Abstract: The artificial vegetation protection system of the Shapotou section of the Baotou-Lanzhou railway is a successful model for desert control in arid desert region in China. This paper addresses biodiversity in the process of the establishment and succession of artificial vegetation in this system. The species composition of artificial vegetation was observed to reach homeostasis after 40 years of succession ,and plant diversity increased with community succession. The diversity index of the artificial vegetation reached D = 0.706～0.822 or H′= 1.393～1.893 after 40 years of establishment, while the diversity index was only D=0.501～0.702 or H′=0.819～1.074 at 10 years from establishment, β-diversity patterns indicate that artificial vegetation of Shapotou region has come through two periods of relatively high species turnover rates ,which were closely correlated with natural patterns of vegetation succession. These processes play an important role in the recovery of ecological condition in this arid desert region as well as in the establishment of artificial oasis vegetation. Data on the influence of improved soil condition on plant diversity is also presented.

Key words: Arid desert region, Artificial vegetation, Plant diversity