金the Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition Program(2022xjkk010402)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022FY202305-06)the Tianshan Talents Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2022TSYCJU0002)the Outstanding Member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(20192024–2026).
文摘The diversity and discontinuity of plant communities in the oasis–desert ecotone are largely shaped by variations in groundwater depth,yet the relationships between spatial distribution patterns and ecological niches at a regional scale remain insufficiently understood.This study examined the oasis–desert ecotone in Qira County located in the Tarim Basin of China to investigate the spatial distribution of plant communities and groundwater depth as well as their relationships using an integrated approach that combined remote sensing techniques,field monitoring,and numerical modeling.The results showed that vegetation distribution exhibits marked spatial heterogeneity,with coverage ranked as follows:Tamarix ramosissima>Phragmites australis>Populus euphratica>Alhagi sparsifolia.Numerical simulations indicated that groundwater depths range from 2.00 to 65.00 m below the surface,with the system currently in equilibrium,sustaining an average annual recharge of 1.06×10^(8) m^(3) and an average annual discharge of 1.01×10^(8) m^(3).Groundwater depth strongly influences vegetation composition and structure:Phragmites australis dominates at average groundwater depth of 5.83 m,followed by Populus euphratica at average groundwater depth of 7.05 m.As groundwater depth increases,the community is initially predominated by Tamarix ramosissima(average groundwater depth of 8.35 m),then becomes a mixture of Tamarix ramosissima,Populus euphratica,and Karelinia caspia(average groundwater depth of 10.50 m),and finally transitions to Alhagi sparsifolia(average groundwater depth of 14.30 m).These findings highlight groundwater-dependent ecological thresholds that govern plant community composition and provide a scientific basis for biodiversity conservation,ecosystem stability,and vegetation restoration in the arid oasis–desert ecotone.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2009CB421302)the Joint Fundsof the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1138303)+4 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41261090,41161063)the Open Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environment Information Systems (2010KF0003SA)Scientific Research Foundation for Doctor (BS110125)Xinjiang Natural Science Foundation for Young Scholars (2012211B04)Research Fund for Training Young Teachers (XJEDU2012S03)
文摘Vegetation fractional coverage （VFC） is an important index to describe and evaluate the ecological system. The vegetation index is widely used to monitor vegetation coverage in the field of remote sensing （RS）. In this paper, the author conducted a case study of the delta oasis of Weigan and Kuqa rivers, which is a typical saline area in the Tarim River Watershed. The current study was based on the TM/ETM＋ images of 1989, 2001, and 2006, and supported by Geographic Information System （GIS） spatial analysis, vegetation index, and dimidiate pixel model. In addition, VBSl （vegetation, bare soil and shadow indices） suitable for TM/ETM＋ irrlages, constructed with FCD （forest canopy density） model principle and put forward by ITTO （International Tropical Timber Organization）, was used, and it was applied to estimate the VFC. The estimation accuracy was later prow^n to be up to 83.52%. Further, the study analyzed and appraised the changes in vegetation patterns and revealed a pattern of spatial change in the vegetation coverage of the study area by producing the map of VFC levels in the delta oasis. Forest, grassland, and farmland were the three main land-use types with high and extremely-high coverage, and they played an important role in maintaining the vegetation. The forest area determined the changes of the coverage area, whereas the other two land types affected the directions of change. Therefore, planting trees, protecting grasslands, reclaiming farmlands, and controlling unused lands should be included in a long-term program because of their importance in keeping regional vegetation coverage. Finally, the dynamic variation of VFC in the study area was evaluated according to the quantity and spatial distribution rendered by plant cover diigital images to deeply analyze the reason behind the variation.
基金Under the auspices of Special Major Science and Technology Projects in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(No.201130106-1)Public Sector(Meteorology)Research Project(No.GYHY201106025)Doctoral Station Supporting Foundation for Geography of Xinjiang Normal University and Open Project of Xinjiang Lake Environment and Resources Key Laboratory of Arid Zone(No.XJDX0909-2013-08)
文摘The oasis-desert ecotone is a fragile ecological zone that is affected both by oasis and desert conditions. To understand the impact of the differences in wind power, and the influence of wind erosion and deposition on the ecotone, meteorological data and con- temporaneous wind erosion and deposition data were collected on the southern margin of Tarim Basin with serious sand-blown hazards. The wind velocity, average wind velocity, sand drift potential （DP）, resultant sand drift potential （RDP）, and sand transportation rate decrease significantly and successively across four landscape types with increasing vegetation coverage （VC）. Flat surfaces and areas of shifting sandy ground experience intense wind erosion with fast movement of mobile sand dunes; semi-fixed sand areas experience ex- tensive wind deposition but only slight wind erosion; and fixed sand areas experience only slight wind erosion and deposition. Volume of wind erosion on bare newly reclaimed farmland is up to 6.96 times that of bare shifting sandy ground. Wind erosion volume per unit area and VC follow an exponential function relationship in natural conditions, while wind deposition volume per unit area does not conform to any functions which has close relationship with vary topography and arrangement patterns of vegetation besides for VC. The results indicate that the volume of wind erosion has a close correlation with VC, and different types and distribution patterns of topog- raphy and vegetation also profoundly influence the wind deposition volume in the field, and underground water tables in different land- scape types control the plant community distribution. Keywords： wind erosion; wind deposition; oasis-desert ecotone; vegetation coverage （VC）; topography; Cele County
文摘This is the first study seasonally applying Sphagnum papillosum moss bags and vertical snow samples for monitoring atmospheric pollution.Moss bags,exposed in January,were collected together with snow samples by early March 2012 near the Harjavalta Industrial Park in southwest Finland.Magnetic,chemical,scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy（SEM-EDX）,K-means clustering,and Tomlinson pollution load index（PLI）data showed parallel spatial trends of pollution dispersal for both materials.Results strengthen previous findings that concentrate and slag handling activities were important（dust）emission sources while the impact from Cu–Ni smelter＇s pipe remained secondary at closer distances.Statistically significant correlations existed between the variables of snow and moss bags.As a summary,both methods work well for sampling and are efficient pollutant accumulators.Moss bags can be used also in winter conditions and they provide more homogeneous and better controlled sampling method than snow samples.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-EW-316)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31070477,30870471)the West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XBBS201105)
文摘Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. （Fabaceae） is a spiny, perennial herb. The species grows in the salinized, arid regions in North China. This study investigated the response characteristics of the root growth and the dis- tribution of one-year-old A. sparsifolia seedlings to different groundwater depths in controlled plots. The eco- logical adaptability of the root systems of A. sparsifolia seedlings was examined using the artificial digging method. Results showed that： （1） A. sparsifolia seedlings adapted to an increase in groundwater depth mainly through increasing the penetration depth and growth rate of vertical roots. The vertical roots grew rapidly when soil moisture content reached 3%-9%, but slowly when soil moisture content was 13%-20%. The vertical roots stopped growing when soil moisture content reached 30% （the critical soil moisture point）. （2） The morphological plasticity of roots is an important strategy used by A. sparsifolia seedlings to obtain water and adapt to dry soil conditions. When the groundwater table was shallow, horizontal roots quickly expanded and tillering increased in order to compete for light resources, whereas when the groundwater table was deeper, vertical roots developed quickly to exploit space in the deeper soil layers. （3） The decrease in groundwater depth was probably respon- sible for the root distribution in the shallow soil layers. Root biomass and surface area both decreased with soil depth. One strategy of A. sparsifolia seedlings in dealing with the increase in groundwater depth is to increase root biomass in the deep soil layers. The relationship between the root growth/distribution of A. sparsifolia and the depth of groundwater table can be used as guidance for harvesting A. sparsifolia biomass and managing water resources for forage grasses. It is also of ecological significance as it reveals how desert plants adapt to arid environments.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Pan-Third Pole Environment Study for a Green Silk Road (XDA20060303)the Xinjiang Key Research and Development Program (2016B02017-4)+1 种基金the National Nature Science Foundation of China-United Nations Environment Programme (NSFC-UNEP, 41361140361)the ''High-level Talents Project'' (Y871171) of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘The countries of Central Asia are collectively known as the five "-stans": Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. In recent times, the Central Asian region has been affected by the shrinkage of the Aral Sea, widespread desertification, soil salinization, biodiversity loss, frequent sand storms, and many other ecological disasters. This paper is a review article based upon the collection, identification and collation of previous studies of environmental changes and regional developments in Central Asia in the past 30 years. Most recent studies have reached a consensus that the temperature rise in Central Asia is occurring faster than the global average. This warming trend will not only result in a higher evaporation in the basin oases, but also to a significant retreat of glaciers in the mountainous areas. Water is the key to sustainable development in the arid and semi-arid regions in Central Asia. The uneven distribution, over consumption, and pollution of water resources in Central Asia have caused severe water supply problems, which have been affecting regional harmony and development for the past 30 years. The widespread and significant land use changes in the 1990 s could be used to improve our understanding of natural variability and human interaction in the region. There has been a positive trend of trans-border cooperation among the Central Asian countries in recent years. International attention has grown and research projects have been initiated to provide water and ecosystem protection in Central Asia. However, the agreements that have been reached might not be able to deliver practical action in time to prevent severe ecological disasters. Water management should be based on hydrographic borders and ministries should be able to make timely decisions without political intervention. Fully integrated management of water resources, land use and industrial development is essential in Central Asia. The ecological crisis should provide sufficient motivation to reach a consensus on unified water management throughout the region.
基金This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41807335)the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China(ZR2020MC040)+2 种基金the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China(2019YFC0507602-2)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(2020434)the National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents(BX201700279).
文摘Nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)are two essential nutrients that determine plant growth and many nutrient cycling processes.Increasing N and P deposition is an important driver of ecosystem changes.However,in contrast to numerous studies about the impacts of nutrient addition on forests and temperate grasslands,how plant foliar stoichiometry and nutrient resorption respond to N and P addition in alpine grasslands is poorly understood.Therefore,we conducted an N and P addition experiment(involving control,N addition,P addition,and N+P addition)in an alpine grassland on Kunlun Mountains(Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China)in 2016 and 2017 to investigate the changes in leaf nutrient concentrations(i.e.,leaf N,Leaf P,and leaf N:P ratio)and nutrient resorption efficiency of Seriphidium rhodanthum and Stipa capillata,which are dominant species in this grassland.Results showed that N addition has significant effects on soil inorganic N(NO_(3)^(-)-N and NH_(4)^(+)-N)and leaf N of both species in the study periods.Compared with green leaves,leaf nutrient concentrations and nutrient resorption efficiency in senesced leaves of S.rhodanthum was more sensitive to N addition,whereas N addition influenced leaf N and leaf N:P ratio in green and senesced leaves of S.capillata.N addition did not influence N resorption efficiency of the two species.P addition and N+P addition significantly improved leaf P and had a negative effect on P resorption efficiency of the two species in the study period.These influences on plants can be explained by increasing P availability.The present results illustrated that the two species are more sensitive to P addition than N addition,which implies that P is the major limiting factor in the studied alpine grassland ecosystem.In addition,an interactive effect of N+P addition was only discernable with respect to soil availability,but did not affect plants.Therefore,exploring how nutrient characteristics and resorption response to N and P addition in the alpine grassland is important to understand nutrient use strategy of plants in terrestrial ecosystems.
基金This research was supported by the West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(2018-XBQNXZ-B-017)the High-Level Talents Project in Xinjiang(Y942171)This study was also supported by the CAS President's International Fellowship Initiative(PIFI)Project(2021VCA0003,2021VCB0013).
文摘Net primary productivity (NPP) of the vegetation in an oasis can reflect the productivity capacity of a plant community under natural environmental conditions. Owing to the extreme arid climate conditions and scarce precipitation in the arid oasis regions, groundwater plays a key role in restricting the development of the vegetation. The Qira Oasis is located on the southern margin of the Taklimakan Desert (Tarim Basin, China) that is one of the most vulnerable regions regarding vegetation growth and water scarcity in the world. Based on remote sensing images of the Qira Oasis and daily meteorological data measured by the ground stations during the period 2006-2019, this study analyzed the temporal and spatial patterns of NPP in the oasis as well as its relation with the variation of groundwater depth using a modified Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model. At the spatial scale, NPP of the vegetation decreased from the interior of the Qira Oasis to the margin;at the temporal scale, NPP of the vegetation in the oasis fluctuated significantly (ranging from 29.80 to 50.07 g C/(m2•month)) but generally showed an increasing trend, with the average increase rate of 0.07 g C/(m2•month). The regions with decreasing NPP occupied 64% of the total area of the oasis. During the study period, NPP of both farmland and grassland showed an increasing trend, while that of forest showed a decreasing trend. The depth of groundwater was deep in the south of the oasis and shallow in the north, showing a gradual increasing trend from south to north. Groundwater, as one of the key factors in the surface change and evolution of the arid oasis, determines the succession direction of the vegetation in the Qira Oasis. With the increase of groundwater depth, grassland coverage and vegetation NPP decreased. During the period 2008-2015, with the recovery of groundwater level, NPP values of all types of vegetation with different coverages increased. This study will provide a scientific basis for the rational utilization and sustainable management of groundwater resources in the oasis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 32260285, 31860134, 32160367, 31800469)the Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition and Research Program (Nos2022xjkk0301, 2021xjkk14002)+1 种基金the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. 2022445)the Tianchi Doctor Program of Xinjiang Autonomous Region (No.Y970000362)。
文摘Background: Trunk volume(Vt) is an essential parameter for estimating forest stand volume, biomass, and carbon sequestration potential. As the dominant tree species in desert riparian forests, Euphrates poplar(Populus euphratica) has a high proportion of irregularly shaped tree trunks along the Tarim River, NW China, where the habitat is very fragile owing to long-term water stress. This causes uncertainty in estimation accuracy as well as technical challenges for forest surveys. Our study aimed to acquire P. euphratica Vtusing terrestrial laser scanning(TLS) and to establish a species-specific Vtprediction model.Methods: A total of 240 individual trees were measured by TLS multiple-station in 12 sampling plots in three sections along the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Vtwas calculated by a definite integration method using trunk diameters(Di) at every 0.1-m tree height obtained from TLS, and all data were split randomly into two sets:70% of data were used to estimate the model parameter calibration, and the remaining 30% were used for model validation. Sixteen widely used candidate tree Vtestimation models were fitted to the TLS-measured Vtand tree structural parameter data, including tree height(H), diameter at breast height(DBH), and basal diameter(BD). All model performances were evaluated and compared by the statistical parameters of determination coefficient(R^(2)),root mean square error(RMSE), Bayesian information criterion(BIC), mean prediction error(ME), mean absolute error(MAE), and modeling efficiency(EF), and accordingly the best model was selected.Results: TLS point cloud reflection intensity(RI) has advantageous in the extraction of data from irregular tree trunk structures. The P. euphratica tree Vtvalues showed obvious differences at the same tree height(H). There was no significant correlation between Vtand H(R^(2)=0.11, P < 0.01), which reflected the irregularity of P. euphratica trunk shape in the study area. Among all the models, model(14): Vt=0.909DBH1.184H0.487BD0.836(R^(2)=0.97, RMSE=0.14) had the best prediction capability for irregularly shaped Vtwith the highest R^(2), BIC(-37.96), and EF(0.96), and produced a smaller ME(0.006) and MAE(1.177) compared to other models. The prediction accuracy was 93.18%.Conclusions: TLS point cloud RI has a potential for nondestructively measuring irregularly shaped trunk structures of P. euphratica and developed Vtprediction models. The multivariate models more effectively predicted Vtfor irregularly shaped trees compared to one-way and general volume models.
基金funded by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KZCX2-EW-316)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41001171,31070477,30870471)+2 种基金the Western Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XBBS201105)the Key Program of Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of Chinathe Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China(U1203201)
文摘The effect of variation in water supply on woody seedling growth in arid environments remain poorly known.The subshrub Alhagi sparsifolia Shap.（Leguminosae）,distributed in the southern fringe of the Taklimakan Desert,Xinjiang,northwestern China,has evolved deep roots and is exclusively dependent on groundwater,and performs a crucial role for the local ecological safety.In the Cele oasis,we studied the responses of A.sparsifolia seedling roots to water supplement at 10 and 14 weeks under three irrigation treatments （none water supply of 0 m3/m2 （NW）,middle water supply of 0.1 m3/m2 （MW）,and high water supply of 0.2 m3/m2 （HW））.The results showed that the variations of soil water content （SWC） significantly influenced the root growth of A.sparsifolia seedlings.The leaf area,basal diameter and crown diameter were significantly higher in the HW treatment than in the other treatments.The biomass,root surface area （RSA）,root depth and relative growth rate （RGR） of A.sparsifolia roots were all significantly higher in the NW treatment than in the HW and MW treatments at 10 weeks.However,these root parameters were significantly lower in the NW treatment than in the other treatments at 14 weeks.When SWC continued to decline as the experiment went on （until less than 8％ gravimetric SWC）,the seedlings still showed drought tolerance through morphological and physiological responses,but root growth suffered serious water stress compared to better water supply treatments.According to our study,keeping a minimum gravimetric SWC of 8％ might be important for the growth and establishment of A.sparsifolia during the early growth stage.These results will not only enrich our knowledge of the responses of woody seedlings to various water availabilities,but also provide a new insight to successfully establish and manage A.sparsifolia in arid environments,further supporting the sustainable development of oases.
基金This work was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences:the Pan-Third Pole Environment Study for a Green Silk Road(XDA20060303)the CAS''Light of West China''Program(2018-XBQNXZ-B-017)the''High-level Talents Program''of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Y871171).Special thanks are given to the Philosophy and Social Science Major Research Project"Research on the Major Risk Prevention System in the Development of Artificial Intelligence"(20JZD026)funded by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.
文摘Central Asia is located in the hinterland of Eurasia,comprising Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,Turkmenistan,and Tajikistan;over 93.00%of the total area is dryland.Temperature rise and human activities have severe impacts on the fragile ecosystems.Since the 1970s,nearly half the great lakes in Central Asia have shrunk and rivers are drying rapidly owing to climate changes and human activities.Water shortage and ecological crisis have attracted extensive international attention.In general,ecosystem services in Central Asia are declining,particularly with respect to biodiversity,water,and soil conservation.Furthermore,the annual average temperature and annual precipitation in Central Asia increased by 0.30℃/decade and 6.9 mm/decade in recent decades,respectively.Temperature rise significantly affected glacier retreat in the Tianshan Mountains and Pamir Mountains,which may intensify water shortage in the 21st century.The increase in precipitation cannot counterbalance the aggravation of water shortage caused by the temperature rise and human activities in Central Asia.The population of Central Asia is growing gradually,and its economy is increasing steadily.Moreover,the agricultural land has not been expended in the last two decades.Thus,water and ecological crises,such as the Aral Sea shrinkage in the 21st century,cannot be attributed to agriculture extension any longer.Unbalanced regional development and water interception/transfer have led to the irrational exploitation of water resources in some watersheds,inducing downstream water shortage and ecological degradation.In addition,accelerated industrialization and urbanization have intensified this process.Therefore,all Central Asian countries must urgently reach a consensus and adopt common measures for water and ecological protection.
基金Supported by the National Key Basic Research Development Pro-gram (2009CB421302 )National Natural Science Foundation ofChina (40861020,40961025,40901163)+1 种基金Natural Science Foun-dation of Xinjiang (200821128 )Open Foundation of State KeyLaboratory of Resources and Environment Information ystems(2010KF0003SA)
文摘Salt-affected soils classification using remotely sensed images is one of the most common applications in remote sensing,and many algorithms have been developed and applied for this purpose in the literature.This study takes the Delta Oasis of Weigan and Kuqa Rivers as a study area and discusses the prediction of soil salinization from ETM +Landsat data.It reports the Support Vector Machine(SVM) classification method based on Independent Component Analysis(ICA) and Texture features.Meanwhile,the letter introduces the fundamental theory of SVM algorithm and ICA,and then incorporates ICA and texture features.The classification result is compared with ICA-SVM classification,single data source SVM classification,maximum likelihood classification(MLC) and neural network classification qualitatively and quantitatively.The result shows that this method can effectively solve the problem of low accuracy and fracture classification result in single data source classification.It has high spread ability toward higher array input.The overall accuracy is 98.64%,which increases by10.2% compared with maximum likelihood classification,even increases by 12.94% compared with neural net classification,and thus acquires good effectiveness.Therefore,the classification method based on SVM and incorporating the ICA and texture features can be adapted to RS image classification and monitoring of soil salinization.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41471031)
文摘The runoff in alpine river basins where the runoff is formed in nearby mountainous areas is mainly affected by temperature and precipitation. Based on observed annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and runoff time-series datasets during 1958-2012 within the Kaidu River Basin, the synchronism of runoff response to climate change was analyzed and iden- tified by applying several classic methods, including standardization methods, Kendall＇s W test, the sequential version of the Mann-Kendall test, wavelet power spectrum analysis, and the rescaled range （R/S） approach. The concordance of the nonlinear trend variations of the annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and runoff was tested significantly at the 0.05 level by Kendall＇s W method. The sequential version of the Mann-Kendall test revealed that abrupt changes in annual runoff were synchronous with those of annual mean temperature. The periodic characteristics of annual runoff were mainly consistent with annual precipitation, having synchronous 3-year significant periods and the same 6-year, 10-year, and 38-year quasi-periodicities. While the periodic characteristics of annual runoff in the Kaidu River Basin tracked well with those of annual precipitation, the abrupt changes in annual runoff were synchronous with the annual mean temperature, which directly drives glacier- and snow-melt processes. R/S analysis indicated that the annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and runoff will continue to increase and remain synchronously persistent in the future. This work can improve the understanding of runoff response to regional climate change to provide a viable reference in the management of water resources in the Kaidu River Basin, a regional sustainable socio-economie development.
基金supported by the "Western Light" Talents Training Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (lhxz200901)
文摘The parasitic plant Cistanche deserticola attaches to Haloxylon ammodendron, a perennial shrub with high tolerance to salinity and drought. However, little was known about the parasite-host relation between the two species. Effects of the parasite on chlorophyll a fluorescence and nutrient accumulation in the host plant （H. am- modendron） were investigated in the Taklimakan Desert. Some photosynthetic parameters of both host and non-host H. ammodendron plants were measured by in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence technology in the field. The assimilating branches of host and non-host plants were collected and nutrient and inorganic ion contents were analyzed. The results from field experiments showed that the infection of C. deserticola reduced the non-photochemical quenching of the variable chlorophyll fluorescence （NPQ） and the potential maximum quantum yield for primary photochemistry （Fv/Fm） of the host. Compared with non-host plants, the host H. ammodendron had low nutrient, low inorganic ion contents （Na~ and K~） and low K~/Na~ ratios in the assimilating branches. It suggested that C. deserticola infection reduced the nutrient acquisition and caused damage to the photoprotection through thermal dissipation of the energy of the photosystem II in the host, resulting in a decrease in the tolerance to salinity and high radiation. It was concluded that the attachment of the parasite plant （C. deserticola） had negative effects on the growth of its host.
基金supported by the NationalNatural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.41701012)the project "ComprehensiveScientific Investigation of Natural and CulturalHeritage in the Lop Nur Region" (Grant No.2014FY210500)
文摘Saline lakes are useful repositories for paleo-climatic records. In recent years, magnetic properties of saline lake sediments have been widely applied to establish paleo-climatic change. However,the influence factors of magnetic properties in saline lakes have not been fully understood, which complicates the paleoenvironmental interpretation.Here, we present a rock magnetic analyses result of LOP_1 profile(40°26′09″′N, 90°21′23″E) from Lop Nur, a well-known saline lake, located in the eastern Tarim Basin in northwestern China. We combined the particle size, total organic content, and mineral characteristics analysis to assess the influence factors of magnetic properties in Lop Nur and its environmental significance. The results indicate that early diagenesis is the major influence factor on magnetic properties of Lop Nur saline sediments.Authigenic greigite and pyrite are identified within organic-rich sediments, which produce zones with high and low magnetic susceptibilities, respectively.The different authigenic iron sulfide contents in different layers are related to sedimentary environment changes. Sufficient supplies of organic matter and sulphate and low sedimentation rates favour the pyritization process. Moreover, if pyritization was constrained, intermediate greigite formed and was preserved. In oxidizing environments, sediment magnetic properties are consistent with those of source materials from Tarim Basin and are mainly controlled by particle size and hydrodynamic sorting of mainly detrital magnetite is largely unaffected by early diagenesis. Our study demonstrates that magnetic properties can provide a robust approach for studying depositional environment change in saline lake. In addition, the information obtained in this study would also provide insights into the geochemical processes of iron element in saline lakes.
基金supported by the Joint Funds of National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1203201)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41371516, 31100144)
文摘Desert phreatophytes are greatly dependent on groundwater, but how their root systems adapt to different groundwater depths is poorly understood. In the present study, shoot and root growths of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. seedlings were studied across a gradient of groundwater depths. Leaves, stems and roots of different orders were measured after 120 days of different groundwater treatments. Results indicated that the depth of soil wetting front and the vertical distribution of soil water contents were highly controlled by groundwater depths. The shoot growth and biomass of A. sparsifolia decreased, but the root growth and rooting depth increased under deeper groundwater conditions. The higher ratios of root biomass, root/shoot and root length/leaf area under deeper groundwater conditions implied that seedlings of A. sparsifolia economized carbon cost on their shoot growths. The roots of A. sparsifolia distributed evenly around the soil wetting fronts under deeper groundwater conditions. Root diameters and root lengths of all orders were correlated with soil water availabilities both within and among treatments. Seedlings of A. sparsifolia produced finer first- and second-order roots but larger third- and fourth-order roots in dry soils. The results demonstrated that the root systems of desert phreatophytes can be optimized to acquire groundwater resources and maximize seedling growth by balancing the costs of carbon gain.
基金financially supported by the regional collaborative innovation project for Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Shanghai cooperation organization science and technology partnership project) (2017E01029)the "Western Light" program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2017XBQNXZ-B-016)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41601595, U1603343, 41471031)the State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (G201802-08)
文摘Most previous research on areas with abundant rainfall shows that simulations using rainfall-runoff modes have a very high prediction accuracy and applicability when using a back-propagation(BP), feed-forward, multilayer perceptron artificial neural network(ANN). However, in runoff areas with relatively low rainfall or a dry climate, more studies are needed. In these areas—of which oasis-plain areas are a particularly good example—the existence and development of runoff depends largely on that which is generated from alpine regions. Quantitative analysis of the uncertainty of runoff simulation under climate change is the key to improving the utilization and management of water resources in arid areas. Therefore, in this context, three kinds of BP feed-forward, three-layer ANNs with similar structure were chosen as models in this paper.Taking the oasis–plain region traverse by the Qira River Basin in Xinjiang, China, as the research area, the monthly accumulated runoff of the Qira River in the next month was simulated and predicted. The results showed that the training precision of a compact wavelet neural network is low; but from the forecasting results, it could be concluded that the training algorithm can better reflect the whole law of samples. The traditional artificial neural network(TANN) model and radial basis-function neural network(RBFNN) model showed higher accuracy in the training and prediction stage. However, the TANN model, more sensitive to the selection of input variables, requires a large number of numerical simulations to determine the appropriate input variables and the number of hidden-layer neurons. Hence, The RBFNN model is more suitable for the study of such problems. And it can be extended to other similar research arid-oasis areas on the southern edge of the Kunlun Mountains and provides a reference for sustainable water-resource management of arid-oasis areas.
