Abstract: By using O-ring statistics in point pattern analysis and Programita software, this paper studied the spatial distribution patterns of holes of Rhombomys opimus and associations with artificial Haloxylon ammodendron population in Minqin Oasis-desert Ecotone, Gansu. The results showed that: (1) Abandoned holes and all holes had similar distribution pattern due to high proportion of abandoned holes in all holes; and no connection between abandoned holes and effective holes was basically found at the scales from 0m to 10m, which showed they are independent each other. (2) Mouse holes had or tended to have a clumped distribution around artificial H. ammodendron that could provide adequate food and habitat for R. opimus at the scales<1 m;abandoned holes and effective holes turned to random distribution in western Zhiwuyuan, but respectively turned to random distribution and uniform distribution in northern Xinguoyuan with scale extend because of different intensity of competition for resources and environment. (3) Positive correlation existed between mouse holes and artificial H. ammodendron population mainly at the scales<1m, and no relationship at other scales, which meant the holes depend on H. ammodendron at small scales, and the most strong dependence of the holes on class 3 and class 2 respectively in western Zhiwuyuan and northern Xinguoyuan was observed. The dependence was mainly determined by comprehensive effect of individual size and number of H. ammodendron, which was reflected in that the species whether could provide adequate resources (such as food, habitat, etc) for R. opimus, greater effect meant stronger dependence.

Key words: Rhombomys opimus, Haloxylon ammodendron, mouse holes, spatial pattern, dependence