Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2001, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (6): 741-745.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Shrub and Undershrub Niches in Vegetation of the Fukang Desert

ZHANG Yuan-Dong, PAN Xiao-Ling, GU Feng-Xue and SAN Yan-Long   

  • Online:2001-06-10 Published:2001-06-10
  • Contact: GUO Ji-Xun

Abstract: Calculation of niche breadth and overlap of shrubs and undershrubs on three environmental gradients in Fukang desert vegetation shows that shrubs and undershrubs in Fukang can be divided into four groups based on niche breadth. Group 1: Reaumuria soongorica and Haloxylon ammodendron , Group 2: Nitraria sibirica , Kalidium foliatum , Suaeda physophora, and K. caspicum,Group 3: Tamarix ramosissima, T. elongata, T. laxa, and Anabasis aphylla , Group 4 : Lycium ruthenicum , Salsola subcrassa , and Halocnemum strobilaceum. Based on the niche overlaps matrix, overlap between R. soongorica and Haloxylon ammodendron is the largest ,while overlaps among K. foliatum ,Suaeda physophora,K, caspicum, T. ramosissima, T. elogata are also large and those of other species are smaller.

Key words: Desert vegetation, Niche breadth, Niche overlap