Effects of Sand Dune Stabilization on the Spatial Pattern of Artemisia ordosica Population in Mu Us Desert,Northwest China

Vegetation patterns are strongly influenced by sand mobility in desert ecosystems. However, little is known about the spatial patterns of Artemisia ordosica, a dominant shrub in the Mu Us desert of Northwest China, in relation to sand fixation. The aim of this study was to investigate and contrast the effects of sand dune stabilization on the population and spatial distribution of this desert shrub. Spatial autocorrelation, semi-variance analysis, and point-pattern analysis were used jointly in this study to investigate the spatial patterns of A. ordosica populations on dunes in Yanchi County of Ningxia, China. The results showed that the spatial autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity declined gradually, and the distance between the clustered individuals shortened following sand dune fixation. Seedlings were more aggregated than adults in all stage of dune stabilization, and both were more aggregated on shifting sand dunes separately. Spatial associations of the seedlings with the adults were mostly positive at distances of 0–5 m in shifting sand dunes, and the spatial association changed from positive to neutral in semi-fixed sand dunes. The seedlings were spaced in an almost random pattern around the adults, and their distances from the adults did not seem to affect their locations in semi-fixed sand dunes. Furthermore, spatial associations of the seedlings with the adults were negative in the fixed sand dune. These findings demonstrate that sand stabilization is an important factor affecting the spatial patterns of A. ordosica populations in the Mu Us desert. These findings suggest that, strong association between individuals may be the mechanism to explain the spatial pattern formation at preliminary stage of dune fixation. Sand dune stabilization can change the spatial pattern of shrub population by weakening the spatial association between native shrub individuals, which may affect the development direction of desert shrubs.     

Factors influencing the natural regeneration of the pioneering shrub Calligonum mongolicum in sand dune stabilization plantations in arid deserts of northwest China

Calligonum mongolicum is a successful pioneer shrub to combat desertification, which is widely used for vegetation restoration in the desert regions of northwest China. In order to reveal the limitations to natural regeneration of C. mongolicum by asexual and sexual reproduction, following the process of sand dune stabilization, we assessed clonal shoots, seedling emergence, soil seed bank density, and soil physical characteristics in mobile and stabilized sand dunes. Controlled field and pot experiments were also conducted to assess germination and seedling emergence in different dune soil types and seed burial depths. The population density of mature C. mongolicum was significantly different after sand dune stabilization. Juvenile density of C. mongolicm was much lower in stabilized sand dunes than mobile sand dune. There was no significant difference in soil seed bank density at three soil depths between mobile and stabilized sand dunes, while the emergence of seedlings in stabilized dunes was much lower than emergence in mobile dunes. There was no clonal propagation found in stabilized dunes, and very few C. mongolicum seedlings were established on stabilized sand dunes. Soil clay and silt content, air‐filled porosity, and soil surface compaction were significantly changed from mobile sand dune to stabilized dunes. Seedling emergence of C. mongolicm was highly dependent on soil physical condition. These results indicated that changes in soil physical condition limited clonal propagation and seedling emergence of C. mongolicum in stabilized sand dunes. Seed bank density was not a limiting factor; however, poor seedling establishment limited C. mongolicum's further natural regeneration in stabilized sand dunes. Therefore, clonal propagation may be the most important mode for population expansion in mobile sand dunes. As a pioneer species C. mongolicum is well adapted to propagate in mobile sand dune conditions, it appears unlikely to survive naturally in stabilized sand dune plantations.     

毛乌素沙地沙丘土壤含水量特点——兼论老固定沙地上油蒿衰退原因

土壤表面干沙层在冬春少雨季节较厚,流动沙地的又明显地大于固和地的。流动沙地地表干沙层以下的土壤含水量一般在于同深化度固定沙地的,特别是在报系密集分布的土层。科季或早春土壤含水量比较低,雨季的明显较高,雨季结束后,土层中的水分在重力的作用下会向深层运动,导致根系层土壤含水量下降。在植物生长季,缺少降雨时,因少地的土土壤水量会因植物的蒸腾消耗而变得很低（１％～２％）,而流动沙地的不受或受此影响很小。地     

Colonization of the root zone ofAmmophila arenaria by harmful soil organisms

The role of harmful soil organisms in the degeneration ofAmmophila arenaria at coastal foredunes was examined by the growing of seedlings ofA. arenaria in soil samples collected from its root zone. Three sites, each representing a successive stage in foredune succession were examined: (1) a highly mobile dune (sand accretion of 80 cm year⁻¹) with vigorousA. arenaria, colonizing only the upper 30-cm of the annually deposited layer of sand, (2) a mobile dune with vigorousA. arenaria (sand accretion of 22 cm year⁻¹) and a 1-metre soil profile completely colonized by roots and (3) a stable dune (no sand accretion) with degeneratedA. arenaria and young roots mainly present in the upper 0–10 cm. In the upper part of the highly mobile site, the presence of harmful soil organisms was confined to the root layers and at the mobile site for all depth layers a significant growth reduction ofA. arenaria was observed due to the activity of harmful soil organisms. At the stable site, however, growth had only been reduced in some of the depth layers. At all sites newly formed roots ofA. arenaria had been colonized by harmful soil organisms within one year. If present in sand prior to root growth harmful soil organisms reduced root length and root hair formation severely and they enhanced branching of the roots. It is concluded that harmful soil organisms initiate degeneration ofA. arenaria in stable dunes by attack of the root system, which makes the plants suffer from abiotic stress.     

Evolutionary characteristics of the artificially revegetated shrub ecosystem in the Tengger Desert, northern China

The rain-fed sand-binding vegetation which stabilizes the migrating desert dunes in the Shapotou area at the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert was initiated in 1956. The shrubs initially employed were predominantly Caragana korshinskii, Hedysarum scoparium, and Artemisia ordosica, and a desert shrub ecosystem with a dwarf shrub and microbiotic soil crust cover on the stabilized sand dunes has since developed. Since 1956 the success of this effort has not only ensured the smooth operation of the Baotou–Lanzhou railway in the sand dune area but has also played an important role in the restoration of the local eco-environment; therefore, it is viewed as a successful model for desertification control and ecological restoration along the transport infrastructure in the arid desert region of China. Some of the effects of recovery from desertification and ecological restoration on soil properties are shown by the increase in the distribution of fine soil particles, organic matter, and nutrients. The physical surface structure of the stabilized sand dunes, and inorganic soil crusts formed by atmospheric dust, have also led to the gradual formation of microbiotic soil crusts. Sand dune stabilization is associated with: (1) decreased soil particle size, (2) increased total N, (3) increased thickness of microbiotic crusts, (4) increased thickness of subsoil, and (5) an increase in volumetric soil moisture in the near-surface environment. After 17 years of dune stabilization, both the number of shrubs and community biomass decreased. The number of microbes, plant species and vegetation cover, all attained a maximum after the dunes had stabilized for 40 years. There is a significant positive correlation between the fractal dimension of soil particle size distribution (PSD) and the clay content of the shallow soil profile in the desert shrub ecosystem; the longer the period of dune stabilization, the greater the soil clay content in the shallow soil profiles (0–3 cm), and the greater the fractal dimension of soil PSD. This reflects the fact that during the revegetation processes, the soil structure is better developed, especially in the upper profile. Hence, the migrating sand dune becomes more stabilized. Therefore, the fractal model can be used to describe the texture and fertility of the soil, and, along with the degree of stability of the previously migrating sand dunes, can be used as an integrated quantitative index to evaluate the revegetation practice in the sand dune areas and their stabilization.     

库布齐东段不同植被恢复阶段荒漠生态系统碳氮储量及分配格局

为科学评价植被恢复促进沙漠化逆转对碳氮储量的影响,以流动沙地、半固定沙地、油蒿固定沙地、柠条固定沙地、沙柳固定沙地5个阶段荒漠生态系统为研究对象,采用时空替代法分析植被恢复过程中荒漠生态系统碳氮储量及分配格局。结果表明:不同恢复阶段碳氮储量均表现为:流动沙地(3320.97 kg C/hm~2、346.69 kg N/hm~2)半固定沙地(4371.46 kg C/hm~2、435.95 kg N/hm~2)油蒿固定沙地(6096.50 kg C/hm~2、513.76 kg N/hm~2)柠条固定沙地(9556.80 kg C/hm~2、926.31 kg N/hm~2)沙柳固定沙地(19488.54 kg C/hm~2、982.11 kg N/hm~2)。植被层碳氮储量均呈现随植被恢复逐渐增加的趋势,除流动沙地外,其他阶段碳氮储量均以灌木层为主,占比分别为66.65%—91.41%和52.94%—93.39%,草本和凋落物占比较小。灌木各器官生物量及碳储量分配均为:茎根叶,氮储量分配无明显规律,草本各器官生物量及碳氮储量分配均为地上部分高于地下部分。土壤层是荒漠生态系统碳氮储量的主体,碳储量占比为68.64%—99.62%,氮储量占比为89.26%—99.89%,同样呈现随植被恢复逐渐增加的趋势。碳氮储量随土层加深逐渐降低,具有明显的表层富集特征,且随植被恢复过程富集性显著加强。这说明人工建植促进植被演替实现沙漠化逆转可以显著增强荒漠生态系统的碳氮固存能力。     

两类植物型沙丘上植物群落的异同及其对沙丘形态的响应

为探究相同环境条件下发育的两类植物型沙丘上植物群落的异同点,以及相异点与沙丘形态的关系,对毛乌素沙地南缘盐碱地上相间分布的抛物线形沙丘和白刺灌丛沙丘分别进行形态学、植物群落学及土壤理化性质的调查分析。结果显示:抛物线形沙丘的水平尺度虽为白刺灌丛沙丘的12-23倍,但两类沙丘上物种数相当,其植物分属12科31属39种和12科30属33种,均以菊科、藜科、禾本科、豆科植物为主(占70%以上),其中共有植物17种,群落相似度0.66;两类沙丘上的群落建群种不同,优势种的重叠度较低,抛物线形沙丘的不同部位共统计到7个植物群丛,可分为沙生植物群落和喜湿耐盐碱群落,白刺灌丛沙丘上均以白刺为建群种,油蒿、冰草、雾冰藜、沙蓬、狗尾草为主要优势种;沙丘形态造成其不同部位风沙活动及土壤水分、PH值和全盐含量的差异是两类沙丘上植物群落相异的重要影响因素。     

内蒙古浑善达克沙地97种植物的光合生理特征(英文)

 报告了内蒙古浑善达克沙地不同生境下97种不同科、属植物的光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率特征。结果表明：猪毛菜（Salsola collina）、沙米（Agriophyllum pungens）、黑沙蒿（Artemisia ordosica）、狗尾草（Setaria viridis）、柠条（Caragana microphylla）等具有C4光合碳同化途径或具固氮能力的植物种具有较高的光合能力,其净光合速率大于30 μmol CO2·m-2·s-1, 而大部分具C3途径和无固氮能力的植物种的净光合速率较低,为1.29～10 μmol CO2·m-2·s-1;71%的植物种蒸腾速率集中在2～10 mmol H2O·m-2·s-1。所选出的高光效植物种在当地植被恢复与重建过程中应有很高利用价值。C4植物种占所测植物种的1/5左右,主要分布于固定沙丘上,且随着生境土壤湿度的增大其与C3植物种的光合速率差异逐渐缩小。在3种生境条件下,灌木和草本植物的光合速率和蒸腾速率顺序为：低湿地> 滩地 > 固定沙丘(p<0.01),而乔木为固定沙丘>滩地 (p<0.01) 。不同功能型植物的气体交换特征随生境的不同而异, 在固定沙丘上, 草本的蒸腾速率最高,乔木的水分利用率最高,三者光合速率相差不大。     

库布齐沙漠南缘风沙-植被相互作用及其景观效应

干旱区尤其沙漠边缘地区的风沙与植被相互作用对塑造地表景观具有重要意义。选择库布齐沙漠南缘的油蒿灌丛地为研究区,开展了植被调查、风沙流观测和表层沉积物粒度采样测试,分析了顺风向植被盖度、风沙流结构与沉积物特征的沿程变化,探讨了风沙-植被相互作用及其对地表景观格局的影响。结果表明,风沙流与植被相互作用方式的改变使植物生长状况与地表蚀积模式发生变化,进而导致顺风向景观表现出明显的空间异质性。自上风向裸地过渡到均匀分布的新生油蒿和油蒿灌丛再至斑块状分布的灌丛沙堆,植被盖度与覆沙厚度先增大后减小,空气动力学粗糙度沿程不断增加且在过渡时其增幅最大,输沙率与沉积物粒度呈先减小后增大趋势,并在植被盖度与覆沙厚度最大处出现最小值。在沙漠边缘剥蚀高原上,起初适量风沙堆积促进油蒿定植与生长,均匀分布的油蒿灌丛进一步促进沙物质堆积,但当堆积厚度超过油蒿耐沙埋深度时发生退化,灌丛出现斑块状分布且风沙流在丘间地处侵蚀。据此,可理解为剥蚀高原风沙区景观异质性是风沙与植被相互协同与抑制作用的结果。     

浑善达克沙地榆树疏林幼苗更新空间格局

榆树疏林广泛分布于浑善达克沙地,是适应半干旱、半湿润气候的沙地植被类型.采用Ripley的K函数统计方法,分析了浑善达克沙地固定沙丘与丘间低地封育状态下的榆树幼苗空间分布及更新格局.结果表明:两种生境下榆树幼苗密度分别为88株/hm2和77株/hm2,丘间低地更适合幼苗的生长.固定沙丘和丘间低地榆树幼苗均呈聚集分布,但丘间低地的幼苗聚集强度更高.固定沙丘上榆树幼苗与成熟树种群在小尺度上呈负关联,而丘间低地幼苗与成熟树种群呈现较显著的正关联,但二者在大尺度上均无关联性.研究对揭示浑善达克沙地榆树幼苗分布、更新空间格局及其恢复保护具有重要意义.     

Effects of denudation and burial on growth and reproduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia ordosica</Emphasis> in Mu Us sandland

Plants in a dune environment have a high risk of being denudated by wind or buried by sand. We conducted a field experiment to assess growth and reproductive performance as well as biomass allocation of Artemisia ordosica after denudation and burial. Height growth decreased after denudation, but remained constant after burial; biomass was reduced by severe burial, but not by moderate ones. Vegetative growth measured by current-year generated vegetative branches declined with increasing severity of burial. Reproductive maturity was not affected by either denudation or burial, and reproduction decreased only after severe denudation. After denudation, biomass allocated to reproduction was greatly reduced, as shown by strongly reduced biomass allocation to fruits and whole reproductive branches, but that allocated to current-year vegetative growth was maintained. Biomass allocation to reproduction and vegetative growth remained rather stable after burial. Current-year reproductive-to-vegetative-biomass ratio was lower after denudation than after burial, indicating that vegetative growth was more favored by A. ordosica after denudation. These modifications are adaptive in the fluctuating environment of mobile sand dunes where denudation and burial frequently occur.     

科尔沁沙地盐蒿种群的空间分布格局及关联性

以科尔沁沙地半固定沙丘和流动沙丘两种不同沙丘上的盐蒿(Artemisia halodendron)种群为研究对象,采用空间点格局方法研究了 0～20 m尺度上盐蒿种群的空间分布格局及其关联性.结果表明,半固定沙丘上盐蒿种群的数量远大于流动沙丘,不同生长发育阶段的种群结构呈偏正态分布,属于稳定型种群;流动沙丘上不同生长发...     

人工固沙措施对沙丘沉积物特征及土壤养分的影响

为探明人工铺设尼龙网状固沙措施对风沙危害的影响,以腾格里沙漠东南部人工固定沙丘、两类自然流动沙丘以及防护林的地表沉积物和结皮为研究对象,研究沙丘不同位置、不同深度沉积物的颗粒组成、土壤有机质、有效氮、有效磷、有效钾含量等养分特征。结果表明:(1)人工固定沙丘和自然流动沙丘粒度组成和土壤养分含量都存在显著差异(P0.5),沙障的防风,固沙和土壤改良作用明显。(2)人工固定沙丘各个地貌位置沉积物粒度频率曲线均出现三峰,反映了沙障对粉尘沉积物的拦截作用,体现了沙障对土壤理化性质的改良过程;分选性随风向逐渐变差,随着粒径变细而好;偏度和峰度明显高于其他。(3)整个研究区沉积物偏碱性,影响着土壤养分含量。人工固定沙丘养分含量最高,有效氮和有机质含量均为最大,有效磷和有效钾含量略低于对比林,其粉沙物质含量与养分含量成正比。(4)人工固定沙丘的沙丘迎、背风坡均有植被分布,并覆有土壤物理结皮,沉积物粒级分配较自然发育的流动沙丘分散,养分含量增加。由此可见,沙障对沙区的土壤环境和生态环境改善具有重要的影响。     

Limiting factors for seedling emergence and establishment of the invasive non-native Rosa rugosa in a coastal dune system

The relative importance of seed, habitat and microhabitat limitation has rarely been investigated for invasive non-native species, although this is critical for their effective management and for predicting future range expansion. Rosa rugosa is an abundant non-native shrub in coastal habitats of NW Europe; it is common along the Baltic coast but more scarce in exposed dunes of the North Sea. To investigate whether invasion of exposed dunes is limited by seed, habitat and microhabitat limitation, seedling emergence and establishment were examined in a factorial sowing, transplant and disturbance experiment. Twenty plots were randomly placed in each of five dune habitats (white dune, Empetrum dune, grey dune, outer dune heath, inner dune heath), and studied over 2 years. Seedling emergence in control subplots was zero in all habitats, whereas 96% and 98% of the undisturbed and disturbed seeded subplots produced seedlings. Disturbance had a positive effect on emergence and subsequent survival in white dune, outer and inner dune heath. Seedling survival and growth, and growth of transplanted seedlings, were markedly lower in grey dune. These findings indicate that establishment of R. rugosa is seed-limited in coastal dune habitats, and that the species is able to establish in both active and fixed dunes once seeds have arrived. Although differential seedling emergence and growth indicate that habitats differ in their degree of invasion susceptibility by R. rugosa, the positive influence of small-scale disturbance suggests microhabitat limitation in some dune habitats as well. Dune management should aim to reduce seed production and dispersal of R. rugosa in near-natural sites, and anthropogenic changes of habitat dynamics should be prevented.     

Facilitation of seedling establishment by an endemic shrub in tropical coastal sand dunes

Facilitation is predicted to occur on coastal sand dunes as these ecosystems have the harsh physical conditions common during primary succession. In a tropical dune system on the Gulf of Mexico the spatial patterns of plant distribution were analyzed and the hypothesis that facilitation is the responsible mechanism was tested by monitoring changes in the micro-environment and performing a seedling planting experiment under natural conditions. Densities of seedlings and adults of late colonizer grasses were two to six times greater beneath the early colonizer shrub, Chamaecrista chamaecristoides, than in the exposed areas. Temperatures on the sand surface, wind speed and sand accretion were significantly reduced by the shade of Chamaecrista. Only phosphate contents during the dry season were significantly higher in sand in the shade than in exposed sand. In the field experiment, successful establishment of seedlings of two late colonizer grasses (Trachypogon plumosus and Schizachyrium scoparium) was low but was concentrated exclusively beneath the shrubs. The introduced plants were reproductive one year after onset of the experiment and remained vigorous after three years. The observed spatial aggregation among the target species may be a result of improved conditions in the shade of the shrub, which facilitated the survival and establishment of late colonizers. On top of the environmental amelioration, protection from recurrent disturbances such as substrate mobility is an additional beneficial effect of the shrub.     

油蒿(Artemisia ordosica)的蒸腾作用及其群落的水分状况

 本文对比研究了处于不同生境的油蒿群落中油蒿的水分生理生态特性。结果表明：(1)半固定沙丘的油蒿比固定沙丘油蒿长势好,前者的生物量约为后者的4—5倍;(2)半固定沙丘土壤导水率是固定沙丘的10倍左右;(3)叶温与气温之差和水势能较好地反映油蒿的生长状况,而蒸腾速率与扩散阻力反映不十分敏感。     

白刺沙堆退化与土壤水分的关系

近几十年来,我国西北干旱区白刺沙堆退化严重,导致固定沙丘活化,流沙掩埋绿洲,造成了严重危害。如何尽可能长期保持白刺沙堆的稳定、防止白刺沙堆活化成为绿洲保护和沙漠化防治急需解决的问题。在多年野外观察的基础上,提出了"土壤水分收支不平衡所导致的土壤水分减少是白刺沙堆退化的主要原因"的研究假设。但是,由于缺少长期的野外观测试验,这个假设一直未被很好地证明。为了证明这个假设,在甘肃民勤的绿洲外围选择了雏形、发育、稳定和死亡四个退化阶段的白刺沙堆,于2008年1月至2012年6月利用中子水分仪和土壤烘干称重法对土壤水分进行了长期观测。结果表明:各样地的土壤含水量均呈现出2008年最大,2009年和2011年次之,2010年最小的趋势。年内变化是春季土壤含水量最低,夏季逐渐增加,随后逐渐减小。在不同发育阶段,雏形阶段的土壤含水量最大,且降水容易下渗。稳定和死亡阶段的白刺沙堆土壤含水量很低,降水难以下渗,只有大的降水事件发生时,水分才可以下渗。因此,稳定和死亡阶段白刺沙堆的土壤水分经常在植物的凋萎点之下,是造成白刺沙堆退化重要原因。证明了"土壤水分减少是白刺沙堆退化的原因"的研究假设。研究结果对今后的植物固沙实践活动会有积极的参考意义。     

Seedling growth variation in response to sand burial in four <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia</Emphasis> species from different habitats in the semi-arid dune field

We compared seedling growth of four Artemisia species dominated at different habitats to determine whether interspecific seedling growth variation of a same genus in tolerance to burial can be used to explain plant distribution in the sand dune field. Interdune lowland species, Artemisia gmelinii, stabilized dune species, A. frigida, semi-stabilized dune species, A. halodendron, and active dune species, A. wudanica were selected. Seedlings grown for 3 weeks were treated at five burial depths for three burial times in pot experiments. Species from the habitats with little burial had smaller survival rate, dry weight and stem elongation speed than those from the habitats with intensive burial when buried. Furthermore, when buried, the former tended to adjust biomass allocation between shoot and root and produce adventitious buds, while the latter tended to maintain a constant root:shoot ratio and produce adventitious roots. We conclude that (1) seedlings of species with a long evolutionary history of exposure to sand burial (from the active sand dune), show quicker stem growth when buried than do seedlings of species from the habitats with little or no sand burial; (2) seedlings of species which do not change root:shoot ratio might be more tolerant of sand burial than those do; (3) seedlings of species from the habitats with intensive sand burial is prone to produce adventitious roots and seedlings of species from the habitats with little or no sand burial tend to produce adventitious buds when buried.     

沙丘微地形生境蚁丘分布特征及其对恢复过程的响应

为了阐明沙丘微地形生境蚁丘特征及分布规律对沙丘固定过程的响应规律,以科尔沁沙地为研究区,选择不同固沙阶段沙丘的4个方位（西北、东南、西南、东北）布设调查样地,测定了不同样地的蚁丘密度、直径和高度,分析了不同样地蚁丘特征及空间分布规律。结果表明：（1）流动沙丘背风向（即东南方位）蚁丘密度显著高于其他方位,但从流动沙丘到半流动沙丘,背风向（即东南方位）蚁丘密度显著低于其他方位;从半固定沙丘开始,半固定和固定沙丘微地形对蚁丘密度分布的影响较小。（2）在流动沙丘、半流动沙丘、半固定沙丘,不同微地形生境中蚁丘直径和高度均呈现出相似的分布规律,即东南方位均小于其他方位。在固定沙丘,蚁丘高度表现为东南方位亦较低,但蚁丘直径表现为西南和东北方位显著小于西北方位。（3）在流动沙丘,西北、西南和东南方位上蚁丘空间分布均表现为均匀分布型,而在半流动、半固定和固定沙丘,4个方位上蚁丘空间分布均表现为聚集分布型。（4）相关性分析表明,不同固沙阶段不同微生境下蚁丘密度、高度、直径与植物密度、多样性间的相关性不同。随着固沙阶段演替,不同微生境下蚁丘特征与植物密度、多样性的相关性增强。研究表明,在科尔沁沙地,随着流动沙丘固定和生境逐渐恢复,沙丘不同空间方位上蚁丘密度分布差异缩小,而蚁丘直径和高度仍存在沙丘微地形间显著差异性,并且蚁丘空间方位上均呈现聚集分布状态。     

Structure, Pattern and Mechanisms of Formation of Seed Banks in Sand Dune Systems in Northeastern Inner Mongolia, China

A comparison of structure and pattern of the soil seed bank was made between active and stabilized sand dunes in northeastern Inner Mongolia, China. The objective of this paper was to determine the significance of seed bank in vegetation restoration of sand dunes. The results showed that (1) average seed density decreased from stabilized sand dune to interdune lowland of stabilized sand dune, to interdune lowland of active sand dune, and to active sand dune; (2) horizontally, along the transect from interdune lowland to ecotone and to sand dune top, a ‘V’ shaped pattern was presented in the active dune system, and a reverse ‘V’ shaped pattern in the stabilized sand dune system; (3) vertically, the proportion (accounting for the total seeds) of seeds found in 0–20 mm soil profile decreased from stabilized sand dune to interdune lowland of stabilized sand dune, to interdune lowland of active sand dune, and to active sand dune. The same order was also found in 20–50 mm and 50–100 mm soil profiles; (4) the Sokal and Sneath similarity indices in the species-composition between soil seed bank and above-ground vegetation were ranked as: the stabilized sand dune (24%) > the interdune lowland of active sand dune (21%) > the interdune lowland of stabilized sand dune (18%) > the active sand dune (5%); and (5) vegetation restoration of active sand dunes depends on the dispersal of seeds from nearby plant communities on the interdune lowlands. Much effort must be made to preserve the lowlands, as lowlands are the most important seed reservoir in the active sand dune field.