Vitality variation and population structure of a riparian forest in the lower reaches of the Tarim River, NW China

Abstract

Since 2000, the Chinese government has implemented emergency water diversion measures to restore the damaged riparian forest ecosystem with dominant tree species Euphrat poplar (Populus euphratica Oliv.) at the lower reaches of the Tarim River. In the present study, comparative analysis of variations in the vitality of P. euphratica trees were made using 2005 and 2010 data to illustrate the revitalization process of riparian forest. Poplar trees within 300 m of the riverbed were positively revitalized, while the vitality of trees farther than 300 m from the river decreased. Population structure was studied to demonstrate the development of poplar community. In the first belt, the class structure for the diameter at breast height (DBH) of P. euphratica fit a logistic model, and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th belt curve fittings were close to a Gaussian model; in other plots they were bimodal. Cluster analysis of the composition of the DBH class of poplar trees demonstrated that those within 16–36 cm DBH were the most abundant (58.49% of total) in study area, under 16 cm of DBH were second (31.36%), and trees >40 cm DBH were the least abundant (10.15%). More than 80% of the trees were young and medium-sized, which means that the poplar forest community in the vicinity of the lower Tarim River is at a stable developmental stage. The abundance of juvenile trees of P. euphratica in the first and second measuring belts was 12.13% in 2005 and increased to 25.52% in 2010, which means that the emergency water transfer had a positive impact on the generation of young P. euphratica trees in the vicinity of the river.

Keywords

Lower Tarim River / Riparian forest ecosystem / Populus euphratica / Vitality / Population structure / Diameter at breast height

References

[1] Abdurahman M, Kurban A, Halik U, Ablekim A, Duan H. Study on phenological characters of Populus euphratica Oliv. and its relation with the tree diameter. Int J Plant Res, 2013, 26(2): 88-92.

[2] Aini A (2016) Wind prevention and sand fixation of desert riparian key species in the lower Tarim River, NW China. Dissertation, Xinjiang University (in Chinese)

[3] Aishan T (2016) Degraded Tugai forests under rehabilitation in the Tarim riparian ecosystem, Northwest China: monitoring, assessing and modelling. Dissertation, Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt

[4] Aishan T, Halik U, Cyffka B, Kuba M, Abliz A, Baidourela A. Monitoring the hydrological and ecological response to water diversion in the lower reaches of the Tarim River, Northwest China. Quat Int, 2013, 311(3): 155-162.

[5] Aishan T, Halik U, Kurban A, Cyffka B, Kuba M, Betz F, Keyimu M. Eco-morphological response of floodplain forests (Populus euphratica Oliv.) to water diversion in the lower Tarim River, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci, 2015, 73(2): 533-545.

[6] Aishan T, Halik U, Betz F, Tiyip T, Ding JL, Nuermaimaiti Y. Stand structure and height-diameter relationship of a degraded Populus euphratica forest in the lower reaches of the Tarim River, Northwest China. J Arid Land, 2015, 7(4): 544-554.

[7] Ashton DH. The development of even-aged stands of Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell. in central Victoria. Aust J Bot, 1976, 24(3): 397-414.

[8] Betz F, Halik U, Kuba M, Aishan T, Cyffka B. Controls on aeolian sediment dynamics by natural riparian vegetation in the Eastern Tarim Basin, NW China. Aeol Res, 2015, 18: 23-34.

[9] Cao DC, Li JW, Huang ZY, Baskin CC, Baskin JM, Hao P, Zhou WL, Li JQ. Reproductive characteristics of a Populus euphratica population and prospects for its restoration in China. PLoS ONE, 2012 7 7 e39121

[10] Chai Z, Halik U, Wang JS, Cai FY, Luo SZ. Assessment on economic efficiency of Populus euphratica forest in lower reaches of Tarim River and its countermeasures. Xinjiang Agric Sci, 2008, 45(5): 916-920. (in Chinese)

[11] Chen YN, Li WH, Xu HL, Liu JZ, Zhang HF, Chen YP. The influence of groundwater on vegetation in the lower reaches of Tarim River, China. Acta Geogr Sin, 2003, 58(4): 542-549. (in Chinese)

[12] Chen YN, Zhang XL, Zhu XM, Li WH, Zhang YM, Xu HL, Zhang HF, Chen YP. Analysis on the ecological benefits of the stream water conveyance to the dried up river of the lower reaches of Tarim River, China. Sci China Ser D Earth Sci, 2004, 47(11): 1053-1064.

[13] Chen YN, Wang Q, Ruan X, Li WH, Chen YP. Physiological response of Populus euphratica to artificial water-recharge of the lower reaches of Tarim River. J Integr Plant Biol, 2004, 46: 1393-1401.

[14] Chen YN, Li WH, Chen YP, Zhang HF, Zhuang L. Physiological response of natural plants to the change of groundwater level in the lower reaches of Tarim River, Xinjiang. Process Nat Sci, 2004, 14(11): 975-983.

[15] Chen YN, Zhang HF, Li WH, Chen YP. Study on species diversity and the change groundwater level in the lower reaches of Tarim River, Xinjiang, China. Adv Earth Sci, 2005, 20(2): 158-165. (in Chinese)

[16] Chen YN, Li WH, Chen YP, Zhao RF, Wan JH. Ecological response and ecological regeneration of transfusing stream water along the dried- up watercourse in the lower reaches of the Tarim River, Xinjiang. Arid Zone Res, 2006, 23: 521-530. (in Chinese)

[17] Chen YN, Chen YP, Xu CC, Ye ZX, Li ZQ, Zhu CG, Ma XD. Effects of ecological water conveyance on groundwater dynamics and riparian vegetation in the lower reaches of Tarim River, China. Hydrol Process, 2010, 24(2): l70-l77.

[18] Condit R, Ashton PS, Baker P, Bunyavejchewin S Spatial patterns in the distribution of tropical tree species. Science, 2000, 288(5470): 1414-1418.

[19] Di K, Guo YX, Ren CJ, Zhao FZ, Feng YZ, Han XH, Yang GH. Population structure and spatial pattern of main tree species in secondary Betula platyphylla forest in Ziwuling Mountains, China. Sci Rep, 2014

[20] Disse M, Keilholz P, Kliucininkaite L (2012) Sustainable water resources management of river oases along the Tarim River in North-West China on different scales. In: Conference: proceedings of 2nd European conference for hydro-environment engineering, TU Munich, January 2012

[21] Dobbertin M. Tree growth as indicator of tree vitality and of tree reaction to environmental stress: a review. Eur J For Res, 2005, 124(4): 319-333.

[22] Eusemann P, Petzold A, Thevs N, Schnittler M. Growth patterns and genetic structure of Populus euphratica Oliv. (Salicaceae) forests in NW China: implications for conservation and management. For Ecol Manage, 2013, 297: 27-36.

[23] Gao QZ, Qu JJ, Wang R, Li YA, Zu RP, Zhang KC. Impact of ecological water transport to green corridor on desertification reversion at lower reaches of Tarim River. J Desert Res, 2007, 27(1): 52-58. (in Chinese)

[24] Ginau A, Opp C, Sun Z, Halik Ü. Influence of sediment, soil, and micro-relief conditions on vitality of Populus euphratica stands in the lower Tarim Riparian Ecosystem. Quat Int, 2013, 311: 146-154.

[25] Grashey-Jansen S, Kuba M, Cyffka B, Halik U, Aishan T. Spatio-temporal variability of soil water at three seasonal floodplain sites: a case study in Tarim Basin, Northwest China. Chin Geogr Sci, 2014, 24(6): 647-657.

[26] Halik Ü, Kurban A, Mijit M, Schulz J, Parroth F, Coenradie B. Hoppe T, Kleinschmit B, Roberts B, Thevs N, Halik Ü. The potential influence of embankment engineering and ecological water transfer on the riparian vegetation along the middle and lower reaches of the Tarim River. Watershed and floodplain management along the Tarim River in China’s Arid Northwest, 2006, Aachen: Shaker Press 221 236

[27] Halik U, Chai Z, Luo SZ, Coenradie B, Kleinschmit B. Study on height volume growth of Populus euphratica and spatial distribution in lower reaches of Tarim river, Xinjiang. J Arid Land Resour Environ, 2008, 22(5): 187-191. (in Chinese)

[28] Halik U, Chai Z, Kurban A, Cyffka B, Ren W. The positive response of some ecological indices of Populus euphratica to the emergency water transfer in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Resour Sci, 2009, 31(8): 1309-1314. (in Chinese)

[29] Halik U, Aishan T, Kurban A, Cyffka B, Opp C. Response of crown diameter of Populus euphratica to ecological water transfer in the lower reaches of Tarim River. J Northeast For Univ, 2011, 39(9): 82-84. (in Chinese)

[30] Halik U, Chai Z, Habibulla A, Aishan T, Cyffka B, Opp C. Response of Populus euphratica to groundwater level after water diversion to lower reaches of Tarim River. J Soil Water Conserv, 2011, 31(5): 18-22. (in Chinese)

[31] Huang P. Irrigation-free vegetation and it’s recovery in arid region, 2002, Beijing: Science press 15 50 (in Chiense)

[32] Keilholz P, Disse M, Halik U. Effects of land use and climate change on groundwater and ecosystems at the middle reaches of the Tarim River using the MIKE SHE integrated hydrological model. Water, 2015, 7(6): 3040-3056.

[33] Keyimu M, Halik U, Aishan T, Abliz A, Baidourela A. DBH change of juvenile Populus euphratica in the lower reaches of Tarim River under water conveyances. J Northeast For Univ, 2014, 42(9): 15-18. (in Chinese)

[34] Keyimu M, Halik U, Betz F, Wumaier G, Dilimulati G. Spatial-temporal change of DBH of Populus euphratica under artificial water conveyances. J For Environ, 2016, 36: 148-154. (in Chinese)

[35] Keyimu M, Halik U, Kurban A. Estimation of water consumption of riparian forest in the lower reaches of Tarim River, Northwest China. Environ Earth Sci, 2017, 76: 547.

[36] Keyimu M, Halik U, Rouzi A. Relating water use to tree vitality of Populus euphratica Oliv. in the lower Tarim River, NW China. Water, 2017, 9: 622.

[37] Kimmins JP (2004) Forest ecology: a foundation for sustainable forest management and environmental ethics in forestry. Pearson Prentice Hall, c2004, 3rd edn. New Jersey, United States

[38] Lam TY, Kleinn C, Coenradie B. Double sampling for stratification for the monitoring of sparse tree populations: the example of Populus euphratica, Oliv. forests at the lower reaches of Tarim River, Southern Xinjiang, China. Environ Monit Assess, 2011, 175(1–4): 45-61.

[39] Li WH, Chen YP, Zhang HF, Hou P. Response of vegetation to water input at lower dry Tarim River. J Desert Res, 2004, 24(3): 301-305. (in Chinese)

[40] Li X, Hou P, Yang PN. Analysis on the respond of the tree-rings of Populus euphratica to the change of moisture conditions in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Arid Zone Res, 2006, 23(1): 26-31. (in Chinese)

[41] Li WH, Hao XM, Qin XW, Chen YN, Huang X. Ecological process of desert riparian forest communities and its hydrological mechanism of inland river basin in arid area. J Desert Res, 2008, 28(6): 1113-1117. (in Chinese)

[42] Ling HB, Zhang P, Xu HL, Zhao XF. How to regenerate and protect desert riparian Populus euphratica forest in arid areas. Sci Rep, 2015, 5: 81-89.

[43] Liu JZ, Chen YN. Analysis on converse succession of plant communities at the lower reaches of Tarim River. Arid Land Geogr, 2002, 25(3): 231-235. (in Chinese)

[44] Liu HX, Chen YN, Li WH, Yan PF. Community structure and species diversity of natural plant in the middle reaches of Tarim River. Arid Land Geogr, 2008, 31(1): 109-116. (in Chinese)

[45] Liu GL, Kurban A, Duan H, Halik U, Ablekim A, Zhang LC. Desert riparian forest colonization in the lower reaches of Tarim River based on remote sensing analysis. Environ Earth Sci, 2013, 71(10): 4579-4589.

[46] Manabe T, Nishimura N, Miura M, Yamamoto S. Population structure and spatial patterns for trees in a temperate old-growth evergreen broad-leaved forest in Japan. Plant Ecol, 2000, 151(2): 181-197.

[47] Musha S, Halik U, Aihemaiti T, Cyffka B, Zheng C. Monitoring on vitality dynamics of tugai vegetation in the lower reaches of Tarim River by ecological water delivery. Ecol Environ Sci, 2009, 18(5): 1898-1902. (in Chinese)

[48] Oliver CD, Larson BC. Forest stand dynamics, 1990, Pennsylvania: McGraw-Hill Inc.

[49] Rumbaur C, Thevs N, Disse M Sustainable management of river oases along the Tarim River in North-Western China under conditions of climate change. Earth Syst Dyn Discuss, 2014, 5: 1221-1273.

[50] Schulz H, Hartling S. Vitality analysis of Scots pines using a multivariate approach. For Ecol Manage, 2003, 186(1): 73-84.

[51] Song YD, Fan ZL, Lei ZD, Zhang FW. Research on water resources and ecology of the Tarim River, 2000, Urumqi: People’s Press (in Chinese)

[52] Thevs N. Ecology, Spatial distribution and utilization of the Tugai vegetation at the middle reaches of the Tarim River, Xinjiang, China, 2007, Goettingen: Cuvillier.

[53] Thevs N, Zerbe S, Schnittler M, Abdusalih N, Succow M. Structure, reproduction and flood-induced dynamics of riparian Tugai forests at the Tarim River in Xinjiang, NW China. Forestry, 2008, 81(1): 45-57.

[54] Thomas FM, Foetzki A, Arndt SK, Bruelheide H, Gries D, Li X, Zeng F, Zhang X, Runge M. Water use by perennial plants in the transition zone between river oasis and desert in NW China. Basic Appl Ecol, 2006, 7(3): 253-267.

[55] Thomas FM, Jeschke M, Zhang XY, Lang P (2016) Stand structure and productivity of Populus euphratica along a gradient of groundwater distances at the Tarim River (NW China). J Plant Ecol. doi:10.1093/jpe.rtw078

[56] Wang SJ, Chen BH, Li HQ. Euphrates poplar forest, 1996, Beijing: China Environmental Science Press.

[57] Wang JS, Halik U, Cyffka B, Kurban O, Peng SH. Study on DBH-structure of Populus euphratica and their spatial distribution in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Chin Bull Bot, 2008, 25(6): 728-733. (in Chinese)

[58] Wang F, Halik U, Conradie B, Kleinschmit B, Kuechler J. Under crown height of Populus euphratica along the Arghan section in the lower reaches of Tarim River in response to the emergency water transportation. Ecol Environ, 2009, 18: 286-291. (in Chinese)

[59] Westermann J, Zerbe S, Eckstein D. Age structure and growth of degraded Populus euphratica floodplain forests in north-west china and perspectives for their recovery. J Intergr Plant Biol, 2008, 50(5): 536-546.

[60] Wittwer RF, Marcouiller DW, Anderson S (2004) Even and uneven-aged forest management. Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University

[61] Xu HL, Song YD, Chen YN. Reasonable groundwater level at lower reaches of Tarim River after water transfer. Bull Soil Water Conserv, 2003, 23: 22-25. (in Chinese)

[62] Xu HL, Song YD, Li WH, Nayoub A. The dynamics of water and salt after ecological water transport to the lower reaches of Tarim River. J Arid Land Resour Environ, 2004, 18(3): 63-67. (in Chinese)

[63] Xu HL, Song YD, Wang Q, Aihemaiti. The effect of groundwater level on vegetation in the middle and lower reaches of Tarim River, Xinjiang, China. Acta Phytoecol Sin, 2004, 28(3): 400-405. (in Chinese)

[64] Xu HL, Ye M, Li JM. Changes in groundwater levels and the response of natural vegetation to transfer of water to the lower reaches of the Tarim River. J Environ Sci, 2007, 19(10): 1199-1207. in Chinese)

[65] Yan ZL, Huang Q, Niu BR, Ma K. Effects of emergent water project on vegetation coverage in the lower reaches of Tarim River. Chin J Appl Ecol, 2008, 19(3): 621-626. (in Chinese)

[66] Yang G, Guo YP. The change and prospect of vegetation in the end of the lower reaches of Tarim River after ecological water delivering. J Desert Res, 2004, 24(2): 167-172. (in Chinese)

[67] Ye ZX, Chen YN, Li WH, Yan Y. Effect of the ecological water conveyance project on environment in the Lower Tarim River, Xinjiang, China. Environ Monit Assess, 2009, 149(1–4): 9-17.

[68] Zhu Y, Chen Y, Ren L, Lü HS, Zhao WZ, Yuan F, Xu M. Ecosystem restoration and conservation in the arid inland river basins of Northwest China: problems and strategies. Ecol Eng, 2016, 94: 629-637.