Vegetation pattern in Shell Ridge Island in China’s Yellow River Delta

Abstract

In general, coastal habitat conditions are extremely harsh, with the ecological equilibrium inextricably related to the plant community. Understanding the natural vegetation features of a coastal zone with little human disturbance could provide a reference for future vegetation restoration and ecosystem maintenance services. In this study, the vegetation patterns of Wangzi Shell Ridge Island in the Yellow River Delta were investigated. A total of 35 taxa of vascular plants were documented, representing 15 families and 33 genera (of which most were mono-specific). Surveys identified only one to eight taxa in each plot. From sea to land, the vegetation showed a typical zonal distribution pattern. There was a correlation between the landform and important factors that influenced the plants including soil factors and distance from the sea. Thus, the taxa distribution and vegetation had a significant correlation with landform. The dune crest, backdune and interdune lowlands were areas with weak storm surges and were the important locations for the taxa to be become established. Plants along the high-tide line formed important defenses from large waves and high winds. The significant protection provided a suitable living environment for many organisms with high medicinal value. Special attention and protection could be provided to this area by reducing the use of the beach road and enclosing the complete section from sea to land with a protective fence. In addition, vegetation protection and restoration on Shell Ridge Island would aid in the formulation and implementation of reintroduction strategies for similar vegetation in similar habitats.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

wetland / vegetation diversity / landform / zonal distribution / conservation value

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the financial support from the Eleventh Five-year Plan for Supporting Science and Technology of China (No.2010BAC68B01);National Natural Science foundation of China (Grant No. 41201023); the twelfth Five-year Plan for Supporting Science and Technology of China (No.2011BAC02B01-05); Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No.ZR2013CL001); Project of Shandong Province Development Program (No.J13LE57). We appreciate our colleague’s help in language revision and anonymous reviewers for rigorous and fair comments. We sincerely thank Wudi Shell Ridge and Wetland Nature Reserve for providing survey site and assistance.

Appendix A Vascular plant list of Shell Ridge Island in Yellow River Delta

Class	Family	Genera	Species
MONOCOTYLEDONEAE	1. GRAMINEAE	(1) Phragmites	1) Phragmites australis (Pau)
		(2) Aeluropus	2) Aeluropus sinensis (Asi)
		(3) Zoysia	3) Zoysia macrostachya (Zma)
		(4) Triarrhena	4) Triarrhena sacchariflora (Tsa)
		(5) Bothriochloa	5) Bothriochloa ischaemum (Bis)
		(6) Setaria	6) Setaria viridis (Svi)
		(7) Deyeuxia	7) Deyeuxia arundinacea (Dar)
	2. LILIACEAE	(8) Asparagus	8) Asparagus dauricus (Ada)
DICOTYLEDONEAE	3. CHENOPODIACEAE	(9) Chenopodium	9) Chenopodium glaucum (Cgi)
		(10) Atriplex	10) Atriplex centralasiatica (Ace)
		(11) Kochia	11) Kochia scoparia (Ksc)
		(12) Suaeda	12) Suaeda heteropera (She)
			13) Suaeda Salsa (Ssa)
		(13) Salsola	14) Salsola collina (Sco)
	4. CONVOLVULACEAE	(14) Calystegia	15) Calystegia soldanella (Cso)
		(15) Cuscuta	16) Cuscuta chinensis (Cch)
	5. RHAMNACEAE	(16) Ziziphus	17) Ziziphus jujube (Zju)
	6. VITACEAE	(17) Cayratia	18) Cayratia japonica (Cja)
	7. LEGUMINOSAE	(18) Melilotus	19) Melilotus officinalis (Mof)
		(19) Astragalus	20) Astragalus adsurgens (Aad)
		(20) Glycine	21) Glycine soja Sieb (Gsi)
		(21) Medicago	22) Medicago sativa (Msa)
	8. GERANIACEAE	(22) Erodium	23) Erodium stephanianum (Est)
	9. TAMARICACEAE	(23) Tamarix	24) Tamarix chinensis (Tch)
	10. PLUMBAGINACEAE	(24) Limonium	25) Limonium bicolor (Lbi)
	11. ASCLEPIADACEAE	(25) Metaplexis	26) Metaplexis japonica (Mja)
		(26) Periploca	27) Periploca sepium (Pse)
	12. BORAGINACEAE	(27) Messerschmidia	28) Messerschmidia sibirica (Msi)
	13. COMPOSITAE	(28) Artemisia	29) Artemisia mongolica (Amo)
			30) Artemisia carvifolia (Aca)
		(29) Aster	31) Aster tataricus (Ata)
		(30) Scorzonera	32) Scorzonera mongolica (Smo)
		(31) Xanthium	33) Xanthium sibiricum (Xsi)
	14. RUBIACEAE	(32) Rubia	34) Rubia cordifolia (Rco)
	15. ZYGOPHYLLACEAE	(33) Nitraria	35) Nitraria schoberi (Nsc)

Appendix B Plant species composition in Shell Ridge Island in Yellow River Delta

Family name	Genus Number	Species number	Percent of total species number /%	Family name	Genus Number	Species number	Percent of total species number /%
Gramineae	7	7	20	Vitaceae	1	1	2.69
Chenopodiaceae	5	6	17.14	Geraniaceae	1	1	2.69
Compositae	4	5	14.29	Tamaricaceae	1	1	2.69
Leguminosae	4	4	11.43	Plumbaginaceae	1	1	2.69
Convolvulaceae	2	2	5.71	Boraginaceae	1	1	2.69
Asclepiadaceae	2	2	5.71	Rubiaceae	1	1	2.69
Liliaceae	1	1	2.69	Zygophyllaceae	1	1	2.69
Rhamnaceae	1	1	2.69

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