Community Structure and Diversity Distribution Pattern of Sandy Plants in the Middle and Upper Reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River

doi:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2021.01.002

Abstract

Abstract:

The Yarlung Zangbo River Basin is an important populated area in Tibet, and its plant community structure and diversity pattern have attracted the attention of many scholars. In this paper, the distribution pattern of plant diversity and the environmental factors impacting it in the middle and upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River are revealed and discussed through sample surveys and climate and habitat data. The results show that the plant communities in the study area can be divided into seven types according to the dominant species: Artemisia minor + Stipa purpurea, Artemisia wellbyi + Festuca ovina, Potentilla fruticosa + Orinus thoroldii, Trikeraia hookeri + Artemisia frigida, Kobresia pygmaea, Sophora moorcroftiana + Artemisia hedinii, and Sophora moorcroftiana + Pennisetum centrasiaticum. Plant diversity decreases with decreasing longitude, increasing latitude, and increasing altitude; and the diversity distribution pattern in the study area has distinct zonal characteristics. Water and heat are the main factors which affect the distribution of vegetation types. The explanation rates of water and heat for the plant diversity distribution pattern were 19.3% and 5.7%, respectively, while the spatial variation explained by these two factors together was 60.8%. Therefore, the coupling effect is obvious.

Key words: Yarlung Zangbo River, community structure, diversity, pattern

LI Chao, XU Wenli, LI Qingkang, WANG Jingsheng. Community Structure and Diversity Distribution Pattern of Sandy Plants in the Middle and Upper Reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2021, 12(1): 11-21.

Figures/Tables 10

References 43

[1]	Bao X T, Ding L B, Yao S C, et al. 2019. Quantitative classification and ranking of plant communities in the Lhasa River Basin. Journal of Ecology, 39(3):779-786. (in Chinese)
[2]	Burke A. 2001. Classification and ordination of plant communities of the Naukluft Mountains, Namibia. Journal of Vegetation Science, 12(1):53-60. DOI URL
[3]	Currie D J, Paquin V. 1987. Large-scale biogeographical patterns of species richness of trees. Nature, 329(6137):326-327. DOI URL
[4]	Dixon P. 2003. VEGAN, a package of R functions for community ecology. Journal of Vegetation Science, 14(6):927-930. DOI URL
[5]	Duan M J, Gao Q Z, Guo Y Q, et al. 2011. Distribution pattern of plant community species diversity along the altitude gradient in alpine grasslands in northern Tibet. Pratacultural Science, 28(10):1845-1850. (in Chinese)
[6]	Feng J M, Hu X K, 2019. Effects of environmental factors on the distribution pattern of plant diversity in northwestern Yunnan. Journal of Xinyang Normal University (Natural Science Edition), 32(1):62-68. (in Chinese)
[7]	Francis A P, Currie D J. 2003. A globally consistent richness-climate relationship for angiosperms. American Naturalist, 161(4):523-536. DOI URL
[8]	Ge S, Ni M J, Hong J C, et al. 2013. Characteristics of temperature changes in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin in the past 50 years. Tibet Science and Technology, (1): 46-50, 58. (in Chinese)
[9]	He P, Guo K, He P, et al. 2005. Vegetation in the source area of the Yarlung Zangbo River and its geographical distribution characteristics. Journal of Mountain Science, 23(3):267-273. (in Chinese)
[10]	Jia J W, Lü S Y, Wang Z X. 2008. Analysis of water resources characteristics of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin. People’s Yangtze River, 39(17):71-72. (in Chinese)
[11]	Kerr, J T, Packer L. 1997. Habitat heterogeneity as a determinant of mammal species richness in high-energy regions. Nature, 385:252-254. DOI URL
[12]	La Q, Zhaxi C R, Zhu W D, et al. 2014. The distribution pattern of plant species richness on the banks of the Yarlung Zangbo River and its environmental interpretation. Biodiversity, 22(3):337-347. (in Chinese)
[13]	Levine J M, HilleRisLambers J. 2009. The importance of niches for the maintenance of species diversity. Nature, 461(7261):254-257. DOI URL PMID
[14]	Li H D, Shen W S, Fang Y, et al. 2011. Spot pattern analysis of several major sandy plant species in the riparian zone of the Yarlung Zangbo River. Journal of Plant Ecology, 35(8):834-843. (in Chinese)
[15]	Li H T, He J S, Ni Z C, et al. 2004. TWINSPAN classification and species diversity of grassland plant communities in Lazi County, Tibet. Journal of Jiangxi Agricultural University, 26(1):31-36. (in Chinese)
[16]	Li H, Wen X M, Yu S L. 2013. Investigation and evaluation of plant germplasm resources in the Qiangtang Plateau and the Upper Yarlung Zangbo River. Journal of Plant Classification and Resources, 35(3):327-334. (in Chinese)
[17]	Liao C R, Lü G P, Wang T, et al. 2018. Vegetation restoration and species diversity changes in the tidal flats of the tidal flat. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Science Edition), 42(2):89-96. (in Chinese)
[18]	Liu Y, Shi S, Xu Y, et al. 2016. Quantitative classification of plant communities in the arid valley of the Jinsha River and environmental interpretation of their structural differentiation. Biodiversity, 24(4):407-420. (in Chinese)
[19]	Ma B, Zhang Z Y, Zhou L L, et al. 2008. Spatial distribution characteristics of plant species diversity in Alxa Left Banner. Journal of Ecology, 28(12):6099-6106. (in Chinese)
[20]	Meng Y Y, Zhou L, Zhou W M, et al. 2015. Variation characteristics of species diversity after 26 years of vegetation restoration in wind-down areas of Changbai Mountain. Journal of Ecology, 35(1):142-149. (in Chinese)
[21]	O’Brien E M. 1998. Water-energy dynamics, climate, and prediction of woody plant species richness: An interim general model. Journal of Biogeography, 25(2):379-398. DOI URL
[22]	Qian H, Ricklefs R E. 2000. Large-scale processes and the Asian bias in species diversity of temperate plants. Nature, 407(6801):180-182. URL PMID
[23]	Shen W S. 1996. Flora characteristics of the sandy land in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River. Journal of Plant Taxonomy, 34(3):276-281. (in Chinese)
[24]	Shen W S, Li H D, Lin N F, et al. 2012. Screening and restoration effects of suitable plant species on the mobile sand land in the Yarlung Zangbo River Alpine Valley. Journal of Ecology, 32(17):5609-5618. (in Chinese)
[25]	Su C, Zhang X Y, Ma W H, et al. 2018. Altitude pattern and environmental interpretation of species diversity in the shrub community of Helan Mountain. Journal of Mountain Science, 36(5):699-708. (in Chinese)
[26]	Tang Z, Fang J. 2004. A review on the elevational patterns of plant species diversity. Chinese Biodiversity, 12(1):20-28.
[27]	Thibaut L M, Connolly S R. 2013. Understanding diversity-stability relationships: Towards a unified model of portfolio effects. Ecology Letters, 16:140-150. DOI URL
[28]	Wang J, Long T, Zhong Y, et al. 2017. Disentangling the influence of climate, soil and belowground microbes on local species richness in a dryland ecosystem of Northwest China. Scientific Reports, 7(1):18029. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17860-7. URL PMID
[29]	Wang Z, Fang J, Tang Z, et al. 2011. Patterns, determinants and models of woody plant diversity in China. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 278(1715):2122-2132. DOI URL
[30]	Wright D H. 1983. Species-energy theory—An extension of species-area theory. Oikos, 41(3):496-506. DOI URL
[31]	Wang J M, Cui P J, Wang J M, et al. 2019. Plant species richness pattern and its environmental interpretation in Alxa Plateau. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 41(3):14-23. (in Chinese)
[32]	Wang J M, Dong F Y, Bahai N, et al. 2016. Plant distribution patterns and the factors influencing plant diversity in the Black Gobi Desert of China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 36(12):3488-3498. (in Chinese)
[33]	Wang J M, Wang W J, Li J W, et al. 2017. Distribution pattern of plant species richness and its environmental interpretation in desert regions of northwest China. Biodiversity, 25(11):1192-1201. (in Chinese)
[34]	Wang J S, Yao S C, Pu Q, et al. 2016. Quantitative classification and ordination of grassland communities in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 36(21):6889-6896. (in Chinese)
[35]	Wang R, Yao Z J, Liu Z F, et al. 2015. Climate element changes and runoff responses in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River. Resources Science, 37(3):619-628. (in Chinese)
[36]	Wang T, Ding Y K, Wang J S, et al. 2019. Quantitative classification and ordering of plant communities in the middle and upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 10(4):389-396. DOI URL
[37]	Yang Y H, Wang J B, Liu P, et al. 2019. Climatic changes dominant interannual trend in net primary productivity of alpine vulnerable ecosystems. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 10(4):379-388. DOI URL
[38]	Yin K, Cui S H, Zhao Q J, et al. 2009. Prediction of plant diversity in urban forest undergrowth based on redundancy analysis. Journal of Ecology, 29(11):6085-6094. (in Chinese)
[39]	Yu M, Zhou Z Y, Kang F F, et al. 2013. Gradient analysis and environmental interpretation of herbaceous plant communities under Xiaoshegou forest in Lingkong Mountain, Shanxi. Journal of Plant Ecology, 37(5):373-383. (in Chinese)
[40]	Yuan L, Zhou H R, Zong Z L, et al. 2014. Structural characteristics and diversity of typical shrub communities in Urumqi. Northwestern Journal of Botany, 34(3):595-603. (in Chinese)
[41]	Zhang J, Deng L L, Qin J L, et al. 2008. Investigation and evaluation of terrestrial vegetation in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet. Forest Resources Management, (4):118-123. (in Chinese)
[42]	Zhao M, Wang J H, Zhang J C, et al. 2006. Diversity analysis of desert plant communities in the southern margin of the Kumtag Desert. Journal of Plant Ecology, 30(3):375-382. (in Chinese)
[43]	Zhu G L, Li J, Wei X H, et al. 2017. Longitude pattern of vegetation productivity and biodiversity in alpine grasslands in Qinghai-Tibet. Journal of Natural Resources, 32(2):210-222. (in Chinese)

Association type	Plot number	Altitude range (m)	Main species	Average height (cm)	Average coverage (%)	Frequency	Importance value
Ⅰ Artemisia minor + Stipa purpurea	1-5	5000-4750	Artemisia minor	4.2	2	0.136	0.08±0.04
			Stipa purpurea	23.5	2	0.273	0.13±0.06
			Potentilla saundersiana	4.4	1	0.159	0.07±0.03
			Saussurea tibetica	6.8	1	0.113	0.04±0.02
			Lasiocaryum densiflorum	5.2	1	0.113	0.04±0.03
Ⅱ Artemisia wellbyi + Festuca ovina	6-9	4800-4600	Artemisia wellbyi	18.7	5	0.227	0.38±0.12
			Festuca ovina	6.5	4	0.159	0.29±0.16
			Stipa purpurea	16.1	2	0.127	0.26±0.13
			Delphinium tangkulaense	7.8	1	0.119	0.17±0.11
Ⅲ Potentilla fruticosa + Orinus thoroldii	14-20	4700-4500	Potentilla fruticosa	46.1	8	0.127	0.39±0.16
			Orinus thoroldii	24.8	2	0.159	0.26±0.13
			Carex moorcroftii	7.4	2	0.172	0.17±0.11
Ⅳ Trikeraia hookeri+ Artemisia frigida	10-13	4500-4300	Trikeraia hookeri	44.3	3	0.182	0.22±0.07
			Artemisia frigida	37.1	5	0.205	0.28±0.14
			Elymus nutans	36.6	2	0.168	0.14±0.06
			Kobresia tibetica	8.7	5	0.263	0.09±0.04
			Poa tibetica	18.7	3	0.145	0.11±0.06
			Anaphalis xylorhiza	5.4	2	0.136	0.06±0.03
Ⅴ Kobresia pygmaea	21-28	4300-4000	Kobresia pygmaea	5.2	22	0.205	0.46±0.06
			Potentilla saundersiana	4.7	5	0.182	0.15±0.07
			Astragalus arnoldii	7.9	6	0.159	0.12±0.05
			Poa annua	17.4	3	0.127	0.14±0.04
Ⅵ Sophora moorcroftiana + Artemisia hedinii	29-36	4200-3700	Sophora moorcroftiana	59.7	30	0.318	0.39±0.12
			Artemisia hedinii	47.5	14	0.264	0.21±0.08
			Poa tibetica	24.6	2	0.145	0.05±0.02
			Carex moorcroftii	13.5	5	0.172	0.07±0.03
			Kobresia tibetica	6.7	8	0.263	0.08±0.04
Ⅶ Sophora moorcroftiana + Pennisetum centrasiaticum	37-44	4100-3700	Sophora moorcroftiana	64.3	34	0.323	0.42±0.11
			Cotoneaster multiflorus	56.4	27	0.264	0.27±0.08
			Artemisia wellbyi	35.7	12	0.157	0.11±0.04
			Pennisetum centrasiaticum	39.3	4	0.124	0.08±0.03

Association type	Plot number	Altitude range (m)	Main species	Average height (cm)	Average coverage (%)	Frequency	Importance value
Ⅰ Artemisia minor + Stipa purpurea	1-5	5000-4750	Artemisia minor	4.2	2	0.136	0.08±0.04
			Stipa purpurea	23.5	2	0.273	0.13±0.06
			Potentilla saundersiana	4.4	1	0.159	0.07±0.03
			Saussurea tibetica	6.8	1	0.113	0.04±0.02
			Lasiocaryum densiflorum	5.2	1	0.113	0.04±0.03
Ⅱ Artemisia wellbyi + Festuca ovina	6-9	4800-4600	Artemisia wellbyi	18.7	5	0.227	0.38±0.12
			Festuca ovina	6.5	4	0.159	0.29±0.16
			Stipa purpurea	16.1	2	0.127	0.26±0.13
			Delphinium tangkulaense	7.8	1	0.119	0.17±0.11
Ⅲ Potentilla fruticosa + Orinus thoroldii	14-20	4700-4500	Potentilla fruticosa	46.1	8	0.127	0.39±0.16
			Orinus thoroldii	24.8	2	0.159	0.26±0.13
			Carex moorcroftii	7.4	2	0.172	0.17±0.11
Ⅳ Trikeraia hookeri+ Artemisia frigida	10-13	4500-4300	Trikeraia hookeri	44.3	3	0.182	0.22±0.07
			Artemisia frigida	37.1	5	0.205	0.28±0.14
			Elymus nutans	36.6	2	0.168	0.14±0.06
			Kobresia tibetica	8.7	5	0.263	0.09±0.04
			Poa tibetica	18.7	3	0.145	0.11±0.06
			Anaphalis xylorhiza	5.4	2	0.136	0.06±0.03
Ⅴ Kobresia pygmaea	21-28	4300-4000	Kobresia pygmaea	5.2	22	0.205	0.46±0.06
			Potentilla saundersiana	4.7	5	0.182	0.15±0.07
			Astragalus arnoldii	7.9	6	0.159	0.12±0.05
			Poa annua	17.4	3	0.127	0.14±0.04
Ⅵ Sophora moorcroftiana + Artemisia hedinii	29-36	4200-3700	Sophora moorcroftiana	59.7	30	0.318	0.39±0.12
			Artemisia hedinii	47.5	14	0.264	0.21±0.08
			Poa tibetica	24.6	2	0.145	0.05±0.02
			Carex moorcroftii	13.5	5	0.172	0.07±0.03
			Kobresia tibetica	6.7	8	0.263	0.08±0.04
Ⅶ Sophora moorcroftiana + Pennisetum centrasiaticum	37-44	4100-3700	Sophora moorcroftiana	64.3	34	0.323	0.42±0.11
			Cotoneaster multiflorus	56.4	27	0.264	0.27±0.08
			Artemisia wellbyi	35.7	12	0.157	0.11±0.04
			Pennisetum centrasiaticum	39.3	4	0.124	0.08±0.03

Index	Model	Range	Nugget (C₀)	Still (C₀+C₁)		C₀/(C₀+C₁)	Rss	R²
D	Spheroid	0.482	0.032		0.044	0.727	1.34×10^-3	0.694
H	Spheroid	0.335	0.137		0.273	0.502	1.79×10^-3	0.753

Index	Model	Range	Nugget (C₀)	Still (C₀+C₁)		C₀/(C₀+C₁)	Rss	R²
D	Spheroid	0.482	0.032		0.044	0.727	1.34×10^-3	0.694
H	Spheroid	0.335	0.137		0.273	0.502	1.79×10^-3	0.753