In many arid ecosystems, vegetation frequently occurs in high-cover patches interspersed in a matrix of low plant cover. However, theoretical explanations for shrub patch pattern dynamics along climate gradients remain unclear on a large scale. This context aimed to assess the variance of the Reaumuria soongorica patch structure along the precipitation gradient and the factors that affect patch structure formation in the middle and lower Heihe River Basin (HRB). Field investigations on vegetation patterns and heterogeneity in soil properties were conducted during 2014 and 2015. The results showed that patch height, size and plant-to-patch distance were smaller in high precipitation habitats than in low precipitation sites. Climate, soil and vegetation explained 82.5% of the variance in patch structure. Spatially, R. soongorica shifted from a clumped to a random pattern on the landscape towards the MAP gradient, and heterogeneity in the surface soil properties (the ratio of biological soil crust (BSC) to bare gravels (BG)) determined the R. soongorica population distribution pattern in the middle and lower HRB. A conceptual model, which integrated water availability and plant facilitation and competition effects, was revealed that R. soongorica changed from a flexible water use strategy in high precipitation regions to a consistent water use strategy in low precipitation areas. Our study provides a comprehensive quantification of the variance in shrub patch structure along a precipitation gradient and may improve our understanding of vegetation pattern dynamics in the Gobi Desert under future climate change.
In order to figure out the redox conditions and paleo-sedimentary environment of the Middle Devonian shales in the northwest of Guizhong Depression, the trace element analysis was conducted on the Middle Devonian cores (320.35–938.50 m) of the typical shale gas investigation well (GY-1) at a 1.50 m sampling interval through X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). According to the test result, the average values of V/(V+Ni), V/Cr and Ni/Co in Nabiao formation (Fm.) are larger than 0.67, 4.65 and 7.71 respectively, and Nabiao Fm. is rich in biological assemblages such as tabasheer, ammonite, etc. These evidences indicate the rising sea level rose relatively in the sedimentation period of Nabiao Fm. and a deepwater shelf environment, which was favorable for the preservation of organic matters. The V/(V+Ni), V/Cr and Ni/Co in Luofu Fm. and Tangting Fm. are 0.38–0.65, 0.73–4.10 and 3.70–6.72 respectively, indicating that the sea level dropped relatively in their sedimentation period, during which the water bodies became shallow, and the sedimentary environment was a weak oxidizing shallow water shelf environment. In addition, the variation of TOC has a high correlation with the enrichment degree of Ba element, indicating the favorable conditions for the enrichment and preservation of organic matters under an oxygen-deficient environment. Moreover, according to the identification of trace element indexes, the northwest of Guizhong Depression experienced the sedimentary cycle of relative rise to relative fall of sea level from bottom to top in the Middle Devonian sedimentation period. The relative sea level rose to the highest in the sedimentation period of Nabiao Fm., in which the organic-rich shales with stable thickness and high organic content were deposited. Hence, the Nabiao Fm. could be regarded as the favorable exploration target interval in this area. 相似文献
