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Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology ›› 2017, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (4): 1337-1343.doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.201704.032

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Spatial change of the grain-size of aeolian sediments in Qira oasis-desert ecotone, Northwest China

LIN Yong-chong1,2,3*, XU Li-shuai4   

  1. 1Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; 2Qira Field National Station of Observation & Research for Desert-grass Land Ecosystem in Xinjiang, Qira 848300, Xinjiang, China
    3Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    4College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
  • Received:2016-10-08 Online:2017-04-18 Published:2017-04-18
  • Contact: * E-mail: linyongchong@itpcas.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41601012) and the Major Special Project in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (201130106-1)

Abstract: In order to understand the environmental influence of oasis-desert ecotone to oasis ecological system, we comparatively analyzed the grain size characteristics of various aeolian sediments, including the sediments in oasis-desert ecotone, shelterbelt and the inside oasis and in Qira River valley. The results showed that the grain size characteristics (including grain-size distribution curve, grain size parameters, and content of different size classes) of sediments in the oasis-desert ecotone were consistent along the prevailing wind direction with a grain-size range of 0.3-200 μm and modal size of 67 μm. All of the sediments were good sorting and mainly composed of suspension components and saltation components, but not denatured saltation and creeping components (>200 μm). They were typically aeolian deposits being short-range transported. The grain sizes of sediments in oasis-desert ecotone were smaller than that in the material sources of Qira River valley and desert (0.3-800 μm), but very similar to those of the modern aeolian deposits in oasis-desert ecotone, shelterbelt and the inside oasis. The denatured saltation and creep components (>200 μm) were suppressed to transport into oasis-desert ecotone because of the high vegetation cover in oasis-desert ecotone. Therefore, like the shelterbelts, the oasis-desert ecotone could also block the invasion of desert. They safeguarded the oasis ecological environment together.