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Journal of Arid Land
Journal of Arid Land  2025, Vol. 17 Issue (11): 1590-1603    DOI: 10.1007/s40333-025-0059-x    
Research article     
Determining groundwater-dependent ecological thresholds in the oasis-desert ecotone by exploring the linkage between plant communities and groundwater depth
CHANG Jingjing1,2, ZENG Fanjiang1,3,4, TAO Hui1,2,4, WANG Shunke1,3,4, LIU Xin1,3,4, XUE Jie1,3,4,*()
1State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
2Aksu National Station of Observation and Research for Oasis Agro-ecosystem, Aksu 843017, China
3Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Qira 848300, China
4University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Abstract  

The diversity and discontinuity of plant communities in the oasis-desert ecotone are largely shaped by variations in groundwater depth, yet the relationships between spatial distribution patterns and ecological niches at a regional scale remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the oasis-desert ecotone in Qira County located in the Tarim Basin of China to investigate the spatial distribution of plant communities and groundwater depth as well as their relationships using an integrated approach that combined remote sensing techniques, field monitoring, and numerical modeling. The results showed that vegetation distribution exhibits marked spatial heterogeneity, with coverage ranked as follows: Tamarix ramosissima>Phragmites australis>Populus euphratica>Alhagi sparsifolia. Numerical simulations indicated that groundwater depths range from 2.00 to 65.00 m below the surface, with the system currently in equilibrium, sustaining an average annual recharge of 1.06×108 m3 and an average annual discharge of 1.01×108 m3. Groundwater depth strongly influences vegetation composition and structure: Phragmites australis dominates at average groundwater depth of 5.83 m, followed by Populus euphratica at average groundwater depth of 7.05 m. As groundwater depth increases, the community is initially predominated by Tamarix ramosissima (average groundwater depth of 8.35 m), then becomes a mixture of Tamarix ramosissima, Populus euphratica, and Karelinia caspia (average groundwater depth of 10.50 m), and finally transitions to Alhagi sparsifolia (average groundwater depth of 14.30 m). These findings highlight groundwater-dependent ecological thresholds that govern plant community composition and provide a scientific basis for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem stability, and vegetation restoration in the arid oasis-desert ecotone.

Key words： oasis-desert ecotone      groundwater depth      vegetation community      Tamarix ramosissima      groundwater numerical model      Tarim Basin     
Received: 28 May 2025      Published: 30 November 2025
Corresponding Authors: *XUE Jie (E-mail: xuejie11@ms.xjb.ac.cn)
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CHANG Jingjing
ZENG Fanjiang
TAO Hui
WANG Shunke
LIU Xin
XUE Jie
Cite this article:

CHANG Jingjing, ZENG Fanjiang, TAO Hui, WANG Shunke, LIU Xin, XUE Jie. Determining groundwater-dependent ecological thresholds in the oasis-desert ecotone by exploring the linkage between plant communities and groundwater depth. Journal of Arid Land, 2025, 17(11): 1590-1603.

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http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1007/s40333-025-0059-x     OR     http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2025/V17/I11/1590

Fig. 1 Overview of the study area (Qira oasis-desert ecotone) and geographical locations of the groundwater monitoring wells
Fig. 2 Distribution of main vegetation communities in the Qira oasis-desert ecotone based on GF-1 satellite images. Pe, Populus euphratica; Tr, Tamarix ramosissima; As, Alhagi sparsifolia; Pa, Phragmites australis; Tr-As-Kc, Tamarix ramosissima-Alhagi sparsifolia-Karelinia caspia; Tr-Pa, Tamarix ramosissima-Phragmites australis.
Fig. 3 Variation in observed groundwater depth across the Qira oasis and desert in recent years
Fig. 4 Zones with stable and unstable groundwater depth in the Qira oasis
Fig. 5 Hydrogeological groundwater monitoring in different plant community areas of the oasis-desert ecotone. (a), As (Alhagi sparsifolia); (b), Tr (Tamarix ramosissima); (c), Pe (Populus euphratica); (d), Tr-As-Kc (Tamarix ramosissima-Alhagi sparsifolia-Karelinia caspia); (e), Kc (Karelinia caspia); (f), Tr-Pa (Tamarix ramosissima-Phragmites australis); (g), Pa (Phragmites australis); (h), Tr-As (Tamarix ramosissima-Alhagi sparsifolia).
Fig. 6 Groundwater recharge and discharge in the oasis irrigation area. CSR, CLR, IRR, and LI refer to variables of groundwater recharge including channel seepage recharge, canal leakage recharge, irrigation reinfiltration recharge, and lateral inflow, respectively. PWE, AE, FE, and LO stand for phreatic water evaporation, artificial exploitation, farm evapotranspiration, and lateral outflow, respectively.
Fig. 7 Relationship between groundwater depth and main plant communities in the oasis-desert ecotone. Tr-Pa, Tamarix ramosissima-Phragmites australis; Pa, Phragmites australis; Pe, Populus euphratica; Tr, Tamarix ramosissima; Tr-As-Kc, Tamarix ramosissima-Alhagi sparsifolia-Karelinia caspia; As, Alhagi sparsifolia.
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