Phylogeographic Structure of a Tethyan Relict Capparis spinosa (Capparaceae) Traces Pleistocene Geologic and Climatic Changes in the Western Himalayas, Tianshan Mountains, and Adjacent Desert Regions.

Complex geological movements more or less affected or changed floristic structures, while the alternation of glacials and interglacials is presumed to have further shaped the present discontinuous genetic pattern of temperate plants. Here we consider Capparis spinosa, a xeromorphic Tethyan relict, to discuss its divergence pattern and explore how it responded in a stepwise fashion to Pleistocene geologic and climatic changes. 267 individuals from 31 populations were sampled and 24 haplotypes were identified, based on three cpDNA fragments (trnL-trnF, rps12-rpl20, and ndhF).

[Effects of microbial agents on litter decomposition in urban protective greenbelts of arid zone].

In order to explore the ways for promoting litter decomposition in urban protective greenbelts of arid zone, litter falls were collected from the protective greenbelts in north suburb of Karamay, Xinjiang, and a composting experiment with the inoculation of three kinds of microbial agents, i.e., Qingzhu, Jiegan, and Sufu, was carried out for 198 days in late October 2007.

[Contribution of soil seed bank to the regeneration of damaged vegetation on floodplain].

A field germination experiment of soil seed bank was carried out on two typical floodplains in the lower reaches of Tarim River, and a comparison was made between the soil seed banks and corresponding seedling banks on the two floodplains, aimed to assess the contribution of soil seed bank to the regeneration of damaged vegetation. The results showed that there were 12 plant species in the soil seed banks, and the life forms were mainly perennial herbs and shrubs. The soil seed banks had a density of 282.