Skip to main content

Changes in distribution and morphology of Tamarix ramosissima nebkhas in an oasis-desert ecotone

Geosciences Journal volume 25, pages 661–673 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

In the oasis-desert ecotone, nebkhas are of great importance for blocking the intrusion of shifting sand and maintaining the ecological security of oases. The morphological characteristics of nebkhas have been widely researched. However, their spatial distribution and morphological variation with the environment remain unclear. In this paper, we systematically analyzed the spatial distribution pattern, morphological changes, and potential indicative significance of Tamarix ramosissima nebkhas (that is, nebkhas formed around T. ramosissima) in a typical oasis-desert ecotone in Northwest China. Our results showed that the intensity of aeolian activities increased from the inside to the outside of the ecotone, and only T. ramosissima shrubs with high tolerance to aeolian activities could survive. Moreover, from the inside to the outside of the ecotone, the density of the T. ramosissima nebkhas decreased, their size increased, and spatial distribution shifted from aggregation to random. The T. ramosissima shrub can trap aeolian transport and protect nebkhas, leading to sand accumulation in the space between, and leeward edges of, the shrubs. Wind erosion mainly occurs to the windward side and along the sides of the nebkhas. Further, the protective effect of the shrub gradually increased with its growth in a year, resulting in the gradually changed of nebkha surface from wind erosion to sand accumulation, and the nebkha volume showed a fluctuating state of first decreasing and then increasing. This indicates that wind erosion and sand accumulation on the nebkha surface were closely related to the growth cycle of the shrub. In addition, nebkhas exhibited a spatial pattern of growth, inside of the ecotone, to degradation, outside of the ecotone. These results indicate that we should focus on the outside of the ecotone to ensure the ecological stability of oases.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Chang, Z.F., Zhang, J.H., Shi, X.G., Wang, Q., Zhang, D.K., and Duan, X.F., 2018, Correlation between nebkhas formation ability and silhouette layer parameters of desert plants. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 191, 012012.

  • Dale, M.R.T. and Powell, R.D., 2001, A new method for characterizing point patterns in plant ecology. Journal of Vegetation Science, 12, 597–608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dougill, A.J. and Thomas, A.D., 2002, Nebkha dunes in the Molopo Basin, South Africa and Botswana: formation controls and their validity as indicators of soil degradation. Journal of Arid Environments, 50, 413–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hahn, N.G., Rodriguez-Saona, C., and Hamilton, G.C., 2017, Characterizing the spatial distribution of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stal (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), populations in peach orchards. PLoS ONE, 12, e0170889.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesp, P. and Mclachlan, A., 2000, Morphology, dynamics, ecology and fauna of Arctotheca populifolia and Gazania rigens nabkha dunes. Journal of Arid Environment, 44, 155–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesp, P.A. and Smyth, T.A.G., 2017, Nebkha flow dynamics and shadow dune formation. Geomorphology, 282, 27–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia, X. and Li, X., 2008, Spatial Pattern of sand-mound of Nitraria in different habitat at the Southeastern Fringe of the Tengger Desert. Environmental Science, 29, 2046–2053. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang, L.L., Wang, X.M., Hasi, E., and Hua, T., 2013, Nebkha (coppice dune) formation and significance to environmental change reconstructions in arid and semiarid areas. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 23, 344–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langford, R.P., 2000, Nabkha (coppice dune) fields of south-central New Mexico, USA. Journal of Arid Environments, 46, 25–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leenders, J.K., Boxel, J.H.V, and Sterk, G., 2007, The effect of single vegetation elements on wind speed and sediment transport in the Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso. Earth Surface Processes & Landforms, 32, 1454–1474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., Zhao, Y., Liu, H., and Su, Z., 2016, Sandy desertification cycles in the southwestern Mu Us Desert in China over the past 80 years recorded based on nebkha sediments. Aeolian Research, 20, 100–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Z.Z., Wu, S.L., Wang, X.F., He, M.D., Ge, L., Mu, H., and Xu, G.Q., 2007a, Bio-geomorphologic growth process of Tamarix nabkha in the Hotan River Basin of Xinjiang. Acta Geographica Sinica, 62, 462–470. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Z.Z., Wu, S.L., Xiao C., Sun, Q.M., Liu, L.M., and Zhang, Z.H., 2007b, Study on wind-tunnel simulated flow pattern over nabkha dunes in Hetian river basin, Xinjiang (I). Journal of Desert Research, 27, 9–14. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Z.Z., Wu, S.L., Xiao C., Sun, Q.M., Liu, L.M., and Zhang, Z.H., 2007c, Study on wind-tunnel simulated flow pattern over nabkha dunes in Hetian river basin, Xinjiang (II). Journal of Desert Research. 27, 15–19. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y.C. and Xu, L.S., 2017, Spatial change of the grain-size of aeolian sediments in Qira oasis-desert ecotone, Northwest China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 4, 1337–1343. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, B., Zhao, W., and Yang, R., 2008, Characteristics and spatial heterogeneity of Tamarix ramosissima nebkhas at desert-oasis ecotone. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 28, 1446–1455. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, WC. and Zhao, W.Z., 2019, Adventitious roots are key to the development of nebkhas in extremely arid regions. Plant and Soil, 442, 471–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mao, D.L., Lei, J.Q., Li, S.Y., Zeng, F.J., Wang, C., and Zhou, J., 2014, Characteristics of meteorological factors over different landscape types during dust storm in Cele, Xinjiang, China. Journal of Meteorological Research, 28, 576–591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nickling, WG. and Wolfe, S.A., 1994, The morphology and origin of nabkhas, region of Mopti, Mali, West Africa. Journal of Arid Environments, 28, 13–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pastran, G. and Carretero, E.M., 2016, Phytogenic mounds (Nebkhas): effect of Tricomaria usillo on sand entrapment in central-west of Argentina. Journal of Geographic Information System, 8, 429–437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ripley, B.D., 1977, Modelling spatial pattern. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society B, 39, 172–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, A.L., Xu, G.P., Duan, J.C., Wang, S.P., and Zhang, Z.H., 2010, Community structure and point pattern analysis on main plant populations of Potentilla fruticosa shrub meadow in Qilian Mountain. Acta Botanica Boreale-Occidentalia Sinica, 30, 1231–1239. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tengberg, A., 1995, Nebkha dunes as indicators of wind erosion and land degradation in the Sahel zone of Burkina Faso. Journal of Arid Environments, 30, 265–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tengberg, A. and Chen, D.A., 1998, Comparative analysis of nebkhas in central Tunisia and northern Burkina Faso. Geomorphology, 22, 181–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toranjzar, H., Fathi, A., and Ahmadi, A., 2015, Study of the morphometric characteristics of nebkhas and the amount of accumulated sand in Nitraria schoberi type in Mighan Playa Arak, Iran. Journal of Rangeland Science, 5, 20–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, I.J. and Hesp, P.A., 2013, Fundamentals of aeolian sediment transport: airflow over dunes. Treatise on Geomorphology, 11, 109–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan, D.J., Mu, G.J., Jin, Z.D., and Lei, J.Q., 2013, The effects of oasis on aeolian deposition under different weather conditions: a case study at the southern margin of the Taklimakan desert. Environmental Earth Sciences, 68, 103–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X., Wang, T., Dong, Z., Liu, X., and Qian, G., 2006, Nebkha development and its significance to wind erosion and land degradation in semi-arid northern China. Journal of Arid Environments, 65, 129–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, L.S., Mu, G.J., Ren, X., Wan, D.J., He, J.X., and Lin, Y.C., 2016, Oasis microclimate effect on the dust deposition in Cele Oasis at southern Tarim Basin, China. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9, 294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, F., Huang, J.P., Zhou, C.L., Yang, X.H., Ali, M., Li, C.F., Pan, H.L., Huo, W., Yu, H.P., Liu, X.Y., Zheng, X.Q., Han, D.L., He, Q., Meng, L., and Chang, J., 2020, Taklimakan Desert carbon-sink decreases under climate change. Science Bulletin, 65, 431–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, G., Wang, Y., Xia, D., Gao, C., Wang, C., and Yang, C., 2014a, Overexpression of a GST gene (ThGSTZ1) from Tamarix hispida improves drought and salinity tolerance by enhancing the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 117, 99–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, G., Wang, Y., Zhang, K., and Gao, C., 2014b, Expression analysis of nine small heat shock protein genes from Tamarix hispidain response to different abiotic stresses and abscisic acid treatment. Molecular Biology Reports, 41, 1279–1289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Y.Y., Liu, L.Y., Shi, P.J., Zhang, G.M., Qu, Z.Q., Tang, Y., Lei, J., Wen, H.M., Xiong, Y.Y., Wang, J.P., and Shen, L.L., 2015, Morphology, spatial pattern and sediment of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas in barchans interdune areas at the southeast margin of the Badain Jaran Desert, China. Geomorphology, 232, 182–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zou, X., Li, J., Liu, B., Zhang, C., Cheng, H., Wu, X., Kang, L., and Wang, R., 2016, The protective effects of nebkhas on an oasis. Aeolian Research, 20, 71–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant numbers 41975010, 41875019, 41905009 and 41975146), the Tianshan Youth Talents Plan Project of Xinjiang (2019Q038), the Startup Foundation for Introducing Talent of NUIST (granted to Chaofan Li (Grant 2017r036)), the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant ISSASIP1630), and the Flexible Talents Introducing Project of Xinjiang (2018).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disaster, School of Geographic Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Chaofan Li

  2. Institute of Desert Meteorology/Taklimakan Desert Meteorology Field Experiment Station, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi, 830002, China

    Fan Yang, Honglin Pan & Chenglong Zhou

  3. Xinjiang Agro-Meteorological Observatory, Urumqi, 830002, Xinjiang, China

    Xinqian Zheng & Chunrong Ji

  4. China Academy of Transportation Sciences, Urumqi, 830002, Xinjiang, China

    Zhangyong Han

  5. Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, No. 327 Jianguo Road, Urumqi, 830002, China

    Fan Yang

Authors
  1. Chaofan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fan Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xinqian Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhangyong Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Honglin Pan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Chenglong Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Chunrong Ji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fan Yang.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, C., Yang, F., Zheng, X. et al. Changes in distribution and morphology of Tamarix ramosissima nebkhas in an oasis-desert ecotone. Geosci J 25, 661–673 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-020-0054-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-020-0054-3

Key words

  • oasis-desert ecotone
  • Tamarix ramosissima nebkha
  • spatial pattern
  • morphological characteristics
  • erosion/accumulation