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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2019, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (1): 110-118.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2018.00048

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Haloxylon ammodendron's Potential Distribution under Climate Change in Arid Areas of Northwest China

Chang Hong1, Liu Tong1, Wang Dawei2, Ji Xiaoru2   

  1. 1. College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China;
    2. College of Resource and Environment, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, Shandong, China
  • Received:2018-02-12 Revised:2018-04-19 Published:2019-02-14

Abstract: Climate change will lead to changes of species distribution and even species extinction. As a kind of third-class protection plant in China, Haloxylon ammodendron grows only in desert. It plays a key role in the prevention of wind and sand in desert areas and in maintaining the balance of desert ecosystems. In order to explore the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of Haloxylon ammodendron, we evaluated the performance of GARP (Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Production), ENFA (Ecological Niche Factor analysis) and Maxent (maximum entropy model), and then we selected the optimal model and 10 major environmental factors. We used the optimal model and 17 general circulation models (GCMs) to simulate the future potential distribution of the Haloxylon ammodendron in two periods (2041-2060 and 2061-2080), under two climate change scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) in the Arid Area of Northwest China. The simulation results of 17 CCMs were assembled and averaged, and then were divided into 3 grades (low-suitable area, middle-suitable area and high-suitable area). The results show that MAXENT is the best model (AUC=0.973). The total contribution of factors related to precipitation is 60.5%, while the total contribution of factors related to temperature is 14.8%. Precipitation of wettest quarter (39%), soil type (22.7%) and standard deviation of temperature seasonality (9.1%) are most important factors. As time goes on, the low-suitable areas will reduce (9.36%-20.44%). In most cases, the middle-suitable areas will increase (3.50%-60.05%). While it will reduce by 4.29% in 2061-2080 period under RCP8.5 scenarios. The high-suitable areas will increase by 11.01%-33.80%, and the total suitable areas will increase by 7.47%-9.07% in study area. The increase of suitable area mainly due to the increase of the high-suitable area. The high-suitable area of the Tarim basin increase largest (127%-669%), while there is a slight reduction in the Qaidam basin (4%-9%).

Key words: ecological niche models, Haloxylon ammodendron, climate change

CLC Number: