梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)生理与个体用水策略对降水改变的响应

随着全球变化的加剧,降水改变正导致荒漠生态系统中植物用水策略的适应性变化;对降水变化响应的种间差异性影响着荒漠植物群落组成。研究将生理生态与个体形态尺度相结合,调查中亚荒漠关键种梭梭Haloxylon ammodendron对降水变化导致的自然生境中水分条件改变的响应与适应。实验于2005年生长期开展,在古尔班通古特沙漠南缘原始盐生旱生荒漠中设置3个降水梯度（自然、双倍和无降水）;观测并比较不同降水条件下光合作用、蒸腾作用、叶水势、水分利用效率、地上生物量累积和根系分布的变化。结果表明,梭梭主要利用降水形成的浅层土壤水维持生存;有效的形态调节和较强的气孔控制是其维持光合能力以及适应降水变化的主要机制;降水增多对其产生正效应,预示着梭梭可能在未来种间竞争和群落演替中占有优势。     

梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)生理与个体用水策略对降水改变的响应

随着全球变化的加剧,降水改变正导致荒漠生态系统中植物用水策略的适应性变化;对降水变化响应的种间差异性影响着荒漠植物群落组成。研究将生理生态与个体形态尺度相结合,调查中亚荒漠关键种梭梭Haloxylon ammodendron对降水变化导致的自然生境中水分条件改变的响应与适应。实验于2005年生长期开展,在古尔班通古特沙漠南缘原始盐生旱生荒漠中设置3个降水梯度（自然、双倍和无降水）;观测并比较不同降水条件下光合作用、蒸腾作用、叶水势、水分利用效率、地上生物量累积和根系分布的变化。结果表明,梭梭主要利用降水形成的浅层土壤水维持生存;有效的形态调节和较强的气孔控制是其维持光合能力以及适应降水变化的主要机制;降水增多对其产生正效应,预示着梭梭可能在未来种间竞争和群落演替中占有优势。     

3种荒漠灌木的用水策略及相关的叶片生理表现

以新疆古尔班通古特沙漠南缘原始盐生旱生荒漠的3种建群灌木多枝柽柳(Ｔamarix ramosissima)、梭梭(Ｈaloxylon ammodendron)和琵琶柴(Reaumuria soongorica)为对象,跟踪自然降雨过程,利用LI-6400光合作用系统和Model 3005植物水分压力审测定光合作用和叶水势的变化,以研究浅层土壤水分条件改变对荒漠灌木主要叶片生理特征的影响;并在原始生境中将植株根系完整地深挖取出,进行根系形态结构调查,以确定此3种灌木根系功能型与用水策略。当浅层土壤分别处在水分充足及匮缺的条件下时．测定3种灌木的光合作用响应曲线和日过程曲线．以及黎明前和止午叶水势,结果表明：浅层土壤水分状况变化时,3种灌木的光合能力均没有显著改变;多枝柽柳的叶水势亦没有明显波动;而梭梭和琵琶柴的叶水势却表现出显著差异。在两种功能型根中,多枝柽柳为深根型,生存和乍理活动的维持主要依赖于地下水;而梭梭和琵琶柴为非深根型植物,主要水源是降水形成的浅层土壤水,其用水策略是根据水分条件行效调节根系和冠层生长,从而维持正常的光合作用。即荒漠灌木在长期适应的过样中．已形成不同的根系功能型和用水策略;叶水势对浅层土壤水分状况变化的种间差异性响应在一定程度上反映了这一点。同时．此3种荒漠灌小通过不同的个体适应策略都能够实现水分平衡和碳收支的有效调节,这主要体现为浅层土壤水分条件变化时光合响应的种间一致性。     

光合有效辐射与地下水位变化对柽柳属荒漠灌木群落碳平衡的影响

全球气候变化和人类活动的加剧, 正导致古尔班通古特沙漠南缘原始盐生旱生荒漠地区的地下水位发生显著改变。大气污染导致该地区太阳辐射减少。以盐生荒漠建群种多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)为研究对象, 选择地下水位在2.9-4.5 m波动的典型原始生境, 观测了生长期内光合有效辐射和地下水位变化时的光合作用、蒸腾作用和叶水势等生理活动的季节变化, 调查了根系分布特征; 并利用涡度相关系统测定了生态系统碳水通量, 估算群落碳同化能力、蒸腾耗水量与叶面积指数的季节变化, 旨在揭示光合有效辐射和地下水位等环境因素对柽柳属(Tamarix)荒漠灌木群落光合作用的影响。研究结果表明: 降水造成的潜土层水分状况变化对多枝柽柳的碳平衡没有显著影响。深根系与气孔调节是多枝柽柳碳平衡适应荒漠环境水分状况的两个关键机制。特殊的气孔行为体现了多枝柽柳以高水分消耗为代价将其碳获取最大化的适应对策; 多枝柽柳生理与群落尺度的水分平衡和碳获取均依赖于深根系获取的稳定地下水源, 缓和的地下水位波动将不会扰动其现有的碳/水平衡, 地下水位剧烈下降将危及多枝柽柳的生存。此外, 光合有效辐射是另一个主要影响因素, 与群落碳获取呈显著正相关关系。群落碳同化能力的季节变化是光合有效辐射和地下水位共同影响下光合作用物候学特征的体现。过度开采地下水和直接破坏原生植被的行为, 将会严重地干扰多枝柽柳群落的生存, 进而破坏该区域现有的生态水文过程。     

塔里木沙漠公路防护林3种植物光合特性对干旱胁迫的响应

利用Li-6400光合作用系统在沙漠腹地测定分析塔里木沙漠公路防护林植物梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)、多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)和乔木状沙拐枣(Calligonum arborescens)光合特性对干旱胁迫的响应,探讨了水分亏缺对防护林植物光合积累的影响作用。结果显示:沙拐枣的净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率、光能利用效率及潜在光合作用能力对水分亏缺最敏感,而柽柳则最不敏感;不同处理下3种植物光合特性变化的差异表明,不同植物对水分亏缺有着不同的响应变化和适应方式;此外,干旱胁迫未提高3种植物的水分利用效率,反而降低了其光能利用效率;C3植物多枝柽柳在干旱高温条件下保持着比C4植物梭梭和沙拐枣更为稳定的光合积累和水分利用效率,说明部分C3植物具备不弱于C4荒漠植物的干旱耐受适应能力;虽然水分亏缺对3种植物的光合作用能力均存在不同程度抑制作用,但未对其光合积累造成不可逆转的影响。可见3种植物都有很强的干旱适应与耐受能力,这种能力表明沙漠公路防护林的灌溉管理还有进一步的节水空间。     

Canopy and leaf gas exchange of Haloxylon ammodendron under different soil moisture regimes

In order to reveal the drought resistance and adaptation of the C4 desert plant Haloxylon ammodendron under artificially controlled soil moisture regimes,representative plants were selected to measure canopy photosynthesis using canopy photosynthetic measurement system.The results showed that appropriate soil moisture significantly enhances the canopy and leaf photosynthetic capacity,and extremely high soil moisture is not conducive to the photosynthesis of H.ammodendron.     

降水增加对古尔班通古特沙漠两种短命植物生长的影响

短命植物是荒漠生态系统中的重要组成部分,发挥着重要的生态功能,对其不同生长阶段形态特征及生物量积累与分配进行研究,有助于深入了解荒漠短命植物的功能特征及生存策略。本研究选取古尔班通古特沙漠2种短命植物——毛穗旱麦草和小花荆芥为对象,通过野外增水30%、50%,分析降水增加对二者不同生长阶段形态、生物量特征的影响。结果表明: 增水30%、50%均促进毛穗旱麦草植株生长,增水处理下叶面积增幅为14.2%～188.5%,繁殖器官生物量最大增幅为55.9%。增水对小花荆芥植株影响存在生长阶段的差异性,展叶期增水对小花荆芥植株生长均有促进作用,而果熟期增水50%小花荆芥叶面积、株高、繁殖器官生物量分别降低54.9%、20.5%、43.2%。两种短命植物对降水增加的响应具有物种特异性,未来降水增加可能会改变二者生存策略,进而对群落组成与结构产生影响。     

Water-use strategy of three central Asian desert shrubs and their responses to rain pulse events

Plant water-use strategy is considered to be a function of the complex interactions between species of different functional types and the prevailing environmental conditions. The functional type of a plant’s root system is fundamental in determining the water-use strategy of desert shrubs and the physiological responses of the plant to an occasional rainfall event, or rain pulse. In this current study of Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. Fl.Alt., Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A.Mey.) Bunge and Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim., three dominant shrub species in the Gurbantonggut Desert (Central Asia), plant root systems were excavated in their native habitat to investigate their functional types and water-use strategies. We monitored leaf water potential, photosynthesis and transpiration rate during a 39-day interval between successive precipitation events during which time the upper soil water changed markedly. Plant apparent hydraulic conductance and water-use efficiency were calculated for the varying soil water conditions. Our results show that: 1) The three species of shrub belong to two functional groups: phreatophyte and non-phreatophyte; 2) The photosynthetic capacity and leaf-specific apparent hydraulic conductance of the three species was stable during the time that the water condition in the upper soil changed; 3) Transpiration, leaf water potential and water-use efficiency in Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. Fl.Alt. were stable during the period of observation, but varied significantly for the other two species. Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. Fl.Alt., as a phreatophyte, relies mostly on groundwater for survival; its physiological activity is not inhibited in any way by the deficiency in upper soil water. Non-phreatophyte Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A.Mey.) Bunge and Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim. use precipitation-derived upper soil water for survival, and thus respond clearly to rain pulse events in terms of leaf water potential and transpiration. The observed similarity in leaf-specific photosynthesis capacity among all three species indicates that the two non-phreatophyte species are able to maintain normal photosynthesis within a wide range of plant water status. The observed stability in leaf-specific apparent hydraulic conductance indicates that the two non-phreatophyte species are able to maintain sufficient water supply to their foliage via, mostly likely, effective morphological adjustment at the scale of the individual plant.Section editor: H. Lambers     

Photosynthetic response of desert plants to small rainfall events in the Junggar Basin,northwest China

Small rainfall events (≤ 5 mm) have short intervals, but account for a large proportion of the annual rainfall frequency in arid lands. To explore possible strategies used by desert plants to utilize the small rainfall events, we investigated the photosynthetic responses of 28 species to 1 mm and 6 mm of simulated rainfall in the Junggar Basin, northwest China. The species were grouped into four plant functional types: short-life-cycle herbs, long-life-cycle herbs, non-phreatophyte shrubs, and phreatophyte shrubs. The results showed that the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate increased in most of the herbs, but they responded differently to the rainfall treatments. However, the water-use efficiency did not significantly differ after 1 and 6 mm rainfall treatments in most of the shrubs. The maximum water absorption by leaves and the percentage increase of a leaf water content (LWC) were higher in the herbs than those in the shrubs. Plants with dense trichomes had the highest LWC. The results suggested that the desert plants benefited from the micro-environment humidity provided by the small rainfall events.     

阜康荒漠植被灌木与半灌木种群生态位的研究

 通过测算三维生态因子梯度上阜康荒漠植被灌木与半灌木种群的生态位宽度和生态位重叠,结果表明;阜康荒漠植被灌木、半灌木按生态位宽度可分成4类,类群Ⅰ包括红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)和梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron);类群Ⅱ包括白刺(Nitraria sibirica)、盐爪爪(Kalidium foliatum)、囊果碱蓬(Suaeda physophora)、里海盐爪爪(K．caspicum);类群Ⅲ包括多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)、长穗柽柳(T．elongata)、短穗柽柳(T．laxa)和无叶假木贼(Anabasis aphylla);类群Ⅳ包括黑果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum)、粗枝猪毛菜(Salsola subcrassa)和盐节木(Halocnemum strobilaceum)。根据生态位重叠矩阵,红砂和梭梭间生态位重叠较大;盐爪爪、囊果碱蓬、里海盐爪爪、多枝柽柳、长穗柽柳间重叠较大;白刺、短穗柽柳、无叶假木贼、黑果枸杞、粗枝猪毛菜和盐节木与其它种的重叠值均较小。     

准噶尔盆地东南缘多枝柽柳、白刺和红砂水分来源的异同

荒漠生态系统中, 水是植物生长最主要的限制因子。为了比较同一生境下不同荒漠植物的水分来源特征, 选取了同一生境下的多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)、白刺(Nitraria sibirica)和红砂(Reaumuria soongorica), 测定了这3种植物茎水和各潜在水源(降水、土壤水和地下水)的氢、氧稳定同位素比率(δD和δ¹⁸O)值, 并利用IsoSource软件计算了3种植物对潜在水源的利用比例。结果表明: 红砂和白刺的茎水δD和δ¹⁸O值及其水分来源有明显的季节波动特征。其中, 红砂为浅根系植物, 春季(3-5月)以表层土壤水为主要水源, 夏秋季节(6-10月)表层土壤含水量显著降低, 其主要的水分来源逐渐偏向于较深层的土壤水; 白刺的根系分布范围介于红砂和多枝柽柳之间, 在春季能够较多地利用表层土壤水, 而到了夏秋季节, 所利用的水分更多地来源于深层土壤水或地下水; 多枝柽柳为深根系植物, 其90%以上的水分来源于深层土壤水和地下水, 而且茎水δD和δ¹⁸O值及其水分来源没有季节波动特征。3种植物水分来源特征的差异与其水分利用策略密切相关, 同时, 也说明荒漠灌木可以通过自身调节向着最优(最有利)表现型发展, 从而最大限度地获取水分。     

水分驱动下茵陈蒿(Artemisia capillaris Thunb.)地上生物量模型与异速生长特征

构建生物量预估模型,探究生物量在各器官中的分配策略和异速生长关系及其对环境因子的响应,对理解植物群落结构、功能、碳储存和分配机制具有重要意义。本研究以内蒙古荒漠草原常见种茵陈蒿(Artemisia capillaris Thunb.)为对象,在不同水分处理下,利用易测指标,如株高、基径、分枝数、冠幅和生物量等参数建立生物量模型,采用标准化主轴分析法分析其异速生长关系。结果表明:在不同水分处理下,茵陈蒿的最佳生物量预估模型的变量选择不同;不同水分处理下茵陈蒿各器官间、各器官与地上生物量间的异速生长关系不同,但相对于自然降水量,增水和减水50%下均为等速生长,这说明在不同水分条件下茵陈蒿对各器官间的资源配置存在权衡策略,符合最优分配假说;而在极端气候条件下,各器官对资源的竞争会变弱;在荒漠草原中,对草本植物进行生物量模拟,选择预测变量和方程模型时,应考虑生长季降水量。本研究可为荒漠草原草本植物生物量预估模型的建立和异速生长关系对环境因子适应的理解等提供方法支持及理论依据。     

塔里木荒漠绿洲过渡带主要种群生态位与空间格局分析

于新疆塔里木盆地荒漠绿洲过渡带设置3条样带(长900 m×宽50 m)进行植物群落调查,运用生态位测度指标和点格局法对种群空间格局、空间关联性及生态位特征进行研究。结果显示,胡杨(Populus euphratica Oliv.)、多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.)和甘草(Glycyrrhiza inflate Bat.)具有较大的重要值和生态位宽度,对其它生态位较窄的物种具有资源竞争和扩张优势,生态适应能力强,对群落结构和环境变化起决定性作用;生态过渡带植物的种间生态位重叠普遍较高,尤其是草本植物间更明显,此分配格局反映出荒漠植物长期适应旱化生境而发生趋同适应,生态位分化程度低,种间资源竞争激烈;优势种群空间格局呈明显的空间变异性,0~25 m尺度内多枝柽柳和甘草分别呈随机分布和聚集分布,胡杨种群在≤5 m尺度内呈聚集分布,并随尺度增大转为随机分布;胡杨与多枝柽柳、胡杨与甘草、多枝柽柳与甘草分别在4 m、≤16 m和≤25 m尺度内呈显著空间负关联,种间相互排斥。表明在匮乏环境资源条件下植物趋同适应与资源竞争是驱动荒漠植物群落演替和限制物种共存的主要原因。     

Characteristics and spatial heterogeneity of Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas in desert-oasis ecotones

We investigated the morphological characteristics of Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas in the desert-oasis ecotones that were located in Jinta County and Ejin, China. Also, we quantitatively analyzed the relationships among the morphological parameters, spatial pattern and spatial heterogeneity. The results indicate that (1) Most of Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas is of independent type. The average values of Nebkhas height, volume and plant canopy diameter in the Gobi are smaller than those in the desert, whereas the average values of plant height and coverage are on the contrary. All parameter values in Ejin are larger than those in Jinta. (2) There are linear relationships between the long and the short axes, and the volume and the plant canopy diameter of the Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas. The regression curve of Nebkhas height and area is parabolic, and that of the plant height and canopy diameter is parabolic in the Gobi while linear in the desert. (3) The spatial pattern shows a mosaic pattern in the Gobi, while it forms Nebkhas chain distribution along the wind orientation in the desert. (4) The spatial heterogeneity is mostly caused by the non-stochastic reason, and it is higher in Ejin than in Jinta. In addition, the conclusions indicate that the stimulative action of deep sand bury, caused by high strength aeolian accumulation, to the growth of Tamarix ramosissima and the feedback effect between Tamarix ramosissima and Nebkha are the adaptability mechanisms of Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas.     

荒漠草原植物群落结构及其稳定性对增水和增氮的响应

通过在荒漠草原开展增水和增氮野外控制试验,研究增水和增氮对荒漠草原植物群落结构、物种多样性及群落稳定性的影响。结果表明：（1）增水和增氮处理显著影响了荒漠草原植物群落结构和地上生物量,而对植物群落稳定性影响不显著（P>0.05）。增水处理显著增加了豆科和禾本科植物地上生物量（101.3%和57.9%）（P<0.05）;增水+增氮处理显著增加了植物群落盖度（43.2%）和地上生物量（112.4%）及不同功能群（禾本科和杂类草）植物盖度（75.5%和47.3%）和地上生物量（139.3%和85.7%）（P<0.05）。与增氮处理相比,增水+增氮处理显著增加了植物群落和不同功能群（禾本科和杂类草）植物高度、盖度和地上生物量（P<0.05）。（2）增水、增氮和增水+增氮处理均显著降低了植物群落Pielou指数（11.7%、8.7%和10.2%）（P<0.05）。（3）增水和增水+增氮处理提高了荒漠草原植物群落稳定性,而增氮处理降低了荒漠草原植物群落稳定性。增水处理荒漠草原植物群落稳定性效应大于增水+增氮处理。研究表明,荒漠草原植物群落结构受到氮沉降和降水增加的共同影响。增加降水对荒漠草原植物群落稳定性的积极效应可能会抵消部分氮沉降的消极影响,荒漠草原植物群落地上生物量及群落稳定性可能有所增加。     

几种荒漠植物地上生物量估算的初步研究

在调查植物样方的基础上,利用植株冠幅特征如冠幅长与宽、株高、基径、新生枝条数、总枝条数等作为变量建立了估算典型荒漠植物地上生物量的模型,利用植株冠幅长与宽所建拟合方程对估算琵琶柴灌丛生物量的精确度较高,经验证,预测值与实测值的相关系数为O．9989,相对误差在4．79％～10．12％之间利用植株株高、基径所建拟合方程对估算梭梭、多枝柽柳生物量计算值与实测值的相关系数在0.9418以上,显著性检验表明相关系数均为极显著经验证,预测值与实测值的相关系数分别为0．9902和0．9875．相对误差分别为6．87％～19．22％和7．49％～18．47％。研究表明,在大面积荒漠植物生物量研究中,利用植株冠幅特征作为变量来估算琵琶柴灌丛地上生物量方法简便可行,用来估算梭梭、多枝柽柳等灌木地上生物量时存在一定误差     

Responses of the functional traits in Cleistogenes squarrosa to nitrogen addition and drought

植物功能性状被广泛地用于研究植物对环境变化的响应。糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa)是内蒙古草原重要的C4物种,其功能性状是如何对水氮环境的变化做出响应的,还不十分清楚。该文采用盆栽实验的方法,进行氮添加(0,10.5,35.0和56.0 g·m–2·a–1)和降水(自然降水和70%平均月降水量)处理,研究糙隐子草整株性状、叶形态性状和叶生理性状对氮添加和干旱的响应。结果表明,氮添加显著影响了糙隐子草的整株性状,氮、水处理及它们的交互作用显著影响了糙隐子草的叶形态性状和叶生理性状。各功能性状对氮添加的响应格局在自然降水和干旱处理下是不同的。根深、茎生物量和茎叶比在干旱条件下低和中氮添加处理中较高,而在自然降水下无明显变化;比叶面积在干旱条件下随氮添加量的增加而增加,而在自然降水下无增加趋势;自然降水下,高氮添加显著刺激了光合速率和蒸腾速率,增加了水分利用效率,而在干旱条件下氮添加对它们没有显著影响;叶片单位面积的氮含量在自然降水下随氮添加量的增加有增加趋势,而在干旱条件下显著降低。在自然降水下,氮添加主要影响糙隐子草的叶形态和生理性状,而在干旱条件下,氮添加主要影响糙隐子草的整株性状和形态性状。总之,糙隐子草的功能性状对氮添加表现出明显的响应,响应格局在不同的水分条件下不同,反映了其对氮水环境变化的弹性适应。     

库姆塔格沙漠南缘荒漠植物群落多样性分析

 根据20个样地的调查资料,应用重要值计算多样性指数、均匀度指数、丰富度指数 、优势度指数,对库姆塔格沙漠南缘荒漠植物群落物种多样性进行分析。结果表明: 1）荒漠植物群落分布随其生境地貌不同而不同,山前戈壁上分布有合头草(Sympegma regelii)群落,冲积河道低地分布有荒漠林胡杨(Populus euphratica)、多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)、胀果甘草（Glycyrrhiza inflata）群落,戈壁沙漠过渡带为梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)群落,低海拔的沙山上分布有沙拐枣(Calligonum mongolicum)群落、膜果麻黄(Ephedra rzewalskii)群落和梭梭群落。2）荒漠植物群落物种多样性水平较低,群落结构简单,物种组成单一。群落Shannon_Wiener物种多样性水平表现为合头草群落最高（1.706）,具有草原化荒漠植被类型的成分;梭梭群落、膜果麻黄群落居中（0.875～0.890）,荒漠植被类型特征明显;沙拐枣群落、胡杨群落、多枝 柽柳群落、胀果甘草群落较低（0.079～0.495）,荒漠林、盐地沙生灌丛及盐化草甸植被均有零星分布。3）荒漠植物群落结构层次中,灌木层占居主导地位,群落灌木层物种多样性水平（0.769～1.451）远远大于草本层（0.193～0.254）,且草本层物种多样性受灌木层影响较大。4）荒漠植物群落物种多样性分布格局表现为经向、纬向和海拔梯度的变化,经向、纬向变化为物种多样性水平较高的草原化植物合头草群落（1.706）向物种多样性水平较低的荒漠植物梭梭群落（1.379）和盐化植物多枝柽柳群落（0.376）的过渡,海拔梯度则 呈现低水平的沙拐枣群落（0.819）到高水平的膜果麻黄群落（0.890）向低水平的梭梭群落 （0.645）变化。荒漠植物群落过渡地带一般具有较高的物种多样性和较低的生态优势度。     

Characteristics and spatial heterogeneity of Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas in desert-oasis ecotones

We investigated the morphological characteristics of Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas in the desert-oasis ecotones that were located in Jinta County and Ejin, China. Also, we quantitatively analyzed the relationships among the morphological parameters, spatial pattern and spatial heterogeneity. The results indicate that (1) Most of Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas is of independent type. The average values of Nebkhas height, volume and plant canopy diameter in the Gobi are smaller than those in the desert, whereas the average values of plant height and coverage are on the contrary. All parameter values in Ejin are larger than those in Jinta. (2) There are linear relationships between the long and the short axes, and the volume and the plant canopy diameter of the Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas. The regression curve of Nebkhas height and area is parabolic, and that of the plant height and canopy diameter is parabolic in the Gobi while linear in the desert. (3) The spatial pattern shows a mosaic pattern in the Gobi, while it forms Nebkhas chain distribution along the wind orientation in the desert. (4) The spatial heterogeneity is mostly caused by the non-stochastic reason, and it is higher in Ejin than in Jinta. In addition, the conclusions indicate that the stimulative action of deep sand bury, caused by high strength aeolian accumulation, to the growth of Tamarix ramosissima and the feedback effect between Tamarix ramosissima and Nebkha are the adaptability mechanisms of Tamarix ramosissima Nebkhas.     

Early growth,dry matter allocation and water use efficiency of two sympatric Populus species as affected by water stress

We exposed cuttings of two sympatric species of Sect. Tacamahaca Spach, Populus cathayana Rehder and Populus przewalskii Maximowicz, to two watering regimes in a greenhouse. In the semi-controlled environmental study, two watering treatments which were watered to 100 and 25% of field capacity were used, respectively. The effects of water deficit on early growth, biomass allocation and water use efficiency (WUE) were investigated. We found that there were significant interspecific differences in early growth, dry matter allocation and water use efficiency between two sympatric Populus species. Compared with P. cathayana, P. przewalskii showed higher shoot height, dry matter accumulation, number of leaves, total leaf area, fine root mass, fine root/total root ratio and water use efficiency under both well-watered and water-stressed treatments. On the other hand, P. przewalskii also showed higher root mass/foliage area ratio, root/shoot ratio and carbon isotope composition than P. cathayana under water-stressed treatment. The results suggested that there were different water-use strategies between two sympatric Populus species, P. przewalskii with higher drought tolerance may employ a conservative water-use strategy, whereas P. cathayana with lower drought tolerance may employ a prodigal water-use strategy. The findings confirm the existence of interspecific genetic differences in early growth, dry matter allocation and water use efficiency as affected by water stress, these variations in drought responses may be used as criteria for species selection and tree improvement.