Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biology of Annual Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Desert Regions of China

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Desert Plants

Abstract

Annual species are a major component of desert vegetation, with their unique traits playing a key role in vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid deserts. This chapter presents a systematic discussion of current research status and expectations of future studies with respect to annual species in the deserts of China. To date, studies on annual species have been concerned mainly with vegetation distribution pattern, seed germination, soil seed banks, competitive mechanisms in annual species population, and so on. Due to the important ecological functions of annual species in desert floral systems, further studies on annual species, especially on seed adaptability and plant coexistence mechanisms, would benefit ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts, rational utilisation of resources, and sustainable development of arid and semi-arid deserts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Baskin CC, Chesson PL, Baskin JM (1993) Annual seed dormancy cycles in two desert winter annuals. J Ecol 81:551–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beatley JC (1974) Phenological events and their environmental triggers in Mojave Desert ecosystems. Ecology 55:551–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bigwood DW, Inouye DW (1988) Spatial pattern analysis of seed banks: animal proved method and optimized sampling. Ecology 69:639–650

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boulos L, Al-Dosari M (1994) Checklist of the flora of Kuwait. J University Kuwait (Science) 21:203–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowers JE (1996) Seedling emergence on Sonoran Desert dunes. J Arid Environ 33:63–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bungard RA, Daly GT, McNeil DL, Jones AV (1997) Clematis vitalba in a New Zealand native forest remnant: does seed germination explain distribution? N Z J Bot 35:525–534

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavieres LA, Arroyo TK (2001) Persistent soil seed bank in Phacelia secunda (Hydrophyllaceae): experimental detection of variation along an altitudinal gradient in the Andes of central Chile (33°S). J Ecol 34:1293–1310

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen D (1966) Optimizing reproduction in a randomly varying environment. J Theor Biol 12:119–129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coomes DA, Rees M, Turnbull L, Ratcliffe S (2002) On the mechanisms of coexistence among annual plant species, using neighborhood technique and simulation models. Plant Ecol 163:23–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deying, Aotegen, Burenjiya (2008) Effects of different grazing intensities on species diversity and life form of soil seed bank in steppe desert (in Chinese). Arid Zone Res 25:637–641

    Google Scholar 

  • Garwood NC (1989) Tropical soil seed banks: a review. In: Leck MA (ed) Ecology of soil seed bank. Academic, San Diego, pp 149–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldblatt P (1978) Analysis of the flora of southern Africa: its characteristics, relationships and origins. Ann Mo Bot Gard 65:369–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grime JP (1973) Control of species density in herbaceous vegetation. J Environ Manage 1: 152–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime JP (1989) Seed bank in ecological perspective. In: Leck MA, Parker WT, Simpson RL (eds) Ecology of soil seed bank. Academic, San Diego, pp XVI–XXI

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime JP, Mason G, Curtis AV, Rodman J, Band SR, Mowforth MAG, Neal AM, Shaw S (1981) A comparative study of germination characteristics in local flora. J Ecol 69:1017–1059

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grubb PJ (1985) Plant populations and vegetation in relation to habitats disturbance and competition problems of generalizations. In: White J (ed) The population structure of vegetation. Junk, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo Q (1998) Microhabitat differentiation in Chihuahua Desert plant communities. Plant Ecol 139:71–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez JR, Whitford WG (1987) Chihuahua Desert annuals: importance of water and nitrogen. Ecology 68:2032–2045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutterman Y (1994) Strategies of seed dispersal and germination in plants inhabiting deserts. Bot Rev 60:373–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutterman Y (2000) Environmental factors and survival strategies of annual plant species in the Negev Desert, Israel. Plant Species Biol 15:113–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutterman Y, Shem-Tov S, Gozlan S (1998) The effect of post maturation temperatures and duration on seed germinability of Plantago coronopus occurring in natural populations in the Negev Desert highlands. J Arid Environ 38:451–463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson CB, Petersen KE, Redak RA (1988) Spatial and temporal patterns in the seed bank and vegetation of desert grassland community. J Ecol 76:717–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson JG, Grime JP (1990) The role of dispersal mechanisms strategies and seed banks in the vegetation dynamics of the British landscape. In: Bunce RGH, Howard DC (eds) Species dispersal in agriculture habitats. Belhaven, London, pp 65–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Holzapfel C, Schmidt W, Shmida A (1992) Effects of human-caused disturbances on the flora along a Mediterranean desert gradient. Flora 186:261–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang DM, Li RP, Liu ZM, Yan QL (2004) Soil seed bank in Horqin meadow grassland under grazing and harvesting (in Chinese). Chin J Appl Ecol 15:1860–1864

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalisz S (1991) Experimental determination of seed bank age structure in the winter annual Collinsia verna. Ecology 72:575–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kemp PR (1989) Ecology of soil seed banks: In: Leck MA, Parker VT, Simpson RL (eds) Seed banks and vegetation processes in deserts. Academic, San Diego, pp 257–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Leck MA, Gravelline KJ (1979) The seed bank of a freshwater tidal marsh. Am J Bot 66:1006–1015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leishman MR, Masters GJ, Clarke IP, Brown VK (2000) Seed bank dynamics: the role of fungal pathogens and climate change. Funct Ecol 14:293–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levassor C, Ortega M, Peco B (1990) Seed bank dynamics of Mediterranean pastures subjected to mechanical disturbance. J Veg Sci 1:339–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levins R (1969) Dormancy as an adaptive strategy. In: Woolhouse HW (ed) Dormancy and survival, symposia of the society for experimental biology. Academic, New York, p 23

    Google Scholar 

  • Li XH, Li XL, Jiang DM, Liu ZM (2006) Germination strategy and ecological adapability of Eragrostis pilosa (in Chinese). Chin J Appl Ecol 17:607–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Li XH, Han SJ, Zong WJ, Li XL, Jiang DM (2007) Characteristics of soil seed banks of sand dune succession process in Horqin Sandy Land (in Chinese). J Beijing Forestry University 29(2):66–69

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang CZ, Liu ZL, Zhu ZY, Wang W (2003) Specific diversity and distribution characteristics of annual synusia in Alashan Desert (in Chinese). Chin J Appl Ecol 14:897–903

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu ZM, Yan QL, Liu B, Ma JL, Luo YM (2007) Persistent soil seed bank in Agriophyllum squarrosum (Chenopodiaceae) in a deep sand profile: variation along a transect of an active sand dune. J Arid Environ 71:236–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long LQ, Li XR (2003) Effects of soil microbiotic crusts on seedling survival and seedling growth of two annual plants (in Chinese). J Desert Res 23:656–660

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig JA, Cunningham GL, Whitson PD (1988) Distribution of annual plants in North American deserts. J Arid Environ 15:221–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Mao ZM, Zhang DM (1994) The conspectus of ephemeral flora in Northern Xinjiang (in Chinese). Arid Zone Res 11:1–26

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maranon T (1998) Soil seed bank and community dynamics in an annual-dominated Mediterranean salt-marsh. J Veg Sci 9:371–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mott JJ (1974) Factors affecting seed germination in three annual species from an arid region of western Australia. J Ecol 62:699–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakagoshi N (1985) Buried viable seeds in temperate forests. In: White J (ed) The population structure of vegetation. Junk, Dordrecht, pp 551–570

    Google Scholar 

  • Peco B, Ortego M, Levassor C (1998) Similarity between seed bank and vegetation in Mediterranean grassland: a predictive modal. J Veg Sci 9:815–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng J, Li XG, Fu YC, Liu YC (2000) Seed rain and seed bank of constructive species in evergreen broadleaved forest at Chongqing Simian Mountain (in Chinese). Chin J Appl Ecol 11: 22–24

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qin ZS (2004) Eragrostis Wolf (in Chinese). In: Qin ZS (ed) Flora plantarum herbacearum chinae boreali-orientalis, vol 10. Science Press, Beijing, p 89

    Google Scholar 

  • Russi L, Cocks PS, Roberts EH (1992) Seed bank dynamics in a Mediterranean grassland. J Appl Ecol 29:763–771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson RL (1989) Ecology of soil seed bank. Academic, San Diego, pp 149–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson GM (1965) Dormancy studies in seed of Avena fatua L. The role of gibberellin in embryo dormancy. Can J Bot 43:793–816

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tevis L Jr (1958) A population of desert ephemerals germinated by less than one inch of rain. Ecology 39:681–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Inner Mongolia and Ninxia Survey Team of CAS (1985) Vegetation in Inner Mongolia (in Chinese). Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson K, Grime JP (1979) Seasonal variation in the seed bank of herbaceous species in ten contrasting habitats. J Ecol 67:893–921

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson K, Band SR, Hodgson JC (1993) Seed size and shape predict persistence in soil. Funct Ecol 7:236–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson DL (1995) The seasons, global temperature, and precession. Science 269:59–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D (1988) Plant strategies and the dynamics and structure of plant communities. Princeton University Press, Princeton, pp 67–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Tong C, Feng X, Zhang YM, Zhong YK (2008) Soil seed banks in different grazing exclusion restoring succession stages in the Xiligole degraded steppe (in Chinese). Acta Ecol Sin 28(5):1991–2002

    Google Scholar 

  • Urban KE (2005) Plant species dynamics during restoration of health ponds in northwestern Germany. Phytocoenologia 35:511–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang V, Fu PY, Li CY (1959) Chenopodiaceae (in Chinese). In: Liou NT (ed) Flora plantarum herbacearum chinae boreali-orientalis, vol 2, Science Press, Beijing, p 226

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang XQ, Jiang J, Lie JQ, Zhang WM, Qian YB (2003) The distribution of Ephemeral vegetation on the Longitudinal dune surface and its stabilization significance in the Gurbantunggut Desert (in Chinese). Acta Geogr Sin 58:598–605

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang XQ, Jiang J, Lie JQ, Zhao CJ (2004) Relationship between ephemeral plants distribution and soil moisture on longitudinal dune surface in Gurbantonggut Desert (in Chinese). Chin J Appl Ecol 15:556–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang XZ, Zhang JG, Shi SY, Wang G (2001) Competitive regulation of annual plant Eragrostis poaeoides in planted vegetation for fixing sand dunes (in Chinese). J Desert Res 31:240–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang ZL, Wang G, Liu XM (1998) Germination strategy of the temperate sandy desert annual Chenopod Agriophyllum squarrosum. J Arid Environ 40:69–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xin M, He DH (2003) Storage patterns of seed in natural nest of Messor Actculatus (F.smith) in the protected desert (in Chinese). J Ningxia Agricultural College 24:9–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu CL, Li ZZ (2002) Population regulation and dynamical simulation of annual plant Eragrostis poaeoides in desert region (in Chinese). Acta Bot Boreal Occident Sin 22:1415–1420

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan QL, Liu ZM, Li RP, Luo YM, Wang HM (2005) Relationship of seed production, seed morphology and life form of plant species (in Chinese). Acta Pratacultur Sin 14:21–28

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang WK, Qiao JF, Gao XY, Jiang HP (2006) Impact of burrows of the great gerbil on small-scale plant community in Junggar Desert, China (in Chinese). Arid Land Geogr 29:219–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu SL, Jiang GM (2003) The research development of soil seed bank and several hot topics (in Chinese). Acta Phytoecol Sin 27:552–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JG, Li XR, Wang XP, Wang G, Li JG, Wang ZL (2001) Population dynamics of annual plant Eragrostis poaeoides in fixed and dune in Shapotou area (in Chinese). J Desert Res 31:232–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LY, Chen CD (2002) On the general characteristics of plant diversity of Gurbantunggut Sandy Desert (in Chinese). Acta Ecol Sin 22:1923–1932

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao HL, Okuro T, Li YL, Zuo XA, Huang G, Zhou RL (2008) Effects of human activities and climate changes on plant diversity in Horqin sandy grassland, Inner Mongolia (in Chinese). Acta Pratacultur Sin 17:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao LY, Li ZH, Zhao JH, Zhao HL, Zhao XY (2006) Comparison on the difference in soil seed bank between grazed and enclosed grasslands in Horqin Sandy Land (in Chinese). J Plant Ecol (formerly Acta Phytoecol Sin) 30:617–623

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao WZ, Bai SM (2001) Characteristics of seed bank at fenced grassland in Horqin Sandy Land (in Chinese). J Desert Res 21:204–208

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Prof. K.G. Ramawat for providing the chance to participate in this book, and also thanks many authors in China for permission to use their data and the results of published articles.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, People’s Republic of China

    Xuehua Li

Authors
  1. Xuehua Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xuehua Li .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Dept., M.L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313002, India

    K.G. Ramawat

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Li, X. (2010). Biology of Annual Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Desert Regions of China. In: Ramawat, K. (eds) Desert Plants. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02550-1_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation