文献类型：期刊文献

英文题名：A rare shrub species as flagship for conserving desert steppe in arid Inner Mongolia

作者：Yang, Hongxiao[1] Xu, Changhui[1] Chu, Jianmin[2,3] Chen, Jiawei[2,3] Gan, Honghao[2,3] Zhou, Zhenfeng[1]

第一作者：Yang, Hongxiao

通信作者：Chu, JM[1];Chu, JM[2]

机构：[1]Qingdao Agr Univ, Coll Resources & Environm, Qingdao 266109, Shandong, Peoples R China;[2]Chinese Acad Forestry, Natl Forestry & Grassland Adm, Key Lab Tree Breeding & Cultivat, Res Inst Forestry, Beijing 100091, Peoples R China;[3]Natl Forestry & Grassland Adm, Res Ctr Coastal Forestry, Beijing 100091, Peoples R China

年份：2022

卷号：48

期号：48

起止页码：83-93

外文期刊名：NATURE CONSERVATION-BULGARIA

收录：;Scopus(收录号：2-s2.0-85133627916);WOS:【SCI-EXPANDED(收录号:WOS:000820709000001)】；

基金：We gratefully acknowledge HE Dongxiao in Qingdao Agricultural University. Funding: This study is funded by Fundamental Research Funds of CAF (CAFYBB2020ZB001), Special Foundation for National Science and Technology Basic Research Program of China (2017FY100205) and Qingdao Agricultural University.

语种：英文

外文关键词：desert steppe; ecosystem conservation; flagship species; sand sta-bilisation; wind erosion; Amygdalus pedunculata Pall

摘要：The rare species Amygdalus pedunculata Pall. (Rosaceae) in arid northern China is endangered to the point of extinction. Determined to save it, the local government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region encouraged the herdsmen to limit grazing activities. Here, we are testing if this species could be consid-ered as a conspicuous flagship for restoring and conserving wind-sensitive arid lands as desert steppe in northern China. We examined statistically the growing states and environmental roles of A. pedunculata populations under the comparative conditions of free and limited grazing in winter since the year 2001. This species was observed to play a critical role in preventing wind erosion and stabilising the lands, as was indicated by the formation of micro-dunes under the shrubs. This role can be attributed mainly to the crown diameters or cover from the shrubs. Under the grazing limitation condition, accompanying species and plants around the shrubs increased significantly. Regardless of free or limited grazing conditions, the shrubs were not observed to inhibit the occurrence or growth of other plants. The grazing limitation over a period of 20 years has caused the effective revival of the rare A. pedunculata species, with statistically larger and taller A. pedunculata individuals than under the free grazing condition, as well as a slightly higher population density and total crown cover. The grazing limitation policy for savingA. pedunculata is believed to be effective and the rare A. pedunculata shrub is a conspicuous flagship for helping to conserve wind-sensitive desert steppe in terms of ecosystem integrity and authenticity.