PJB-2019-837
Population structure and dynamics of an endangered desert shrub endemic to northwestern China
Zhihao Su, Xiaobing Zhou, Li Zhuo, Xiaolong Jiang and Xiaoshan Kang
Abstract
Information of population structure and dynamics can provide valuable insight for conservation and management of rare and threatened plant species. Tamarix taklamakanensis is an endangered shrub endemic to northwestern China. The abundance of this species has been substantially decreased over the past several decades. Size structure, static life table and survivor curve were analyzed to estimate the population demography. Within the 6 plots set up in the Taklimakan Desert, seedlings were scarce and juvenile individuals were dominant. Size distributions were skewed down towards larger size classes in all plots. The shape of survivorship curves was approximate Deevey type III, suggesting a high mortality in early life stages of this species. Based on hierarchical analysis of variance and Morisita’s index, T. taklamakanensis had a clumped distribution pattern in all plots and in the species level. Based on time sequence analysis, survived individuals increased and decreased in abundance. The results indicated that young stages were at great risk before transforming to adult individuals, and the populations might finish with the elapse of time. Efforts are required to prevent the continuous loss in abundance. Conserving the groundwater in the basin is essential for the conservation of T. taklamakanesis, and in situ and ex situ conservation measures were strongly recommended. As well as, artificial tending should be performed on the young stages of the population.
To Cite this article:
Su, Z., X. Zhou, L. Zhuo, X. Jiang and X. Kang. 2021. Population structure and dynamics of an endangered desert shrub endemic to northwestern China. Pak. J. Bot., 53(4): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2021-4(14)
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