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Plant Functional Types Across Dune Fixation Stages in the Chinese Steppe Zone and Their Applicability for Restoration of the Desertified Land

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Eurasian Steppes. Ecological Problems and Livelihoods in a Changing World

Part of the book series: Plant and Vegetation ((PAVE,volume 6))

Abstract

Desertification is among the most serious environmental and socio-economic problems in the world. In northern China, aeolian desertification has resulted in dunes in the Chinese steppe zone. It is not only an issue of ecological and environmental problems, but also of social economic problems, which lead to soil erosion, degradation of vegetation, destruction of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, decline of steppe productivity and descent of ecosystem services. We found that compositions and diversities of plant species and functional types (PFT) differed between the dune fixation stages in the Chinese steppe zone. The different PFTs may represent different strategies adaptive to the local habitats, and thus, may play different roles in communities. Therefore, our results may be applied for the restoration of fixed habitats from shifting sands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China

    Ming Dong, Jianjiang Qiao, Xuehua Ye, Guofang Liu & Yu Chu

Authors
  1. Ming Dong
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  2. Jianjiang Qiao
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  3. Xuehua Ye
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  4. Guofang Liu
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  5. Yu Chu
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Correspondence to Ming Dong .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Ecology & Biodiversity, Utrecht University, Padualaan, De Uithof 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, Netherlands

    Marinus J.A. Werger

  2. , Ecology & Biodiversity, Utrecht University, Padualaan, De Uithof 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, Netherlands

    Marja A. van Staalduinen

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Dong, M., Qiao, J., Ye, X., Liu, G., Chu, Y. (2012). Plant Functional Types Across Dune Fixation Stages in the Chinese Steppe Zone and Their Applicability for Restoration of the Desertified Land. In: Werger, M., van Staalduinen, M. (eds) Eurasian Steppes. Ecological Problems and Livelihoods in a Changing World. Plant and Vegetation, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3886-7_11

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