Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5): 777-784.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.05.10

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Asociation characteristics of Amygdalus pedunculata and the environmental factors driving them in Otindag Sandy Land

CHEN Jiawei1(),CHU Jianmin1(),GAN Honghao1,XU Lei2,GONG Shuai1,LIU Hao1,WANG Yingxin3,YANG Hongxiao4,XU Xiaoqing1,QI Danhui5   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
    2. Seed Field of Urumqi, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    3. Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
    4. College of Resources and Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, Shandong, China
    5. College of Ecology and Environment, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, Yunnan, China
  • Received:2022-11-30 Revised:2023-01-13 Online:2023-05-15 Published:2023-05-30

Abstract:

The stability of plant associations plays a vital role in the plant succession and safety of regional ecosystems. The biome of Amygdalus pedunculata is undergoing severe degradation because of climate change and human activities. Investigation of the characteristics of A. pedunculata associations and the factors affecting them can provide a scientific basis for restoring and managing the degradation of its biome. We conducted a study in Otindag Sandy Land to analyze the characteristics of the four typical A. pedunculata associations based on the surveyed data in 35 quadrats. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to detect the driving factors of the association distribution pattern in this region, and the relationship between species characteristics and environmental variables in each A. pedunculata association. Based on the differences in site conditions, the A. pedunculata community can be divided into four associations: Ⅰ, Amygdalus pedunculata-Allium mongolicum; Ⅱ, Amygdalus pedunculata-Stipa sareptana var. krylovii-Artemisia frigida; Ⅲ, Amygdalus pedunculata-Eragrostis pilosa; and Ⅳ, Ulmus pumila-Amygdalus pedunculata-Corispermum mongolicum. In general, temperature and elevation were the main environmental factors regulating the distribution of A. pedunculata associations with contribution rates of 13.2% and 11.4%, respectively. Soil organic matter (10-20 cm and 20-30 cm) was the determinant affecting the structure of the A. pedunculata associations. Associations I and II are influenced by elevation, growing season temperature, and 0-10 cm soil organic matter; association III is more sensitive to climatic and soil factors; and association IV is regulated by elevation.

Key words: Amygdalus pedunculata, desert ecosystems, association distribution, driving factors, soil organic matter