Objective To investigate the species number, vegetation composition and α diversity index variation of typical Haloxylon ammodendron communities in the Junggar Basin, so as to provide theoretical basis for community conservation and degraded ecosystem restoration.
Methods Based on field survey data of Haloxylon ammodendron communities in the Junggar Basin, we took species importance values as quantitative indicators, adopted Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) for community classification, and calculated four α diversity indices.
Results (1) A total of 77 vascular plant species belonging to 20 families and 58 genera were recorded in the survey; (2) The natural Haloxylon ammodendron communities in the Junggar Basin were divided into 15 associations; (3) The median values of Margalef richness index (7.04), Simpson dominance index (0.62), Shannon-Wiener diversity index (1.14) and Pielou’s evenness index (0.84) of all associations were generally at a low level.
Conclusion Among the 15 classified associations, herbaceous species showed higher occurrence frequency than shrubs. Association Ⅷ (Haloxylon ammodendron-Salsola brachiata-Echinops gmelinii) possessed the highest α diversity indices. On the whole, herbaceous species occupied a larger proportion in the Haloxylon ammodendron communities of the Junggar Basin.
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