Restoring degraded ecosystems in drylands is challenging because of low precipitation and high evapotranspiration. Water availability determines the existence spatiotemporal distribution patterns key endangered species struggling to survive severely damaged desert riparian ecosystem lower Tarim River (LTR) NW China. Ecological water flow restoration measures with costs uncertainties have been implemented since 2000. The task for scientists assess success drawbacks this project propose...

Abstract Rapid urbanization has negative effects on ecosystem structure, function, and balance, leading to the loss of services (ES) posing a threat regional sustainable development. However, complex interactive coercing relationship between ES is not yet fully understood, especially in arid Northwestern China. In this study, we constructed an evaluative framework for using land cover/land use data socioeconomic from 1990 2018. We used global local autocorrelation models reveal...

Populus euphratica Oliv., an indicator species for eco-environmental change in arid areas, plays a key role maintaining the stability of fragile oasis–desert ecosystems. Owing to human interference as well harshness natural environment, P. forests have suffered severe damage and degradation, with trunk cavities (i.e., hollows) becoming increasingly pronounced, thus posing great threat growth, health, survival species. Currently, there is gap our understanding cavity formation its...

Sampling and testing were conducted on the groundwater level depth, soil water content, vegetation coverage in delta oasis of WeiGan-KuChe River Basin, a method for analyzing balances groundwater-dependent (GDV) was developed using balance model with Richards equation. Three typical observation points (sites A, B, C) selected to understand relationship between plant transpiration, content changes, depth via HYDRUS-1D simulations. The calibration results showed that simulated contents at each...

Populus euphratica Oliv. (Euphrates poplar), as the dominant tree species of desert riparian forests along Central Asian inland rivers, plays a critical role in protecting arid land ecosystems. In recent decades, climate change and excessive water resources utilization activities have led to environmental degradation Tarim River northwest China. Understanding forest stand structure spatial distribution pattern provide important guidance for monitoring dynamics support sustainable management....

Trunk volume (Vt) is an essential parameter for estimating forest stand volume, biomass, and carbon sequestration potential. As the dominant tree species in desert riparian forests, Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica) has a high proportion of irregularly shaped trunks along Tarim River, NW China, where habitat very fragile owing to long-term water stress. This causes uncertainty estimation accuracy as well technical challenges surveys. Our study aimed acquire P. euphratica Vt using...

Managing lake water levels from an ecological perspective has become urgent issue in recent years efforts to protect, conserve, and restore eco-environments. In this study, we considered the actual situation of Ebinur Lake basin develop a balance model using System Dynamics (SD) method. The objective study is based on sufficiently understand variation relationship between depth–area–volume. We combined field investigations hydrological data analysis expose major factors affecting level...

The characteristics of heartwood and sapwood not only reflect tree growth site quality but also provide insights into habitat changes. This study examines the natural Populus euphratica Oliv. forest in Arghan section lower Tarim River, comparing P. at different distances from river, as well varying trunk heights diameters breast height (DBH). objective was to examine correlation between these physicochemical properties soil better understand ecological response strategies arid environments....

Significant anthropogenic and biophysical changes have caused fluctuations in the soil salinization area of Keriya Oasis China. The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) sustainability framework Bayesian networks (BNs) were used to integrate information from natural systems model trend secondary salinization. developed predicted that light (vegetation coverage around 15–20%, salt 5–10 g/kg) ecotone will increase near term but decelerate slightly future, farmland decrease term. This...

Abstract Background Tree mortality and regeneration (seedling sapling recruitment) are essential components of forest dynamics in arid regions, especially where subjected to serious eco-hydrological problems. In recent decades, the Euphrates poplar ( Populus euphratica ) along Tarim River Northwest China has increased. However, few studies have quantified causes this azonal riparian type. Methods The present study describes annual hydrological response tree gaps. A total 60 canopy gaps were...

Under the influences of climate change and human activities, habitat quality (HQ) in inland river basins continues to decline. Studying spatiotemporal distributions land use HQ can provide support for sustainable development strategies ecological environment arid regions. Therefore, this study utilized SD-PLUS model, InVEST-HQ Geodetector assess simulate land-use changes Tarim River Basin (TRB) at multiple scales (county grid scales) scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, SSP585). The results indicated...

This study explores a paradigm of sustainable land use in the oases along Tarim River northwest China, where fragile, semi-arid riparian ecosystem is being damaged by excessive and water for agriculture, especially growing cotton. The reliance agriculture on water-demanding cash crops this region poses grave threat to survival natural Tugai vegetation area long-term sustainability region. We explored hypothesis that species Apocynum pictum (A. pictum), known as Lop-Kendir locals, Chinese red...

The riparian vegetation in the lower reaches of Tarim River is an irreplaceable natural resource for its ecosystem, and also a guarantee transportation safety this area. Here, we analyzed different plant influences on soil erosion evaluate main ecosystem service functions served by to study Results showed that total amount sand-fixation area was 4.14×1013 t Tamarix chinensis had greater influence wind speed sediment transport than Populus euphratica, can be used as suitable measures provide...

Grainsize is among the most important parameters in aeolian research as it controls sediment mobilization and mode of transport. Therefore, a critical parameter for instance wind erosion modeling studies which are used to analyze sand dust storms Tarim Basin, an natural hazard this region. Spatially explicit parameterization grain size difficult, texture topsoil not homogeneous across landscape. Thus, geomorphological classification Tugai landscape eastern Basin developed stratified analysis...

Carbon management in forests has become the most important agenda of first half 21st century China context mitigation climate change impact. As main producer inland river basin ecosystem arid region Northwest China, desert riparian forest maintains regional environment and also holds a great significance regulating regional/global carbon cycle. In this study, we estimated total biomass, storage, as well monetary service values Populus euphratica Oliv. lower reaches Tarim River based on...