Plant Diversity Response to Environmental Factors in Yellow River Delta, China

Zhen Xu, Renqiang Li, Wenjun Dou (), Hui Wen, Shulin Yu, Pan Wang, Lehua Ning, Jiaquan Duan and Jichun Wang
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Zhen Xu: Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Renqiang Li: Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Wenjun Dou: Yantai Coastal Zone Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Yantai 264011, China
Hui Wen: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China
Shulin Yu: Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Pan Wang: Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Lehua Ning: Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Jiaquan Duan: Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Jichun Wang: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Plant diversity plays a crucial role in maintaining the functionality of a community and providing essential ecosystem services. Studying the plant diversity and its response to environmental factors in the Yellow River Delta, China, as a newly formed coastal land, is beneficial for protecting plant diversity in coastal areas and maintaining ecosystem stability. In this study, 56 sites were sampled to investigate the diversity of shrubs and herbaceous plant community and its response to environmental factors. The results indicate that the plants growing in the Yellow River Delta are predominantly from the Poaceae and Asteraceae families, with dominant communities consisting of species such as Suaeda salsa , Phragmites australis , Setaria viridis , Imperata cylindrica , and Tamarix chinensis . The Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson diversity index, and Pielou’s evenness index exhibit average values of 0.34, 0.21, and 0.25, respectively, within the Yellow River Delta. These values collectively indicate a low diversity in the vegetation community, reflecting a relatively uncomplicated ecological structure in this area. Additionally, there were no significant differences in biodiversity indices under different soil formation times, but under different land cover types, the biodiversity index of cropland was significantly higher than that of impervious land. Soil salinity index exhibited a significant negative correlation with plant diversity (R 2 = 0.279, p < 0.001) in the Yellow River Delta. Moreover, elevation (R 2 = 0.247, p < 0.001) and temperature (R 2 = 0.219, p < 0.001) showed significant positive effects on plant diversity. Regarding the ecological stoichiometry of plant elements, soil organic carbon exhibited a negative effect on the biodiversity index, while litter carbon showed a positive effect. This may be attributed to the unique topographical conditions and soil salinization in the Yellow River Delta. Our findings provide important references for the sustainable management of wetlands in the Yellow River Delta under conditions of soil salinization.

Keywords: biodiversity index; plant carbon density; redundancy analysis; soil formation times; soil salinity index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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