Abstract: In this study, the species composition and structural characteristics of the plant communities along the south and north transects in the Ebinur Lake Basin were systemically observed and measured. Based on the results, the important values of the species were chosen to calculate the indices of species diversity, evenness and dominance, and analyze the vegetation distribution and species diversity. The results are as follows: (1) Plants in the study region can be divided into ten communities, among them the Form.Tamarix chinensis was widely distributed; (2) There was a zonal distribution of vegetation in the lake basin. The species diversity of plant communities varied with the change of terrain, and the species diversity and evenness of the plant communities were high in the places with high altitude; (3) Along the south and north transects, soil salt content was the main factor affecting plant growth. With the increase of soil salt content, the number of species tended to decreasing and the structure of plant communities to simplifying. Species diversity increased with the decrease of soil salt content, showing a high species diversity of plant communities on the alluvialproluvial plain where the south transect was located in and the desert zone where the north transect was located in; (4) Affected by wind regime and soil salt content, the vegetation composition along the south transect was quite different from that along the north one. In the lakeshore, the species diversity of plant communities was higher and the plant growth was more flourishing along the south transect than that along the north transect.  

Key words: plant community, species diversity, evenness index, soil salt content, Ebinur Lake Basin