Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele 848300, China.
Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele 848300, China.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Oct 20;844:157228. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157228. Epub 2022 Jul 6.
The upcoming launch of the post-2020 biodiversity framework entails elucidating the future priorities and strategies for conserving biodiversity on a regional and global scale. Desertification has caused significant environmental and socio-economic problems in many arid and semiarid areas of the world. Phreatophytes increase nutrient levels and water reserves in the ground below them and are essential resources for other plants and animals. Factors that can enhance or reduce the island effect of phreatophytes are worthy of research since they can contribute to the survival and growth of this group of plants. Furthermore, these plants substantially impact the whole environment and boast necessary evolutionary adaptations for sustaining islands of life in the arid landscape to prevent complete desertification. Alhagi sparsifolia is a semi-shrub legume and a typical desert phreatophyte. The main objective of this review is to disseminate research-based knowledge and improve awareness of this important plant species and provide a framework that could effectively improve regional socio-ecological environments, particularly in controlling desertification, thereby enhancing human welfare. First, we synthesized knowledge of the physiological acclimation of this species, above all in terms of water and nutrient use, the impact of salinity, and its response to different light environments and temperatures. Then, we analyzed the socio-ecological services that A. sparsifolia offers, highlighted the anthropogenic threats to its habitats, and strategies for its sustainable utilization and management. We conclude that more knowledge of how A. sparsifolia interacts with groundwater will contribute significantly to elucidating the possible effects of climate change and human activities on the sustainable use of groundwater. Protected areas must be set up, and key knowledge shared to combat desertification and improve people's welfare as a means of guaranteeing sustainable development. An integrative socio-ecological approach must be adapted to improve understanding of this valuable phreatophyte's importance and sustainable use and fulfill Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
即将推出的 2020 年后生物多样性框架需要阐明在区域和全球范围内保护生物多样性的未来重点和战略。荒漠化给世界上许多干旱和半干旱地区造成了重大的环境和社会经济问题。旱生植物增加了它们下面土壤中的养分水平和水分储量，是其他植物和动物的重要资源。值得研究那些可以增强或减少旱生植物岛屿效应的因素，因为它们可以促进这组植物的生存和生长。此外，这些植物对整个环境产生了重大影响，并且具有必要的进化适应能力，可以在干旱景观中维持生命岛屿，防止完全荒漠化。沙生槐是一种半灌木豆科植物，是一种典型的荒漠旱生植物。本综述的主要目的是传播基于研究的知识，提高对这种重要植物物种的认识，并提供一个框架，能够有效地改善区域社会生态环境，特别是在控制荒漠化方面，从而提高人类福祉。首先，我们综合了该物种生理适应的知识，特别是在水分和养分利用、盐分影响以及对不同光照环境和温度的响应方面。然后，我们分析了沙生槐提供的社会生态服务，强调了其栖息地面临的人为威胁，以及可持续利用和管理的策略。我们的结论是，更多地了解沙生槐与地下水的相互作用将对阐明气候变化和人类活动对可持续利用地下水的可能影响做出重大贡献。必须建立保护区，并分享关键知识，以打击荒漠化，提高人民的福祉，作为保障可持续发展的手段。必须采取综合社会生态方法，以提高对这种有价值的旱生植物的重要性和可持续利用的理解，并实现可持续发展目标。
