A review of ecohydrology research progress at Linze Station in the inland river basins of the Hexi Corridor

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00361

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 1-10.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00361

A review of ecohydrology research progress at Linze Station in the inland river basins of the Hexi Corridor

Wenzhi Zhao(), Zhibin He

Gansu Linze National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Farmland Ecosystem / State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Region / Key Laboratory of Landscape，Forest，Field，Lake，Grass and Sand System Management，Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Lanzhou 730000，China

Received:2025-11-23 Revised:2025-12-29 Online:2026-01-20 Published:2026-03-09

Abstract

Abstract:

The Linze Inland River Basin Research Station （Linze Station） is located in the middle section of the Hexi Corridor， in the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin， China's second-largest inland river basin. It is one of the earliest field stations dedicated to ecohydrology research in arid regions and represents a microcosm of ecohydrology studies in inland river basins in China. This paper reviews the introduction of the discipline of “Ecohydrology” at the Linze Station and the process of refining scientific questions in arid region ecohydrology research. It summarizes the research progress on arid region vegetation water consumption and oasis ecological water demand； forest patterns， processes， and hydrological mechanisms on the northern slope of the Qilian Mountains； the response of mountain ecosystems to climate change； desert vegetation evolution and the ecohydrology mechanisms for maintaining stability； desert ecosystems' responses to precipitation； the pattern， structure， and functional changes of riparian forest ecosystems in deserts， as well as their responses to groundwater and surface water. It proposes that， based on research on relatively independent units of mountains， deserts， and oases， the landscape patterns， component elements， system efficiency， and coupling relationships of the mountain-water-forest-field-lake-grass-sand system in inland river basins should be explored. The interactions between forest， sand， grass， water， lakes， and fields， as well as scale effects， should be analyzed. The stability and ecological benefits of the system under different water resource allocation scenarios should be simulated. The ecohydrology mechanisms of the coordinated and trade-off systems from typical small watersheds to inland river basins， such as the Qilian Mountains， Hexi Corridor， and Alashan Plateau， should be clarified， with a focus on material migration and ecological responses across the three geomorphic units. The study should also address the pathways and technologies for inter-basin water diversion and sustainable oasis agriculture.

Key words: ecological hydrology, inland river basin, desert, oasis, mountains

CLC Number:

Wenzhi Zhao, Zhibin He. A review of ecohydrology research progress at Linze Station in the inland river basins of the Hexi Corridor[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(1): 1-10.

Figures/Tables 5

References 66

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科学问题	生态指标	水文指标
植被结构	盖度、高度、密度、长势、生产力、根系状况、更新能力	土壤湿度、水分活动层深度、降水响应
生物多样性	丰富度、均匀度、变异性、生活型	土壤水分垂直变异性、降水入渗深度、土壤水分异质性
生态系统功能	防风固沙功能、结皮厚度、局地起沙风速、土壤动物活动	降水的水平再分配（植被冠层、土壤表层）
生态适应（抵抗力）	气孔对降水和土壤湿度的调节（C₄与C₃）	土壤水力传导度、优先流、植物水分阻力
生态恢复（恢复力）	种子库、自然更新能力、忍受沙埋极限、忍耐干旱极限	去除植被后土壤水库恢复过程与时间
生态系统稳定性	自疏过程、植被组合、稳定性	降水脉动、土壤水分补给

科学问题	生态指标	水文指标
植被结构	盖度、高度、密度、长势、生产力、根系状况、更新能力	土壤湿度、水分活动层深度、降水响应
生物多样性	丰富度、均匀度、变异性、生活型	土壤水分垂直变异性、降水入渗深度、土壤水分异质性
生态系统功能	防风固沙功能、结皮厚度、局地起沙风速、土壤动物活动	降水的水平再分配（植被冠层、土壤表层）
生态适应（抵抗力）	气孔对降水和土壤湿度的调节（C₄与C₃）	土壤水力传导度、优先流、植物水分阻力
生态恢复（恢复力）	种子库、自然更新能力、忍受沙埋极限、忍耐干旱极限	去除植被后土壤水库恢复过程与时间
生态系统稳定性	自疏过程、植被组合、稳定性	降水脉动、土壤水分补给

国家战略需求	目标	科学问题
水土资源与国土空间配置	干旱区水土资源利用、山地-荒漠-绿洲协同管理	干旱区绿洲水效益、水平衡、水管理；要素构成、运作效率、恢复力、可持续性；绿洲生源要素运移、连通性及环境效应
能源基地生态保护与风险评估	风光电建设生态风险评估与生态恢复	光电、风电场的环境影响及生态风险评估；能源基地生态恢复、重建及保护技术
区域生态系统保护	自然保护区、国家公园建设的科学依据	山水林田湖草沙生命共同体格局、要素构成及效能协同与权衡；干旱区典型生态环境监测、预警及评估；干旱区生态系统适应性管理的理论基础
黄河流域生态保护与高质量发展“一带一路”生态环境	水生态与水环境关键生态系统对水环境的响应与适应	湿地-农田的水分交换及溶质运移；面源污染、盐渍化调控；北方风沙区水土保持；中亚地下水变化对荒漠化的影响

国家战略需求	目标	科学问题
水土资源与国土空间配置	干旱区水土资源利用、山地-荒漠-绿洲协同管理	干旱区绿洲水效益、水平衡、水管理；要素构成、运作效率、恢复力、可持续性；绿洲生源要素运移、连通性及环境效应
能源基地生态保护与风险评估	风光电建设生态风险评估与生态恢复	光电、风电场的环境影响及生态风险评估；能源基地生态恢复、重建及保护技术
区域生态系统保护	自然保护区、国家公园建设的科学依据	山水林田湖草沙生命共同体格局、要素构成及效能协同与权衡；干旱区典型生态环境监测、预警及评估；干旱区生态系统适应性管理的理论基础
黄河流域生态保护与高质量发展“一带一路”生态环境	水生态与水环境关键生态系统对水环境的响应与适应	湿地-农田的水分交换及溶质运移；面源污染、盐渍化调控；北方风沙区水土保持；中亚地下水变化对荒漠化的影响

A review of ecohydrology research progress at Linze Station in the inland river basins of the Hexi Corridor

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