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The bug island effect of shrubs and its formation mechanism in Horqin Sand Land, Inner Mongolia

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

ZHAO, H.-L.
Cold and Arid Region Environmental and Engineering Research Inst., CAS, Lanzhou, Chine
LIU, R.-T.
Ningxia Univ., Yinchuan, Chine


Description :
In the moving sand dune of Horqin Sand Land, the diversity of the soil macro-arthropod communities beneath the canopies of 2 shrub species (Caragana microphylla and Salix gordejevii) and in open areas was investigated in order to determine the effect of shrubs on these soil communities. The results showed that the shrubs facilitated the aggregation of soil macro-arthropods, resulting in significantly higher diversity and individual density of macro-arthropods in the soil beneath the shrub canopy compared to the open areas. This is known as the bug island effect which resulted from the fertile island effect generated by these shrubs, i.e., reduced wind velocity, retained dust and sand, increased soil litter biomass and soil moisture, improved soil texture and soil fertility. Between the 2 shrub species investigated C. microphylla had a greater bug island effect than S. gordejevii, as C. microphylla had a higher fertile island effect than S. gordejevii.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2013, vol. 105, p. 69-74, nombre de pages : 6, Références bibliographiques : 29 ref.

Date :
2013

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais
Droits :
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