Effects of restoration of artificial sand-fixing vegetation on the diversity of reptiles and mammals in the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin
Conversion of natural mobile and fixed sandy dune into artificial sand-fixing vegetation changes the vegetation and soil environment,which in turn affects the vertebrates and invertebrate diversity.In this paper,we establish long-term monitoring sites for desert animal diversity in mobile sandy dune(MSD),5-10-year-old(HAP5-10),and 20-30-year-old Haloxylon ammodendron plantation(HAP5-10 and HAP20-30)located in the Zhangye Oasis of the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin.Reptiles,mammals and arthropods in the MSD,HAP5-10,and HAP20-30 habitats were observed using pitfall trapping and infrared-triggered cameras,and to deter-mine the patterns of response of reptile and mammal diversity and the interaction with arthropods to the restora-tion of artificial sand-fixing vegetation.The results showed that conversion of natural mobile sandy dunes into Haloxylon ammodendron plantations changed the assemblage of reptiles,and the abundance and species richness of reptiles in the MSD were higher than those in HAP20-30 habitats.Phrynocephalus przewalskii and Scincella doriae captured increased slightly in HAP5-10 habitats compared to MSD habitats,but decreasing in HAP20.30 habi-tats.Eremias przewalskii caught in MSD was significantly higher than in HAP5-10 and HAP20-30 habitats.The mam-mal assemblages also showed significant variations between MSD with HAP5-10 and HAP20-30 habitats.Conversion of mobile sandy dune to H.ammodendron plantations significantly increased the monthly relative abundance in-dex,species richness and diversity index of mammals.The activity intensity of both Rhombomys opimus and predatory mammals(e.g.,Otocolobus manul and Vulpes vulpes)increased and then decreased with the number of years of restoration of the H.ammodendron plantations.Conversion of mobile sandy dune to H.ammodendron plantations also affected arthropod,reptile and theropod interactions.The activity intensity of Felis silvestris was significantly negatively correlated with that of R.opimus,and that of Vormela peregusna was significantly posi-tively correlated with that of R.opimus,and activity intensity of O.manul and V.peregusna was negatively corre-lated with abundance of E.przewalskii.The abundance of reptiles was significantly negatively with the abun-dance of Arachnida,and the activity intensities of O.manul and V.vulpes was significantly positively correlated with the abundance of Coleoptera.In addition,it was found that the conversion of mobile sandy dunes into H.ammodendron plantations reduced the predation intensity of arachnid arthropods on beetles(Coleoptera)and ants(Formicidae).In conclusion,the transformation of mobile sandy dunes into H.ammodendron plantations had increased the abundance of R.opimus,reptiles and arthropods,and the intensity of predatory animals such as V.peregusna,O.manul and V.vulpes had increased and altered arthropod,reptile and animal interactions,which affects the desert animal diversity and their ecological functions.
the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basinmobile sandy dunesHaloxylon ammodendron plan-tationsreptilesmammals
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