Geographical distribution, characteristics and classification of Salweenia wardii communities

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2025.0064

Abstract

Abstract:

Salweenia wardii, a rare and endangered protected plant in China, exists as an extremely small population in the arid valleys of the Hengduan Mountains. Its habitat is fragile and severely fragmented, and systematic research on its community-level ecological adaption mechanisms and conservation strategies remains lacking. Based on literature and field sample surveys, we initially delineated the geographical distribution range of S. wardii. Utilizing data from 28 survey plots collected between 2023 and 2024, we proposed a preliminary community classification scheme, accompanied by a detailed description of the community structure and species composition. The results showed that: (1) S. wardii communities were concentrated in Karuo District, Baxoi County, Lhorong County, and Zhag’yab County of Qamdo City, and formed dominant communities in Karuo Town, Gyari Township, Yongba Township, and Tonggar Town, with distribution altitudes ranging from 3 083 to 3 657 m (specimen records extending to 3 000-4 400 m). (2) A total of 74 vascular plants belonging to 28 families and 55 genera were recorded, mainly xerophytes in the families Gramineae, Asteraceae, and Rosaceae. The life forms spectrum, dominated by deciduous shrubs and perennial herbs, along with floristic characteristics featuring the coexistence of pan-tropical and north-temperate components, reflected their adaptive strategies to seasonal droughts and the evolutionary features of the transitional zone in the Hengduan Mountains. (3) Based on variations in community structure and species composition, S. wardii Alliance could be classified into 6 association groups and 10 associations. (4) The population exhibited low natural regeneration capacity and relied on asexual reproduction for maintenance, necessitating urgent conservation measures. Our findings fill a gap in the taxonomic study of S. wardii and provide a scientific basis and practical guidance for regional biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.

Key words: Salweenia wardii Alliance, geographical distribution, vegetation classification, community structure, species composition

WEI Dan-Dan, DU Yan, BAO Wei-Kai, HU Bin, ZHANG Han-Yue, WANG Han-Jie, TANG Yuan-Yuan, HUANG Long, GUO Chang-An, LIU Xin. Geographical distribution, characteristics and classification of Salweenia wardii communities[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2025, 49(10): 1698-1709.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2025.0064

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2025/V49/I10/1698

Figures/Tables 7

References 29

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样地编号 Plot ID	地点 Location	经度 Longitude (° E)	纬度 Latitude (° N)	海拔 Altitude (m)	坡向 Aspect (°)	坡度 Slope (°)	干扰情况 Interference
P1	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.37	30.96	3 321	S 163	11.0-18.0	中度放牧干扰 Moderate grazing interference
P2	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.37	30.96	3 316	WN 301	24.0	轻度放牧干扰 Light grazing disturbance
P3	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.37	30.96	3 316	S 160	24.0	轻度放牧干扰 Light grazing disturbance
P4	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.34	30.98	3 248	ES 128	22.0	围挡, 轻度放牧干扰 Fencing, light grazing disturbance
P5	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.34	30.98	3 262	E 65	29.0-35.0	围挡, 轻度放牧干扰 Fencing, light grazing disturbance
P6	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.34	30.98	3 273	EN 62	22.5-25.3	围挡, 轻度放牧干扰 Fencing, light grazing disturbance
P7	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.35	30.91	3 219	EN 51	26.0	中度放牧干扰 Moderate grazing interference
P8	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.35	30.90	3 211	EN 53	26.0	中度放牧干扰 Moderate grazing interference
P9	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 467	E 89	23.0-33.2	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P10	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 474	E 98	21.5-25.6	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P11	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 474	S 199	14.5-28.2	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P12	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 484	WS 244	21.7-28.0	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P13	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 466	EN 48	22.5	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P14	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 467	EN 65	25.3	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P15	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 499	E 115	22.9	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P16	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 505	S 178	21.7	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P17	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 513	WS 202	23.3	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P18	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.50	30.43	3 338	-	-	-

样地编号 Plot ID	地点 Location	经度 Longitude (° E)	纬度 Latitude (° N)	海拔 Altitude (m)	坡向 Aspect (°)	坡度 Slope (°)	干扰情况 Interference
P1	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.37	30.96	3 321	S 163	11.0-18.0	中度放牧干扰 Moderate grazing interference
P2	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.37	30.96	3 316	WN 301	24.0	轻度放牧干扰 Light grazing disturbance
P3	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.37	30.96	3 316	S 160	24.0	轻度放牧干扰 Light grazing disturbance
P4	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.34	30.98	3 248	ES 128	22.0	围挡, 轻度放牧干扰 Fencing, light grazing disturbance
P5	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.34	30.98	3 262	E 65	29.0-35.0	围挡, 轻度放牧干扰 Fencing, light grazing disturbance
P6	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.34	30.98	3 273	EN 62	22.5-25.3	围挡, 轻度放牧干扰 Fencing, light grazing disturbance
P7	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.35	30.91	3 219	EN 51	26.0	中度放牧干扰 Moderate grazing interference
P8	昌都市卡若镇 Karuo Town, Qamdo City	97.35	30.90	3 211	EN 53	26.0	中度放牧干扰 Moderate grazing interference
P9	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 467	E 89	23.0-33.2	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P10	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 474	E 98	21.5-25.6	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P11	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 474	S 199	14.5-28.2	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P12	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 484	WS 244	21.7-28.0	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P13	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 466	EN 48	22.5	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P14	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 467	EN 65	25.3	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P15	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 499	E 115	22.9	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P16	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 505	S 178	21.7	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P17	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.54	30.39	3 513	WS 202	23.3	砍伐、重度放牧干扰 Deforestation, heavy grazing disturbance
P18	八宿县夏里乡 Gyari Township, Baxoi County	96.50	30.43	3 338	-	-	-

木本植物 Woody plant	灌木 Shrub		半灌木 Subshrub		藤本 Liana
木本植物 Woody plant	常绿 Evergreen	落叶 Deciduous	常绿 Evergreen	落叶 Deciduous	常绿 Evergreen	落叶 Deciduous
39.19	4.05	28.38	0	5.41	0	1.35
陆生草本 Terrestrial herbaceous	多年生草本 Perennial			二年生草本 Biennial	一年生草本 Annual	蕨类 Fern
陆生草本 Terrestrial herbaceous	根茎类 Rhizome	丛生类 Tufted	直立杂类草 Forb	二年生草本 Biennial	一年生草本 Annual	蕨类 Fern
60.81	24.32	16.22	8.11	1.35	9.46	1.35

木本植物 Woody plant	灌木 Shrub		半灌木 Subshrub		藤本 Liana
木本植物 Woody plant	常绿 Evergreen	落叶 Deciduous	常绿 Evergreen	落叶 Deciduous	常绿 Evergreen	落叶 Deciduous
39.19	4.05	28.38	0	5.41	0	1.35
陆生草本 Terrestrial herbaceous	多年生草本 Perennial			二年生草本 Biennial	一年生草本 Annual	蕨类 Fern
陆生草本 Terrestrial herbaceous	根茎类 Rhizome	丛生类 Tufted	直立杂类草 Forb	二年生草本 Biennial	一年生草本 Annual	蕨类 Fern
60.81	24.32	16.22	8.11	1.35	9.46	1.35

群丛组 Association group	群丛 Association	样方编号 Plot ID
冬麻豆群丛组 Salweenia wardii Association Group	冬麻豆群丛 Salweenia wardii Association	P3, P19, P20, P21, P22
冬麻豆+灌木群丛组 Salweenia wardii + Shrub Association Group	冬麻豆+白刺花群丛 Salweenia wardii + Sophora davidii Association	P5, P7, P8, P26, P27, P25
	冬麻豆+川滇野丁香群丛 Salweenia wardii + Leptodermis pilosa Association	P10, P12
	冬麻豆+甘蒙锦鸡儿群丛 Salweenia wardii + Caragana opulens Association	P18
	冬麻豆+凹叶雀梅藤群丛 Salweenia wardii + Sageretia horrida Association	P15, P16
冬麻豆+半灌木群丛组 Salweenia wardii + Subshrub Association Group	冬麻豆+毛莲蒿群丛 Salweenia wardii + Artemisia vestita Association	P9, P11, P13, P14, P17, P24
冬麻豆-草本群丛组 Salweenia wardii - Herbaceous Association Group	冬麻豆-糙叶早熟禾群丛 Salweenia wardii - Poa asperifolia Association	P6, P23
冬麻豆+灌木-草本群丛组 Salweenia wardii + Shrub - Herbaceous Association Group	冬麻豆+白刺花-糙叶早熟禾群丛 Salweenia wardii + Sophora davidii - Poa asperifolia Association	P4, P28
冬麻豆+半灌木-草本群丛组 Salweenia wardii + Subshrub - Herbaceous Association Group	冬麻豆+毛莲蒿-糙叶早熟禾群丛 Salweenia wardii + Artemisia vestita - Poa asperifolia Association	P2
	冬麻豆+毛莲蒿-长穗三毛草+糙叶早熟禾群丛 Salweenia wardii + Artemisia vestita - Trisetum clarkei + Poa asperifolia Association	P1