Gap dynamics of natural Populus euphratica floodplain forests affected by hydrological alteration along the Tarim River: Implications for restoration of the riparian forests

Keram, Ayjamal; Halik, Ümüt; Keyimu, Maierdang; Aishan, Tayierjiang; Mamat, Zulpiya; Rouzi, Aihemaitijiang

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2019.02.009

Cited by 37 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…As a distinct ecotone between rivers and the surrounding dryland, the riparian zone is of tremendous importance in the ecological and hydrological processes of arid regions (Newman et al, ). Although our prediction implied that the potential distribution of P. euphratica may not change as significantly as other species do in the future, climate change could still have an apparent impact on the hydrology condition of the riparian zone, which is a main driving factor of P. euphratica riparian forests (Keram et al, ). In addition, the degradation of the P. euphratica forest has been reported to cause oasis desertification and biodiversity loss in the Tarim Basin, a desert zone located in the south of the Junggar Basin (Liu, Chen, Chen, Zhang, & Li, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Responses of four dominant dryland plant species to climate change in the Junggar Basin, northwest China

Eziz

Zhang

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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AimDryland ecosystems are exceedingly sensitive to climate change. Desertification induced by both climate changes and human activities seriously threatens dryland vegetation. However, the impact of climate change on distribution of dryland plant species has not been well documented. Here, we studied the potential distribution of four representative dryland plant species (Haloxylon ammodendron, Anabasis aphylla, Calligonum mongolicum, and Populus euphratica) under current and future climate scenarios in a temperate desert region, aiming to improve our understanding of the responses of dryland plant species to climate change and provide guidance for dryland conservation and afforestation.LocationJunggar Basin, a large desert region in northwestern China.MethodsOccurrence data of the studied species were collected from an extensive field investigation of 2,516 sampling sites in the Junggar Basin. Ensemble species distribution models using 10 algorithms were developed and used to predict the potential distribution of each studied species under current and future climate scenarios.Result Haloxylon ammodendron and A. aphylla were likely to lose most of their current suitable habitats under future climate scenarios, while C. mongolicum and P. euphratica were likely to expand their ranges or remain relatively stationary. Variable importance evaluation showed that the most important climate variables influencing species distribution differed across the studied species. These results may be explained by the different ecophysiological characteristics and adaptation strategies to the environment of the four studied species.Main conclusionsWe explored the responses of the representative dryland plant species to climate change in the Junggar Basin in northwestern China. The different changes in suitability of different species imply that policymakers may need to reconsider the selection and combination of the afforestation species used in this area. This study can provide valuable reference for the management and conservation of dryland ecosystems under future climate change scenarios.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Responses of four dominant dryland plant species to climate change in the Junggar Basin, northwest China

Eziz

Zhang

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…YuLin is one of most typical vegetated areas of the MUD and has great potential as a pilot site due to its ecological stability (Li et al, 2019). Populus euphratica, a perennial woody plant with high salinity and aridity tolerance, is widely spread in Western China and adjacent Central Asian countries (Keram et al, 2019). Considering the growth habit of P. euphratica, the climatic and environmental conditions of the Yuyang District can be suitable for its growth (Shu et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metagenomics Reveal Correlations Between Microbial Organisms in Soils and the Health of Populus euphratica

et al. 2020

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“…In floodplain forests, canopy gaps may not be filled with regenerations within a short period because of high tree mortality. This leads to the continual expansion of canopy gaps (Keram et al 2019). The majority of earlier studies have focused on the mortality of gap makers and the diversity of regeneration species in other climatic zones, such as tropical, subtropical, north temperate, and cold temperate regions (Runkle et al 1987;Yamamoto, 2000;Dorotä et al 2008;Petritan et al 2013;Popa et al 2017;Zhu et al 2018;Kitao et al 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree Mortality and Regeneration in Euphrates Poplar Riparian Forests Along the Tarim River, Northwest China

Keram

Halik

Aishan

et al. 2021

Preprint

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BackgroundTree mortality and seedling and sapling recruitment are essential components of forest dynamics in arid regions, especially those with serious eco-hydrological problems. In recent decades, the mortality of the Euphrates poplar ( Populus euphratica ) along the Tarim River in Northwest China has increased. However, few studies have quantified the causes of mortality and regeneration in this azonal riparian forest type. MethodsThe present paper describes the annual hydrological response of tree mortality and regeneration in forest gaps. A total of 60 canopy gaps were investigated in six replicate grid plots (50 m × 50 m) and the annual runoff and water consumption data during the period of 1955–2016 were collected from hydrological stations along the middle reaches of the Tarim River. In addition, we compared the regeneration density of seedlings and saplings within the canopy gap areas (CGAs), undercanopy areas (UCAs), and uncovered riverbank areas (RBAs) through detailed field investigation. ResultsOur study found that the mortality of young and middle aged gap makers has increased markedly over recent decades, particularly since 1996. The main results indicated that regional water scarcity was the primary limiting factor for long-term changes in tree mortality, as shown by a significant correlation between the diameter at breast height (DBH) of dead trees and the annual surface water. The average density (or regeneration rate) of seedlings and saplings was highest in the RBAs, intermediate in the CGAs, and lowest in the UCAs. Compared with the UCAs, the CGAs promote tree regeneration to some extent by providing favorable conditions for the survival and growth of seedlings and saplings, which would otherwise be suppressed in the understory. Furthermore, although the density of seedlings and saplings in the CGAs was not as high as in the RBAs, the survival rate was higher in the CGAs than in the RBAs. ConclusionThis study shows that forest canopy gaps can play a decisive role in the long-term germination and regeneration of plant species. However, as a typical phreatophyte in this hyper-arid region, the ecosystem structure, functions and services of this fragile P. euphratica , floodplain forests are threatened by a continuous decrease of water resources, due to excessive water use for monocultural cotton irrigation, which has resulted in a severe reduction in intact poplar forests. Furthermore, the survival of seedlings and saplings is influenced by light availability and soil water at the regional scale. Our findings suggest that policymakers may need to reconsider the restoration and regeneration measures implemented in riparian P. euphratica forests to improve flood water efficiency and create canopy gaps. Our results provide valuable reference information for the conservation and sustainable development of floodplain forest ecosystems.

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Gap dynamics of natural Populus euphratica floodplain forests affected by hydrological alteration along the Tarim River: Implications for restoration of the riparian forests

Cited by 37 publications

References 57 publications

Responses of four dominant dryland plant species to climate change in the Junggar Basin, northwest China

Responses of four dominant dryland plant species to climate change in the Junggar Basin, northwest China

Metagenomics Reveal Correlations Between Microbial Organisms in Soils and the Health of Populus euphratica

Tree Mortality and Regeneration in Euphrates Poplar Riparian Forests Along the Tarim River, Northwest China

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