Stable oxygen-hydrogen isotopes reveal water use strategies of Tamarix taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert,China

Tamarix taklamakanensis,a dominant species in the Taklimakan Desert of China,plays a crucial role in stabilizing sand dunes and maintaining regional ecosystem stability.This study aimed to determine the water use strategies of T.taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert under a falling groundwater depth.Four typical T.taklamakanensis nabkha habitats(sandy desert of Tazhong site,saline desert-alluvial plain of Qiemo site,desert-oasis ecotone of Qira site and desert-oasis ecotone of Aral site)were selected with different climate,soil,groundwater and plant cover conditions.Stable isotope values of hydrogen and oxygen were measured for plant xylem water,soil water(soil depths within 0–500 cm),snowmelt water and groundwater in the different habitats.Four potential water sources for T.taklamakanensis,defined as shallow,middle and deep soil water,as well as groundwater,were investigated using a Bayesian isotope mixing model.It was found that groundwater in the Taklimakan Desert was not completely recharged by precipitation,but through the river runoff from snowmelt water in the nearby mountain ranges.The surface soil water content was quickly depleted by strong evaporation,groundwater depth was relatively shallow and the height of T.taklamakanensis nabkha was relatively low,thus T.taklamakanensis primarily utilized the middle(23%±1%)and deep(31%±5%)soil water and groundwater(36%±2%)within the sandy desert habitat.T.taklamakanensis mainly used the deep soil water(55%±4%)and a small amount of groundwater(25%±2%)within the saline desert-alluvial plain habitat,where the soil water content was relatively high and the groundwater depth was shallow.In contrast,within the desert-oasis ecotone in the Qira and Aral sites,T.taklamakanensis primarily utilized the deep soil water(35%±1%and 38%±2%,respectively)and may also use groundwater because the height of T.taklamakanensis nabkha was relatively high in these habitats and the soil water content was relatively low,which is associated with the reduced groundwater depth due to excessive water resource exploitation and utilization by surrounding cities.Consequently,T.taklamakanensis showed distinct water use strategies among the different habitats and primarily depended on the relatively stable water sources(deep soil water and groundwater),reflecting its adaptations to the different habitats in the arid desert environment.These findings improve our understanding on determining the water sources and water use strategies of T.taklamakanensis in the Taklimakan Desert.     

Seasonal changes in the water-use strategies of three herbaceous species in a native desert steppe of Ningxia,China

Frequent periods of drought conditions are known to limit plant performance,primary production,and ecosystem stability in arid and semi-arid desert steppe environments.Plants often avoid competition by shifting their water use seasonally,which affects the water-use patterns of dominant species as well as the composition and structure of plant communities.However,the water-use strategies of dominant herbaceous species,which grow under natural field conditions in the desert steppe region of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China,are poorly known.Here,we explored the possible sources of water uptake and water-use efficiency(WUE)of three dominant herbaceous plant species(Stipa breviflora,Agropyron mongolicum,and Glycyrrhiza uralensis)in a native desert steppe in the semi-arid area of Ningxia through an analysis of multiple parameters,including(1)the stable isotopic oxygen and hydrogen(δ18O andδ2H)compositions of precipitation,soil water,and stem water,(2)the carbon isotope(13C)composition of leaves,and(3)the soil water contents,based on field sampling across varying water conditions from June to September,2017.Frequent small precipitation events replenished shallow soil water,whereas large events only percolated down to the deep soil layers.Changes in soil water availability affected the water-use patterns of plants.Generally,during light precipitation periods,the deep root system of G.uralensis accessed deeper(>80 cm)soil water,whereas S.breviflora and A.mongolicum,which only have shallow roots,primarily absorbed water from the shallow and middle soil layers.As precipitation increased,all three plant species primarily obtained water from the shallow soil layers.Variation in soil water uptake between the dry and wet seasons enabled plants to make better use of existing satoil water.In addition,theδ13C values of G.uralensis and S.breviflora were higher than those of A.mongolicum.Theδ13C values of the three plant species were significantly negatively correlated with soil water content.Therefore,G.uralensis and S.breviflora maintained a higher WUE through their conservative and water-saving strategies across the entire growing season.In contrast,A.mongolicum,with a relatively low WUE in the wet season but a high WUE in the dry season,exhibited a more flexible water-use strategy.The different water-use strategies of these dominant plant species demonstrated the mechanisms by which plant communities can respond to drought.     

绿洲开发与绿洲荒漠化研究

本文着重讨论了绿洲开发和绿洲内存在的各种荒漠化形式后 ,探讨了绿洲荒漠化的成因以及荒漠化对绿洲生态系统的影响 ,得出 :绿洲荒漠化主要是由于人类不合理的开发引起的 ;荒漠化严重危及绿洲系统的正常运作 ;最后 ,就绿洲景观生态安全格局给出适当的设计 ,希望绿洲内部的人类活动能以保护生态平衡为前提 ,以实现对资源的永续利用     

民勤绿洲外围不同立地类型黑果枸杞种群分布格局

通过测定石羊河下游民勤绿洲外围4个不同立地类型黑果枸杞群落植被特征和黑果枸杞株数、株高、冠幅等生物学特征,以及黑果枸杞分布格局的点坐标,采用空间点格局分析方法中的Ripley’s K函数,分析了民勤绿洲外围不同立地类型上黑果枸杞空间分布格局。结果表明:(1)4个不同立地类型中植被物种数为:砾石地﹥盐碱地﹥固定或半固定沙丘地、覆沙地,植物群落结构比较简单,存在多个科单属单种现象。(2)黑果枸杞株数在盐碱地中最多,覆沙地次之,固定或半固定沙丘地和砾石地中最少;而平均株高由高到低依次是固定或半固定沙丘地、盐碱地、覆沙地、砾石地;平均冠幅分布与平均株高类似。(3)在4个样地中,固定或半固定沙丘地和砾石地中的黑果枸杞呈现聚集分布;覆沙地中,黑果枸杞在较小尺度(0.2~0.5 m)呈现聚集分布,在较大尺度(1.5~2.5 m)呈现随机分布;盐碱地中,黑果枸杞种群表现为完全的随机分布。     

荒漠区一年生植物层片的组织格局与生态适应模式

在阿拉善荒漠及其邻近地区 ,有多种一年生植物种群可组成荒漠与绿洲生态系统的恒有性植物层片。本项研究利用样地调查与统计资料 ,取得了多种一年生植物层片物种组成的研究结果 ;在吉兰泰盐湖地区、腾格里沙漠东南部、雅布赖低山区、孪井滩地区、祁连山山麓、额济纳绿洲等地 ,对一年生植物种群生物产量的季节与年度间的波动性进行了调查和测定 ,并与相关的气象资料做了比对分析 ,获得了气候年、季变化与一年生植物层片动态的相关性认识。据此 ,划分了一年生植物层片的生态类型。荒漠与绿洲生态系统中 ,主要的一年生植物层片有 :.荒漠夏雨型一年生禾草类植物层片 ,荒漠一年生杂草类植物层片 ,沙漠一年生沙生植物层片 ,盐漠一年生盐生植物层片 ,绿洲草甸一年生植物层片 ,绿洲胡杨林一年生植物层片 ,柽柳灌丛一年生植物层片 ,绿洲农田一年生杂草植物层片等。多数一年生植物种是在荒漠优势植物株丛间的裸斑土壤种子库中 ,有丰富的种子储备 ,利用夏季较为集中的降雨迅速萌发生长到结实 ,完成一个短暂的生活周期。也有些一年生植物在沙质土、盐渍土、草甸土等特异性生境中各自具有有效的生态适应机制 ,组成沙漠、盐漠、绿洲林地与草地的一年生植物层片。这些一年生植物层片的组织格局 ,生态适应模式 ,生态功能     

Community structure and carbon and nitrogen storage of sagebrush desert under grazing exclusion in Northwest China

Overgrazing is regarded as one of the key factors of vegetation and soil degradation in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China.Grazing exclusion(GE)is one of the most common pathways used to restore degraded grasslands and to improve their ecosystem services.Nevertheless,there are still significant controversies concerning GE’s effects on grassland diversity as well as carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)storage.It remains poorly understood in the arid desert regions,whilst being essential for the sustainable use of grassland resources.To assess the effects of GE on community characteristics and C and N storage of desert plant community in the arid desert regions,we investigated the community structure and plant biomass,as well as C and N storage of plants and soil(0-100 cm depth)in short-term GE(three years)plots and adjacent long-term freely grazing(FG)plots in the areas of sagebrush desert in Northwest China,which are important both for spring-autumn seasonal pasture and for ecological conservation.Our findings indicated that GE was beneficial to the average height,coverage and aboveground biomass(including stems,leaves and inflorescences,and litter)of desert plant community,to the species richness and importance values of subshrubs and perennial herbs,and to the biomass C and N storage of aboveground parts(P<0.05).However,GE was not beneficial to the importance values of annual herbs,root/shoot ratio and total N concentration in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil layers(P<0.05).Additionally,the plant density,belowground biomass,and soil organic C concentration and C storage in the 0-100 cm soil layer could not be significantly changed by short-term GE(three years).The results suggest that,although GE was not beneficial for C sequestration in the sagebrush desert ecosystem,it is an effective strategy for improving productivity,diversity,and C and N storage of plants.As a result,GE can be used to rehabilitate degraded grasslands in the arid desert regions of Northwest China.     

Water-use efficiency in response to simulated increasing precipitation in a temperate desert ecosystem of Xinjiang,China

Water-use efficiency(WUE) is a key plant functional trait that plays a central role in the global cycles of water and carbon. Although increasing precipitation may cause vegetation changes, few studies have explored the linkage between alteration in vegetation and WUE. Here, we analyzed the responses of leaf WUE, ecosystem carbon and water exchanges, ecosystem WUE, and plant community composition changes under normal conditions and also under extra 15% or 30% increases in annual precipitation in a temperate desert ecosystem of Xinjiang, China. We found that leaf WUE and ecosystem WUE showed inconsistent responses to increasing precipitation. Leaf WUE consistently decreased as precipitation increased. By contrast, the responses of the ecosystem WUE to increasing precipitation are different in different precipitation regimes: increasing by 33.9% in the wet year(i.e., the normal precipitation years)and decreasing by 4.1% in the dry year when the precipitation was about 30% less than that in the wet year.We systematically assessed the herbaceous community dynamics, community composition, and vegetation coverage to explain the responses of ecosystem WUE, and found that the between-year discrepancy in ecosystem WUE was consistent with the extent to which plant biomass was stimulated by the increase in precipitation. Although there was no change in the relative significance of ephemerals in the plant community, its greater overall plant biomass drove an increased ecosystem WUE under the conditions of increasing precipitation in 2011. However, the slight increase in plant biomass exerted no significant effect on ecosystem WUE in 2012. Our findings suggest that an alteration in the dominant species in this plant community can induce a shift in the carbon-and water-based economics of desert ecosystems.     

民勤黑果枸杞形态学特征与土壤因子的关系

通过对民勤绿洲外围4种不同立地类型黑果枸杞群落物种组成、生长特征、土壤因子等的调查,分析不同立地类型土壤因子对黑果枸杞生长的影响。结果表明:①不同立地类型黑果枸杞群落物种结构简单,共出现12科24属28种,存在多个单属单科单种现象,多为适应干旱盐碱化的藜科、蒺藜科植物,无乔木和高大灌木,黑果枸杞在不同立地类型中优势地位明显。②黑果枸杞群落丰富度指数砾石地高于盐碱地、覆沙地及固定或半固定沙丘地(P<0.05);多样性指数砾石地高于盐碱地,盐碱地高于覆沙地及固定或半固定沙丘地(P<0.05)。③不同立地类型黑果枸杞密度表现为:盐碱地>覆沙地>固定或半固定沙丘地>砾石地。株高表现为:固定或半固定沙丘地>盐碱地>覆沙地>砾石地。冠幅表现为:固定或半固定沙丘地>盐碱地>砾石地>覆沙地。④土壤速效钾、有效磷、全磷及有机质含量均为盐碱地显著高于其他3个立地类型(P<0.05),全钾、全氮含量在4种不同立地类型之间差异性不显著(P>0.05)。不同土层中土壤因子变化规律不同。⑤土壤水分随土层深度的增加变化趋势不同,砾石地和固定或半固定沙丘地中土壤含水率随土层深度的增加而增加,覆沙地随土层深度的增加呈现波动变化,盐碱地随土层深度的增加变化不大。⑥黑果枸杞的生长状况和形态学特征株高、冠幅等受土壤水分、土壤氮、磷、钾及有机质等土壤因子的影响和制约,且10~20 cm土层深度土壤因子影响最为密切。     

Influence of edaphic factors on plant distribution and diversity in the arid area of Xinjiang,Northwest China

The influence of edaphic factors on plant distribution is essential to community ecology and important for vegetation restoration and management in arid ecosystems. In this study, desert plant distribution and diversity as well as soil water, salinity, and nutrients were measured in the Ebinur Lake Wetland Nature Reserve (ELWNR) in arid Northwest China. We determined relationships between plant distribution and soil factors along a transect with increasing distance from the river and created optimal models using soil factors to explain variations in plant diversity. In general, soil factors decreased with increasing distance from the river. Soil volumetric water content (SVWC), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) were closely related to plant distribution. According to canonical correspondence analysis, plants along the transect were divided into three groups: saline–alkaline tolerant, drought tolerant, and high P-demanding. SVWC, pH, soil organic carbon (C), N, P, and S account for 93.8% of the variations in plant diversity in the ELWNR. Compared with other soil factors, S explained the largest percentage of variations in diversity when single soil variables were considered in generalized additive models (R²?=?38.9%). Our results suggest increases in soil pH, P, N, and S would improve plant diversity significantly. We found differences among species groups in preference for habitat, and N and S content had a significant positive effect of on plant diversity, providing a scientific reference for plant restoration and saline soil remediation in desert ecosystems.     

Water utilization of typical plant communities in desert steppe,China

Water is a limiting factor in the restoration and construction of desert steppe. Exploring plant water sources is necessary to understand soil-plant interactions and species coexistence; however, water sources of major plant communities within the desert steppe of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the water uptake of plants in four typical communities: Agropyron mongolicum Keng.; Sophora alopecuroids Linn.; Stipa breviflora Griseb., and Achnatherum splendens (Trin.) Nevski communities. Stable isotopes δD and δ¹⁸O in the xylem of plant and soil water at different soil depths were analyzed. An IsoSource model was used to determine the soil depths from which plants obtained water. Results showed that A. mongolicum community obtained water predominantly from 0-20 and 40-80 cm depth, S. alopecuroids community from 0-20 cm depth, S. breviflora community from 0-40 cm depth, and A. splendens community from 0-20 and 80-140 cm depths. S. alopecuroides had a wider range of soil depths for water extraction, i.e., utilizing different water sources depending on habitat, and the plasticity of its water uptake pattern determined its role in different communities. Water source of plants relayed heavily on the distribution of their roots. Competition for soil water exists between different plant life forms in the sierozem habitat (A. mongolicum, S. alopecuroids, and S. breviflora communities), and in the sandy soil habitat (A. splendens community). The use of soil water by A. splendens community is more spatially differentiated, and shrubs and herbs can coexist stably. Under the pattern of extended drought period in the future, sierozem habitat may be more favorable for the formation of a dominant monoculture community type of perennial fibrous plants. In aeolian sandy soil habitat, A. splendens had a strong competitive advantage, and the growth of shallow-rooted plants was easily suppressed.     

张掖绿洲冷岛效应时空格局的遥感分析

地表温度是生态系统中极其重要的环境因子,中小尺度区域的热量资源和热场分布对绿洲冷岛效应的研究以及评价绿洲的稳定性具有重要意义。利用LandsatTM卫星影像,采用单窗算法,反演了张掖绿洲1999年和2007年两个时期的陆地表面温度(LST),构建了绿洲"冷岛"比例指数,定量分析了张掖地区近8年来绿洲冷岛效应的时序变化,并且通过对张掖热场的分析,揭示了冷岛效应的空间变化特点。结果表明:①张掖绿洲冷岛效应明显,但近8年来有减弱的趋势;②南北向绿洲内部和荒漠内部温度差异均在减小,城区温差在扩大;东西向绿洲内部和城区内部温度差异均在减小,荒漠温差在扩大;③水体、耕地、草地、建设用地和林地的平均LST有所降低,荒漠等未利用土地LST有所升高,其中建筑用地的LST减幅最大。为研究绿洲的光、热、水、土的空间分布及区域变化,评价绿洲的稳定性提供了一种新的角度,同时对绿洲与荒漠之间的大气物理模型及动力学有一定参考意义。     

Water use traits and survival mechanisms of psammophytes in arid ecosystems

A combination of dune-scale observation to distinguish psammophyte distribution, field experiments to determine gradients of soil moisture and physicochemical properties, and controlled quantitative manipulation for psammophytes water use traits was employed to study an arid desert margin area in China. This study aims to: (1) interpret the survival mechanisms of plants in arid desert ecosystems, especially for pioneer species; (2) interpret the links among distribution pattern, stress-gradients, and water use traits; (3) discuss the mechanisms and probable succession processes under natural fixation for artificial ecosystem rehabilitation; and (4) discuss the possibility of recognizing quantified water use traits as a predictor to compare the variations in adaptability among different species. We classified seven psammophytes into three major types in terms of water use: prodigal, moderate, and frugal plants. Results showed that vegetation cover of all the dominant species, including shrubs and herbs, was negatively correlated with diurnal transpiration at rhizosphere moisture (P < 0.01, R² = 0.94). Herbaceous pioneer species (e.g., Agriophyllum squarrosum) survive harsh environments (shifting, hot and arid surface of dunes) by prodigal water use (high transpiration rate), low species cover, and fast production (high water use efficiency, which peaks at low soil moisture). By contrast, intrusive species (e.g., Eragrostis poaeoides) behaved as frugal plants to survive drought, thereby maintaining high vegetation cover and biomass, as well as soil water equilibration.     

荒漠植物根系吸水的数学模型

关于土壤 -植物 -大气连续统 ( SPAC)的研究是当前热点之一 ,研究该连续统 ,土壤水分是联结纽带。土壤水分通过植物根系和土面蒸发进入大气从而使三者成为一连续统。植物根系吸水是把土壤中水分输送入大气的关键形式 ,搞清植物吸水模式将为认识 SPAC奠定基础。目前研究植物根系吸水模式的文章很多 ,按其研究对象来说 ,主要是农作物研究 ;按研究区域来说 ,主要为降水条件充足的区域。目前研究干旱荒漠区天然植物的根系吸水模式还没有 ,本文就此研究了中国干旱内陆荒漠区的多年生小灌木 (以苦豆子 ( Sophora alopecuroides)为例 )的根系吸水模式     

干旱区荒漠景观植被自然更新机制初探

根据实地调查和参阅资料,依山前洪积扇、河流沿岸阶地、沙丘及丘间低地、戈壁、盐沼的景观斑块,探讨干旱区荒漠植被的自然更新机制。干旱区的高温干燥、温差强烈、风蚀沙埋已变为植物繁衍后代的动力;萌孽、劈裂、地下茎萌生等多种繁殖方式,使荒漠植物在严酷的条件下实现自然更新,形成以母株为中心的母系居群。地貌形态和种子传播动力决定了群落外形。在干旱区,繁殖植物的种子成熟期与年内的丰水期相吻合,有利于植被更新：只有在连续2a降水较大时（超过多年平均降水量）,沙丘和丘间地、戈壁植被的自然更新才有可能发生。河流沿岸植被的自然更新受地下水影响最明显。湖盆盐碱地植被带有水生植被的痕迹,自然更新相对较难。景观斑块镶嵌分布,形成微环境均一的廊道,有利于植被的自然更新。     

莫索湾一五○团农场绿洲生态环境的基本情况及其保护

150团农场是一个经过人工改造、加工,并受人类支配的绿洲生态系统。它位于天山北侧,准噶尔盆地西南缘,莫索湾垦区的西北隅。1958年建场,至今仅30余年,也是该垦区深入古尔班通古特沙漠最深远的一个年轻人工绿洲。由于所处地理环境、发展历史及生态分布格局,这片绿洲有其本身的特点,也有准噶尔盆地南部沙漠边缘一些人工绿洲的许多共同之处,因此研究其生态环境,对认识沙漠边缘绿洲的特点,存在问题,制订绿洲的保护和建设的战略,均具有一定的理论价值和实际意义。     

生物土壤结皮结构、功能及人工恢复技术

生物土壤结皮作为典型的有机地被层,广泛分布在干旱半干旱地区.由于其具有良好的水土保持及土壤稳定等功能,可有效控制土地沙漠化,防治水土流失,因此,生物土壤结皮恢复被看作是荒漠生态系统修复和重建的关键.本文系统综述了国内外学者在生物结皮领域开展的研究工作,包括生物土壤结皮的生物组成、演替过程、生态功能、干扰响应、人工培育及...     

河西走廊荒漠化区域景观动态及变化机理分析

应用马尔科夫模型法 ,对河西走廊荒漠化区域景观动态及变化机理进行分析研究 ,结果表明 :河西走廊的景观基质以沙漠和戈壁为主 ,在过去近半个世纪里没有发生根本性变化 ;各景观要素的斑块大小及变化特点是戈壁、流动沙地和半固定沙地等类型的平均斑块面积较大 ,且呈增大态势。而林地、固定沙地、水域和耕地等类型的平均斑块面积较小 ,并且呈减小态势 ;1 949～ 1 995年 ,景观要素转化速率较高的类型主要为耕地、草地、林地、固定沙地和半固定沙地 ,主要的转化形式有流动沙地与固定沙地、半固定沙地间的相互转化 ,盐碱地、耕地、草地、固定沙地、水域等向半固定沙地的转化 ,草地和水域向固定沙地的转化 ,各种不同土地类型向潜在沙化土地转化 ,以及耕地、林地、草地三者之间的相互转化。景观动态表明 ,该区域土地退化极易发生 ,而生态恢复则相对困难 ,区域景观格局总体上呈现向荒漠化方向发展态势。     

Responses of Amygdalus pedunculata Pall. in the sandy and loamy soils to water stress

Amygdalus pedunculata Pall. is a major species that is widely planted in afforested soils with different textures in the transitional zone between Mu Us Desert and Loess Plateau, China. However, the responses of A. pedunculata to increasing intensity of water stress in different textural soils are not clear. Here, we conducted a soil column experiment to evaluate the effects of different textures (sandy and loamy) on water consumption, water use efficiency (WUE), biomass accumulation and ecological adaptability of A. pedunculata under increasing water stress, i.e., 90% (±5%) FC (field capacity), 75% (±5%) FC, 60% (±5%) FC, 45% (±5%) FC and 30% (±5%) FC in 2018. A. pedunculata grown in the sandy soil with the lowest (30% FC) and highest (90% FC) water contents had respectively 21.3%-37.0% and 4.4%-20.4% less transpiration than those with other water treatments (45%-75% FC). In contrast, A. pedunculata transpiration in the loamy soil decreased with decreasing water content. The magnitude of decrease in transpiration increased with increasing level of water deficit (45% and 30% FC). Mean daily and cumulative transpirations of the plant were significantly lower in the sandy soil than in the loamy soil under good water condition (90% FC), but the reverse was noted under water deficit treatments (45% and 30% FC). Plant height, stem diameter and total biomass initially increased with decreasing water content from 90% to 75% FC and then declined under severe water deficit conditions (45% and 30% FC) in the sandy soil. However, these plant parameters decreased with decreasing water content in the loamy soil. WUE in the sandy soil was 7.8%-12.3% higher than that in the loamy soil, which initially increased with decreasing water content from 90% to 75% FC and then declined under water deficit conditions (45% and 30% FC). The study showed that plant transpiration, biomass production and WUE responded differentially to increasing intensity of water stress in the sandy and loamy soils. The contrasting responses of A. pedunculata to water stress in different textural soils can guide future revegetation programs in the northern region of Chinese Loess Plateau by considering plant adaptability to varying soil and water conditions.     

古尔班通古特沙漠边缘春秋季沙丘水分状况初步研究

古尔班通古特沙漠边缘植被破坏严重,沙丘活化明显,是新疆干旱区植被恢复的重点地区之一,当地降水稀少,其沙丘的水分状况便成为植被生存和恢复过程的关键条件,为掌握古尔班通古特沙漠边缘流动沙丘和固定沙丘不同部位的水分状况,从2003年3月到10月植物生长期内利用中子仪进行连续监测的结果表明:沙丘含水量月变化与月降水量分布相一致;流动沙丘0-30cm的含水量低于固定沙丘,而其它各层都高于固定沙丘;流动沙丘含水量从上部到下部依次升高,而固定沙丘则并无此规律;流动沙丘中部和下部稳定湿沙层处在距沙丘表面60cm以下,且厚度超过100cm,固定沙丘稳定湿沙层只存在于沙丘中部距沙丘表面60~150cm深度范围内,其厚度不超过100cm。     

内蒙古沙生植物的区系特征

内蒙古有沙生植物48科,177属,378种,50变种,其中荒漠区的沙生植物39科,122属,213种,草原区46科,158属,309种,表现出草原区的沙生植物更为丰富。科属组成上,是以豆科、菊科、藜科、禾本科为主,蒿属、虫实属、棘豆属、黄芪属为含沙生种类较多的属。生活型从种数上虽均以多年生草本为主,其次为一、二年生草本,但灌木与半灌木在群落中常具有重要的作用,尤其是在荒漠区,成为植被的基本层片。水分生态类型较为贫乏,以旱生为主,中生占有一定比例。区系地理成分上,荒漠区以蒙古成分和戈壁成分为主,草原区以蒙古成分和东亚成分为主,而温带成分均具有较大的比例,反映出地理位置及与周边地区的联系。