StabilityRev. FCA UNCUYO. of communities 2017. 49(1): in sand-dune 105-118. ISSN ecosystems impreso 0370-4661. ISSN (en línea) 1853-8665.
The stability of various community types in sand dune ecosystems of northeastern China
Estabilidad de varios tipos de comunidad en ecosistemas de dunas en el noreste de China
Yi Tang 1, Xiaolan Li 2, Jinhua Wu 1, Carlos Alberto Busso 3 *
Originales: Recepción: 02/11/2015 - Aceptación: 31/10/2016
Abstract
The stability of artificial, sand-binding communities has not yet fully studied.i.e. A, vegetationsimilarity indexcover, wasShannon-Wiener developed to Index, evaluate biomass, the stability organic of matter, artificial Total communities N, available inP andshifting K, and and sand semi-fixed particle sand ratio). dunes. The This relative similarity weight index of these consisted indicators of 8 indicators was obtained ( using an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. Stability was compared on Artemisia halodendron Turczaninow ex Besser, Bull communities in shifting and semi- Caragana microphylla Lam. communities with different planting ages. The similarity indexes of the A. halodendron communities were 0.24 and 0.54 in fixed sand dunes, and of C. microphylla communities was 0.55, and it was reached when these communities were 20-year-old. shiftingIt is suggested and semi-fixed that A. halodendron sand dunes, communities respectively. The should peak be stability planted of preferentially in - nities should be included in planting programs. This study improved the understanding ofsemi-fixed some mechanisms to moving contributingsand dunes. Furthermore,to maintain community the planting stability, age of andartificial is critical commu for guidingKeywords the artificial planting in sand dunes. Artemisia halodendron analytic hierarchy process Caragana microphylla sand dunes stability indicators • • • • 1 School of Life Science, Liaoning University, No. 66 Chongshan Road, Shenyang (C.P. 110036), Liaoning Province, China. 2 School of Life Science, Chifeng University, No. 1 Yingbin Road. Chifeng (C. P. 024000), Province of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. 3* Departamento de Agronomía and CERZOS (Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida de CONICET) (Consejo Nacional de
Bahía Blanca (C. P. 8000), Buenos Aires, Argentina. [email protected], [email protected] Científicas y Técnicas) de la República Argentina, San Andrés 800,
Tomo 49 • N° 1 • 2017 105 Y. Tang, X. Li, J. Wu, C. A. Busso
Resumen
para La estabilidad de comunidades artificiales que contribuyen a la fijación de suelos- arenosos no se ha estudiado completamente. Se desarrolló un índice de similitud evaluar la estabilidad de comunidades artificiales en dunas móviles y fijadas media denamente. partículas Este de índice arena). de similitudLa importancia consistió relativa de 8 indicadores de estos indicadores (cobertura se vegetal, obtuvo índice utili- de Shannon-Wiener, biomasa, materia orgánica, N total, P y K disponibles, y relación- lidad de comunidades de Artemisia halodendron Turczaninow ex Besser, Bull en dunas zando un método de procesamiento jerárquico analítico (AHP).Caragana Se comparó microphylla la estabi Lam.
A.móviles halodendron y fijadas medianamente, y la de comunidades de - tivamente.de diferentes La estabilidad edades de plantación.máxima de las Los comunidades índices de similitud de C. microphylla de las comunidades de fueron 0,24 y 0,54 en dunas móviles y fijadas medianamente, respec comunidades de A. halodendron fue 0,55, la que se obtuvo cuando dichas comunidades alcanzaron 20 años de edad. Se sugiere que las se deberían plantar preferencialmente en dunas fijadas medianamente a móviles. Además, la edad de plantación de las comunidades artificiales se debería incluir en programas de plantación. Este estudio mejoró el entendimiento de algunos mecanismos que contribuyen a mantener la estabilidad de las comunidades, y es críticoPalabras para clave guiar la plantación artificial en áreas de dunas. Artemisia halodendron Caragana microphylla
• proceso analítico jerárquico • • dunas • indicadores de estabilidad Introduction
such as Artemisia ordosica, Caragana inter- attracted the attention in China. A series media, and Caragana microphylla, in arid of ecologicalSince the 1950's,engineering desertification projects were has and semi-arid desert ecosystems (17). The effects communities on ecological restoration initiated to control desertification in have been long studied.of artificial, sand-binding toChina, achieve especially sustainable in Horqin development Sandy Land, The presence of these communities can (30).where desertification Ecological restoration is a major constraint achieved gradually (1) alter the spatial distribution through ecological engineering projects is of nutrients (2, 27), increase soil fertility considered as a major useful way to deal (2, 29, 40), and affect water distribution (5, 51), resulting in changes of biodiversity and vegetation cover (57). In addition, vegetationwith desertification is one of(15). the most effective Establishment of artificial, sand-binding effectively protect the topsoil from wind in sand lands. After years of practice, erosionartificial, and sand-binding trap wind-blown vegetation materials can approximatelytechniques for 1.21 ecological million ha restoration have been from nearby areas (36). established of sand-binding vegetation
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- nities (e.g., of Artemisia halodendron, communities in arid and semiarid C. microphyllaAlthough , several or Salix artificial gordejevii commu Chang) desertstability ecosystems. of various artificial, sand-binding Succession theory can provide an Sandy Land, they have different spatial effective way to measure and compare the distributionsare established in forthese sand-binding sand dunes in (11). Horqin stability of communities. Artemisia halodendron communities According to the classical succession theory, communities succeed to a climax community with an increase in stability, dunes.often appearCaragana in microphylla semi-fixed communities and shifting even in rangelands, where grazing sand dunes, and disappear in fixed sand pressure might disrupt the succession Salix gordejevii communities mainly (37, 38). It is suggested that the climax grow on semi-fixed and fixed sand dunes. community is the one with the highest Their different spatial distributions are stability within a series of successional duedistribute to their in stabilities, semi-fixed whose sand dunes core is (28). their stages (1). resistance and resilience in the sand dune It is considered that communities are positions. How to compare the stability of stable when their stability is similar to that
Some empirical studies have community as a reference, the similarity artificial communities is not yet clear. betweenof the climax this community.and other communities Taking the climax could sand-binding communities (3). However, documented stability in artificial,- This can be achieved by comparing the tatively comparing the stability in these work as an indicator for measuring stability. most previous studies are far from quanti communities, which have the highest This is because of two major reasons: stability,similarity to between have a measureartificial andof the the stability climax artificial, sand-binding communities. - cation(1) there of stability is diversity is far from in defining reaching thean climaxof artificial communities plant communities. could be described agreement.concept of stability, According and to (2) an the inventory, quantifi usingThe a similarity similarity between index. The artificial higher and the similarity index, the higher the stability of have been reported (6). the study plant community. The similarity 163The definitions existing and information 70 stability of concepts stability index should contain indicators repre- in some major communities is based senting the structure of communities and the functioning of ecosystems (9). For example, resilience ability has been The structure of plant communities usedon different to assess definitions vegetation of that stability concept. in is commonly reported in biodiversity, richness and vegetation cover studies Land (49). In contrast to this, stability of (15, 32). Meanwhile, the functioning of Mongoliandegraded grasslandspine communities in Horqin has Sandy been ecosystems is often reported in terms of based on the assessment of survival rates, biomass, nutrient content and cycling, and life span, and the ability to resist adverse circumstances (44). The vegetation succession process Many variables are used to measure energy flow (23, 33). the stability, which represent an incon- venient at the time of comparing the is consistent with the sand dune fixing process in Horqin Sandy Land (48). Semi- fixed sand dunes are a subsequent stage
Tomo 49 • N° 1 • 2017 107 Y. Tang, X. Li, J. Wu, C. A. Busso from shifting sand dunes. Communities of Materials and methods A. halodendron appeared both in shifting Study site A. halodendron might have The study was mainly conducted in and semi-fixed sand dunes (48). This led Naiman county (42°15' N, 120°42 ' E, 345 m shiftingus to think sand that dunes. a. s. l.) and Balinyou Banner (43°12'-44°27' a higherThe dynamic stability of in plant semi-fixed communities than in is N, 118°12'-120°01' E, 1000 m a. s. l.). an important aspect of the community Naiman is located in the hinterland of the succession process. Community succession, from a successional stage to the next one, semi-arid monsoon climate, and it is in the accompanies the development of plant temperateHorqin Sandy zone. Land, The which mean has annual a continental precipi- communities. For example, the community tation is 364 mm, while the mean annual of Artemisia intramongolica changed in potential evaporation is 1920 mm (53). biomass and canopy when shifting sand Balinyou Banner is located in western
temperature is 4.9°C. The mean annual mightdunes turned be greater into semi-fixed in older and than fixed younger sand precipitationHorqin Sand is 358 Land. mm (43). Average annual dunes (20). This led us to think that stability The landscape in these two regions is Sparse elm (Ulmus pumilia L.) characterized by dunes alternating with woodlandartificial, sand-binding is an original communities. vegetation type lowland areas. The original vegetation is sparse elm woodland at the two study biggest sand lands in China (31). This sites. The current vegetation is dominated woodland,in Horqin Sandy as a climax Land, community, one of the fouris a by shrubs and herbs, such as Salix gordejevii, Artemisia halodendron, Aristida plant communities. It plays a major role adscensionis, Agriophyllum squarrosum inreference reducing to evaluate wind erosion, stability accelerating of artificial and Setaria viridis (5, 52). vegetation restoration, and increasing nutrient accumulation (12). Sampling procedures The results of this study are helpful The data used for calculation of stability for (1) elucidating stability-maintaining index were obtained from the literature. It was made by searching journal articles planting in sand dunes. and theses published before January mechanisms, and (2) guiding artificial 2014 using the Web of Science and Objectives The selection criteria were • To determine the stability of as follows: at least one of the study, target A. halodendron communitieswww.cnki.net. was measured; all the study, sand dunes. target variables were measured. in semi-fixed and shifting Study communities included sparse sand-binding communities of various elm woodland, A. halodendron, C. micro- ages.• To evaluate the stability of artificial, phylla or S. gordejevii communities. Main species in these communities are shown in table 1 (page 109). communities• To develop at a given an integrated time. index to evaluate the stability of various artificial
108 Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias Stability of communities in sand-dune ecosystems
Table 1. Major species composition of the Artemisia halodendron, Caragana microphylla, Salix gordejevii, and Sparse elm woodland communities. Tabla 1. Principales especies de las comunidades de Artemisia halodendron, Caragana microphylla, Salix gordejevii y Ulmus pumila. Communities Species composition Reference
Bassia dasyphylla, Corispermum elongatum, Cynanchum thesioides, A. halodendron Yin et al., 2006 Setaria viridis
Corispermum elongatum, Eragrostis pilosa, Salsola ruhtenica, C. microphylla He, et al., 2013 Setaria viridis
Astragalus adsurgens, Corispermum elongatum, Cynanchum S. gordejevii thesioides, Inula salsoloides, Pennisetum centrasiaticum, Li et al., 2000 Setaria viridis
Sparse elm Bassia dasyphylla, Chloris virgata, Cleistogenes squarrosa, Zuo , 2005 woodland Corispermum elongatum, Eragrostis pilosa, Lespedeza davurica, et al. Pennisetum centrasiaticum, Salsola collina, Setaria viridis
The study variables were vegetation In this study, the calculation process cover (%), biodiversity (Shannon-Wiener used to obtain the relative weight of Index), biomass (g m-2), soil organic the indicator variables followed that of matter (%) and nutrient contents [Total N Zhang et al. (2013). -1 -1), available The Analytic Hierarchy Process -1)], and sand particle ratio (AHP) methodology is an effective [(mgi.e., kgsand/(sand+silt+clay)*100,), available P (mg kg %]. The sandK (mg dunes kg types (i.e. and multi-factor problems (14). decision-makingThe AHP procedure tool to deal includes with complex three communities were located,, fixed were dunes, recorded. semi- basic steps: (1) design of the decision Timefixed dunes when andcommunities shifting dunes), were planted where hierarchy, (2) pairwise comparison of was recorded whenever it was reported. elements of the hierarchical structure, To avoid the effects of spatial heteroge- and (3) construction of an overall priority neity in soil nutrient contents (56), we rating. This AHP was used to estimate used a relative soil nutrient content as the relative weight of indicator variables, communities (i.e., the ratio of content of communities and the functioning of soilthe indicator nutrients of in soil the nutrients study communities in artificial ecosystems.which reflected Structure the structure indicators of plantwere and their adjacent regions, %). This is, soil vegetation cover, and the Shannon-Wiener nutrient content data were also recorded Index. Functioning indicators were from the adjacent regions. biomass, organic matter, Total N, available P, available K, and the sand particle from 8 theses and papers (4, 10, 16, 34, 41, ratio. After establishing the hierarchical 42, The45, 46). final A data thief included software information GetData structure (i.e., the study structure Graph Digitizer was used to extract data and functioning aspects), pairwise comparisons of indicators were judged, from figures of the selected literature (35). Tomo 49 • N° 1 • 2017 109 Y. Tang, X. Li, J. Wu, C. A. Busso and its consistency was tested with the The SI changes in the range of 0 to 1 consistency ratio (CR). Finally, the relative weight of indicators was calculated. let us assume that the value of the The Similarity Index (SI) was calculated sandin equations particle (2) ratios and in (3).the ForS. gordejevii example,,
i repre- C. microphylla, and sparse elm woodland sented the relative weight of indicator i with communities were 95.21%, 90.02%, and respectfollowing to equation the total (1), number where of indicators W
i represented the (2) to calculate the SI of the sand particle similarity in the indicators, and it was calcu- ratio91.55%, in respectively. the S. gordejevii We used community equation (n). In this equation, SI
n calculate the SI of the C. microphylla lated following equation (2) or (3). (1) community(0.9155/0.9521), (0.9002/0.9155). and equation (3) to SI ∑ SIi ×Wi i1 The SI was compared among seven communities which differed in species composition, age from planting, and stage Varic ∧ SIi = ,Varij Varic (2) A. halodendron Var ij community in shifting sand dunes; (2) A.of sand halodendron dune fixation: (1) sand dunes; (3) 6-year-old C. microphylla Varij SI= ∧ (3) community in semi-fixed i Var ic 14-year-old C. microphylla community in community in semi-fixed sand dunes; (4)
ic means the C. microphylla value of an i indicator (i.e. sandsemi-fixed dunes; sand(6) 27-year-old dunes; (5) C. 20-year-oldmicrophylla the Inc equationscommunity (2) ( i.e.and, climax(3), Var community, community in semi-fixed which is sparse elm woodland, variable=Var) in this on community in semi-fixed sand dunes; (7) ij represents the indicator of sand dunes. the current, study communities: it means sparse elm woodland community in fixed thepaper). value Var of indicator i in community j (j: communities were of A. halodendron, Results C. microphylla or S. gordejevii). i means the Relative weights of indicator i change from 1 to n (n=8), as 8 indicators variables wereIn equations used here (1), ( i.e.(2), and vegetation (3) cover, According to the hierarchy for biodiversity, biomass, organic matter, Total N, available P, available K, and the sand particle ratio). comparisonassessment of matrixes the stability were of developed artificial When the value of indicator i in (CR=0.0000<0.10).communities (figure Since 1, page the 111), obtained three community j was larger than that in CR < 0.10, a reasonable level of consis- the climax community (i.e. sparse elm tency was achieved in the pair-wise comparisons made. the value of indicator i in community j woodland), we used equation (2). When was less than or equal to that in the climax community, we used equation (3).
110 Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias Stability of communities in sand-dune ecosystems
Diversity Inde x Structure stability Vegetation cover
Community Biomass stability Organic matter Function Total N stability
Available P
Available K
Sand particle ratio
Figure 1. Figura 1. A hierarchy for evaluating the stability of artificial plant communities. Diagrama de la jerarquía para evaluar la estabilidad de comunidades vegetales artificiales. Table 2 clearly shows the relative contribution of each indicator variable to between the number of communities (4) the total weight (i.e., 1) of all indicators. andBecause the types of of communities the lack of (7), agreement species It is clear that almost 75% of the contri- in each community (table 1, page 109), bution to the total weight of all indicators was achieved by plant-related variables. type of data was obtained from, table 3 (pageand the 112), lack was of mention included on with where the infor each- mation on the sources of the used data. Table 2. Relative weight of each indicator variable for evaluating stability of Similarity Index Anytime we refer to higher than, lower Tabla 2. Importancia relativa de cada than, etc. in the following paragraph, it variableartificial (indicador) plant communities. para evaluar la refers in terms of absolute values. This is estabilidad de comunidades vegetales because the values were obtained from the available literature and as a result they were not exposed to any statistical analysis. Indicatorsartificiales. Weight Diversity index 0.3750 0.1250 Biomass 0.2405 Vegetation Cover Organic matter 0.1262 Total N 0.0343 Available P 0.0229 Available K 0.0255 Sand particle ratio 0.0506
Tomo 49 • N° 1 • 2017 111 Y. Tang, X. Li, J. Wu, C. A. Busso
Table 3. Community types and positions with their indicator variables are shown from previous research. Tabla 3. muestran de investigaciones previas. Tipos y ubicación de diferentes comunidades con sus variables indicadoras se Reference Community References Community positions Indicator variables Number types
Sparse elm Diversity index, vegetation cover, 17 Li, 2003 woodland biomass, sand particle ratio fixed-sand dunes Sparse elm Organic matter, total N, available P, 44 Zhang, 2004 woodland available K fixed-sand dunes
41 Yin, 2006 Diversity index, vegetation cover, Biomass A. halodendron sand dunes shifting-and semi fixed-
33 Wang, 2006 Organic matter, total N, available P A. halodendron sand dunes shifting-and semi fixed-
4 Cao, 2007 Available K A. halodendron sand dunes shifting-and semi fixed-
45 Zhang, 2004 Sand particle ratio A. halodendron sand dunes shifting-and semi fixed- all community ages 11 Jiang, 1982 Biomass C. microphylla mentioned in this study
Diversity index, vegetation cover, all community ages 40 Yang, 2010 organic matter, total N, available P, C. microphylla mentioned in this study available K, sand particle ratio
The similarity index of the The only exception was on the A. halodendro 27-year-old C. microphylla community on sand dunes was 0.54, which was higher n community in semi-fixed lower than that on 14- and 20-year-old page 113). communitiessemi-fixed sand of thisdunes, species where on the the SI same was than that in shifting sand dunes (figure the 2, sand dune type. 20-year-old C. microphylla community The highest SI among all seven study showedIn semi-fixed the highest sand similarity dunes, index communities was reached by the sparse
In general, the older the community, the(figure higher 2, page the 113). SI on the C. micropylla elm woodland community on fixed sand dunes (figure 2, page 113). community located in semi-fixed sand dunes (figure 2, page 113). 112 Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias Stability of communities in sand-dune ecosystems
1
0.8
0.6 S I 0.4
0.2
0 A B C D E F G
Figure 2. The Similarity Index (SI) of the A. halodendron and C. microphylla
A: A. halodendron; B: A. halodendron; C: 6-year-old C. microphylla; D: 14-year- oldcommunities C. microphylla in shifting-,; E: 20-year-old semi-fixed-, C. microphylla and fixed-sand; F: 27-year-old dunes. Communities C. microphylla were:; G: Sparse elm woodland. These communities were located in A: shifting sand dunes;
Figura 2. Indice de similitud (SI) en las comunidades de A. halodendron y C. microphyllaB to F: semi-fixed sand dunes; G: fixed sand dunes. Las comunidades fueron: A: A. halodendron; B. A. halodendron; C: C. microphylla de 6 años de edad; enD: C.dunas microphylla móviles, de o fijadas14 años en de forma edad; moderada E: C. microphylla o total. de 20 años de edad; F: C. microphylla de 27 años de edad; G: Arbustal de Ulmus pumila
esparcido. Estas comunidades estaban ubicadas en A = dunas móviles; B a F: dunas fijadas en forma moderada; G: dunas fijadas totalmente.
Discussion
It was found that the weight of This results showed that the similarity plant indicators to the total weight of index of the A. halodendron community all variables related with stability was greater than that of soil variables. Other shifting sand dunes. This is consistent with studies have reported that sand dunes previouswas greater studies in the (26), semi-fixed and supports than our in become stable when perennial plants hypothesis that A. halodendron in semi- colonize them (21). that community in moving sand dunes. fixed sand dunes has a higher stability than
Tomo 49 • N° 1 • 2017 113 Y. Tang, X. Li, J. Wu, C. A. Busso
This proportion, however, reached 14.4% of Li et al. (2007) who reported that A. in the canopy of C. microphylla after halodendronThis findings and Agriophyllum also agree squarrosum with those 21 years from planting (29). The increase in the proportion of clay and shifting sand dunes, respectively. and silt particles promotes the accumu- wereThe the diversity dominant index species and in vegetation semi-fixed lation of soil organic matter, nutrients and cover were among the most important water holding capacity (39). indicators for contributing to explain the In addition, herbs in the C. microphylla stability of the study plant communities. community also promote the cycling of These indicators imply at the same time organic matter and soil nutrients (22). an increasing need of water supply (23). Therefore, the stability of the C. micro- phylla community increased with age dunes should be more suitable for drought from its initial establishment. These results suggest that semi-fixed sand However, the similarity index was lower on 27- than on 20-year-old C. micro- layers,resistant respectively, species. Main in or A.fine halodendron roots allow phylla communities, indicating that the water uptake from deep or surface soil stability of these communities decreased and resistance to drought (47). whichAlthough increases some itspopulation water usecharacteristics efficiency (2002), reported an inverse relationship of A. halodendron might decrease in semi- betweenafter reaching biodiversity a peak. Pfisterer and the and stability Schmid i.e., single body biomass, of ecosystem functioning. This suggests canopy and height: 28), community stability that the community of C. mycrophylla increased.fixed sand dunes This increase( might be due might have increased in biodiversity after to (1): the increases in species diversity 27-year-old. and vegetation cover, proportion of clay Also, Anward Maun (2009) reported and silt particles, and soil nutrients, and that as the plant community develops from (2) regulation of the soil pH values (48). open sand dunes to more mature stages in Therefore, A. halodendron communities are the succession process, there is in general an suitable for restoring vegetation and binding increase in weathering of soil and an increase sand in moving sand dunes, especially in in silt and clay, and in the humus content. For example, Holmes (2001) reported that The stability of the C. microphylla primary succession occurs in essentially community,semi-fixed sand as dunes. measured by the SI, lifeless areas - places in which the soil is increased until it was 20-year-old, incapable of sustaining life such as newly and decreased afterwards. This partly formed sand dunes. Secondary succession supports our hypothesis that stability occurs in areas where an ecosystem that should be higher in older than younger previously existed has been removed. This
Caragana microphylla can decrease wind scale disturbances that do not eliminate all velocityartificial, through sand-binding its branches, communities. which lifetype and of succession nutrients from is typified the environment. by smaller- contributes to improve the accumulation Primary and secondary succession both of clay and silt particles in its canopy (7). create a continually changing mix of species Previous studies have reported that within communities as disturbances of the proportion of clay and silt particles is 2.6% before planting C. microphylla (30). alter the landscape. different intensities, sizes, and frequencies
114 Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias Stability of communities in sand-dune ecosystems
carefully. Artemisia halodendron commu- during succession, however, is not nities should be planted preferentially in random.The sequential At every progression stage, certain of species have evolved life histories to exploit the Furthermore, the planting age of particular conditions of the community semi-fixed to moving sand dunes. (niches). This situation imposes a partially in a planting program. For example, the greatestartificial stabilitycommunities of C. microphylla should be included commu- species composition of communities nities appeared when they were 20-year- duringpredictable succession. sequence of change in the Figure 2 (page 113), helps identify be imposed to the elder C. microphylla the process of succession in a sand dune communityold. Additional to maintain artificial its measures stability. should system. Initially only a small number of The AHP method has already been species from surrounding habitats are used in evaluating the stability of wetland capable of thriving in a disturbed habitat ecosystems, and in assessing the effects of and harsh environment. protective systems in desert ecosystems (50, 54). In this study, this method modify the habitat by altering such things was used to evaluate the stability of as As the new mineral plant composition species take of hold, the they soil. These changes allow other species that The AHP method is suitable for situa- artificial communities. - to succeed the old species. These newer tative analyses are needed. speciesare better are suited superseded, to this modified in turn, byhabitat still tionsThe where accurateness both quantitative of this and method quali newer species. As succession is a slow mainly depends on the correction of the process (and change in soil and vegetation weight estimations. We collected and synthesized data from the literature to at any one location), zonation (i.e., the evaluate the stability of communities in variationoften takes of many species tens or or communities hundreds of over years a sandy lands. particular area) is often used in sand dune This study demonstrated the usefulness of collecting and appropriately This assumption is simply based on the analyzing and interpreting ecological data factstudies that to the show dunes how nearest successions the sea can or work. coast from the literature to address answers to are young and they become progressively ecological issues. older as the distance increases inland (8). Petersen et al. (1968) reported that soil available moisture was negatively corre- Conclusions lated with increasing clay content in soils. Then, less water might be available for root The higher stability of A. halodendron C. microphylla community. Therefore, the stability of the oldest than in shifting sand dunes. This was most C.uptake microphylla in the community in this study communities was reached in semi-fixed might have decreased because of a lower and vegetation cover, and the improvement soil water availability for plant growth. inlikely physicochemical due to increases soil in properties. species diversity According to this results, the match Communities of C. microphylla reached location in sand dunes should be considered 20-year-old. between artificial communities and their a peak of stability when they were
Tomo 49 • N° 1 • 2017 115 Y. Tang, X. Li, J. Wu, C. A. Busso
It suggests that A. halodendron commu- in planting programs. This study improved nities should be planted preferentially in the understanding of the mechanisms contributing to maintain stability, and is Furthermore, the planting age of semi-fixed to moving sand dunes. in desert ecosystems. helpful for guiding the artificial planting artificial communities should be included References
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This work was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB429905), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41201052). Y. Tang thanks Prof. Hua Zhang and Associate Prof. Shanfeng He for data collection. C.A. Busso thanks (1) the sabbatical leave given by Universidad Nacional del Sur and the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfrom the de Institute la República of Applied Argentina Ecology, (CONICET), Chinese (2) Academy the Associateship of Sciences, awarded Shenyang, by China. the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)-UNESCO, and (3) housing, facilities and financial support
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