Vascular plants exert significant effects on micro-environment, thereby affecting the distribution of biological soil crusts (biocrusts). The relationship between vascular plants and the spatial distribution characteristics of biocrusts is largely unknown. We investigated the distribution characteristics of biocrusts under the canopy of vascular plants in the water-wind erosion crisscross area of the Loess Plateau, where larger areas of biocrusts had been formed since the implantation of "Grain for Green" project. We analyzed the relationship between the canopy characteristics of different vascular plants and the spatial distribution of biocrusts using correlation analysis and random forest importance ranking methods, and further constructed a predictive model for the area of biocrusts under the canopy of vascular plants. The results showed that: 1) Cyanobacteria crust was the predominant biocrusts, followed by moss crust. 2) The canopy of vascular plants affected the spatial distribution of biocrusts, with notable differences in distribution pattern across different directions under the canopy of vascular plants. Biocrusts were primarily distributed in the 270°-315° and 315°-360° directions, while was less frequent in the 90°-135° and 135°-180° directions. 3) Radially, the coverage of biocrusts gradually increased from the root-base to the edge of the canopy of vascular plants. 4) The coverage of biocrusts under canopy was significantly related to the characteristics of vascular plants, including canopy area, long crown width, short crown width, litter area and plant height. 5) The relative importance of canopy area, long crown width, and short crown width to the biocrusts under the canopy was 13.7%, 12.1%, and 11.9%, respectively, while the relative importance of plant height and species type was relatively low, being 6.7% and 4.4%, respectively. 6) Results of the random forest model demonstrated strong predictive performance for biocrusts distribution based on canopy characteristics of vascular plants, with a prediction accuracy of 0.59 () and a root mean square error of 1.2 m. This model could be applied to predict and estimate the area of biocrusts under the canopy of vascular plants. This study provided a theoretical basis for in-depth understanding of the relationship between vascular plants and biocrusts in semi-arid climate regions, as well as for predicting the spatial distribution of biocrusts.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.202409.017DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

vascular plants
52
biocrusts canopy
24
canopy vascular
24
biocrusts
17
spatial distribution
16
crown width
16
canopy
13
vascular
13
plants
13
plants spatial
12

Similar Publications

In the current study, the effects of fermentation by Lactobacillus acidophilus, Levilactobacillus brevis or Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (La/Lb/Lp, 1-2.5%) and incubation (30/37 °C, C1/C2) of red beetroot juice on the profile of betalains and polyphenols (UHPLC-DAD-MS), and antioxidant capacity using photochemiluminescence (PCL) and spectrophotometric assays (DPPH/ABTS) was investigated. Additionally, anti-glycaemic (anti-AGEs) and anticholinergic (anti-AChE) potential in vitro was analysed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Determination and validation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH4) in katsuobushi, plant-based food supplements, and cocoa bean shells using GC-MS/MS.

J Food Drug Anal

December 2024

Division of Research and Analysis, Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No.161-2, Kunyang St, Nangang District, Taipei City 11561, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are primarily generated through the incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic materials in various industrial processes. Foods may become contaminated with environmental PAHs found in air, soil, or water, or through industrial food processing methods such as smoking, roasting, drying, and grilling. The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan has established maximum levels for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and indicative values for BaP as well as PAH4 (the sum of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) in foods as operational guidelines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Development and industrial application of geographical origin identification for Taiwanese oolong tea.

J Food Drug Anal

December 2024

Tea and Beverage Research Station (TBRS), No.324, Chung-Hsing RD., Yangmei, Taoyuan City 326011, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Taiwanese oolong tea is renowned for its excellent quality and enjoys a prestigious reputation both domestically and internationally. In recent years, there has been an issue with imported Taiwanese-style oolong tea being sold as genuine Taiwanese oolong tea, which has adversely affected the brand value of Taiwanese oolong tea. In this study, samples of domestic oolong tea (Taiwanese oolong tea) and Taiwanese-style oolong tea produced abroad (including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, etc.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bitter acids (BA) are main component of Humulus lupulus L. (hops). They are known for beer brewing and have various biological and pharmacological properties, especially the bone-protective effect confirmed by our previous in vivo study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The increasing cultivation of perennial C4 grass known as Miscanthus spp. for biomass production holds promise as a sustainable source of renewable energy. Unlike the sterile triploid hybrid of M.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!