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

Abstract

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.

Predicting the suitable habitats of parasitic desert species based on a niche model with Haloxylon ammodendron and Cistanche deserticola as examples

“…Habitat formation for a particular species is often affected by bioclimate, altitude, topography, soil, etc., and human factors cannot be neglected because they are related to people with the greatest economic interest (Jeffrey et al, 2015;Liu et al, 1999). Our results show that precipitation was most important for the distribution of H. ammodendron and C. deserticola, which is different from the conclusion that temperature was a key variable (Xiao et al, 2019;Yang, 2017). Among the various variables adopted in the model, bioclimate factors were significant for the three groups.…”

“…ammodendron and C . deserticola , which is different from the conclusion that temperature was a key variable (Xiao et al, 2019 ; Yang, 2017 ). Among the various variables adopted in the model, bioclimate factors were significant for the three groups.…”

Plant–plant interactions determine taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in severe ecosystems

“…These climatic variables reflect the general harshness in dryland environments (PP), water availability during the driest period, a major bottleneck of seedling recruitment in drylands (PDQ), and temperature and other environmental oscillations that could cause additional physiological stress (MDR, MTCQ, TS, elevation and PS). Most of these climatic variables have been identified previously as major drivers of plant distributions and plant-plant interactions in drylands (e.g., Whitford, 2002;Xiao et al, 2019).…”

Technological Breakthrough for the Afforestation of Populus euphratica in the Mu Us Desert in China

“…mental conditions of the original place of Populus euphratica and the environmental conditions of Yulin, we found that the habitat conditions in Yulin were better [13]. Populus euphratica should have adapted to the habitat of Yulin and could be feasibly introduced in Yulin.…”

“…In China, natural Populus euphratica forests are mainly distributed in Xinjiang and northwest Inner Mongolia [11,12]. By comparing the climatic and environmental conditions of the original place of Populus euphratica and the environmental conditions of Yulin, we found that the habitat conditions in Yulin were better [13]. Populus euphratica should have adapted to the habitat of Yulin and could be feasibly introduced in Yulin.…”