scholarly journals Vegetation Properties in Human-Impacted Riparian Zones Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery: An Analysis of River Reaches in the Yongding River Basin

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Liangsuo Ren ◽  
Yadong Liu ◽  
Shurong Zhang ◽  
Lirong Cheng ◽  
Yujing Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Natural Factors ◽  
Plant Life ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
The Yongding River ◽  
Yongding River

Riparian zones, transitional areas between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, have high plant species diversities. However, they are extremely vulnerable to natural factors, such as changes in river hydrological conditions (floods, droughts) and disturbances from human activities (dams, farmland encroachment, etc.). The distribution of plant life forms and variations in the degree of vegetation coverage in a riparian zone can reflect changes in the environmental conditions. In this study, we analyzed eight reaches from the four main tributaries (Dongyang River, Yang River, Sanggan River, and Yongding River) of the Yongding River Basin, which were selected based on their climate, terrain, and degree of human disturbance. One reach was located on the Dongyang River (DYR), two reaches on the Yang River (YR1 and YR2), three on the Sanggan River (SGR1, 2, and 3), and two on the Yongding River (YDR1 and YDR2). Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology was used to obtain high-resolution, true-color, multispectral images. The distributions of the plant life forms and the differences in the vegetation coverage were analyzed in the eight selected riparian zones. The results showed that grasses dominated the riparian zone and shrubs and trees were sparsely distributed along both banks of all streams, excluding SGR2 and YDR1. The areas with an extremely high vegetation coverage classification accounted for the highest proportion in the DYR (29.3%), YR2 (48.1%), SGR1 (32.9%), SGR2 (39.9%), SGR3 (85.1%), YDR1 (36.7%), and YDR2 (51.1%) reaches. Extremely low vegetation coverage accounted for the highest proportion in the YR2 reach, reaching 37.4%. This study indicated that natural factors and human activities have a serious impact on the distribution of different plants life forms and vegetation coverage classifications in the riparian zones of the Yongding River Basin. We hope that this research can provide practical assistance in the efforts of ecological restoration and the management of riparian vegetation in the Yongding River Basin.

Distribution of plant life forms along an altitudinal gradient in the semi-arid valley of Zapotitlán, Mexico

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Numa P. Pavón ◽  
Humberto Hernández-Trejo ◽  
Víctor Rico-Gray
Keyword(s):  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals The role of terrestrial bromeliads in determining the spatial organization of plant life forms in a tropical coastal forest

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-92
Author(s):  
Celio M. Lopes ◽  
Flora Misaki ◽  
Karina Santos ◽  
Carlos A. P. Evangelista ◽  
Tatiana T. Carrijo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Coastal Forest ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life

scholarly journals Plant Life Forms

Nature ◽  
1937 ◽  
Vol 140 (3555) ◽  
pp. 1035-1035
Keyword(s):  
Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life

scholarly journals Root-shoot interactions and plant life forms.

1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-303
Author(s):  
E.-D. Schulze
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Transpiration Rate ◽  
Plant Architecture ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Competitive Growth ◽  
Nutrient Flows ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life ◽  
Root:Shoot Ratios

Interactions of water and nutrient flows on C relations are explained and typical features of root:shoot ratios in perennial plants including grasses and woody spp. are discussed. In a hydrostable annual crop plant (cowpea) partitioning was controlled by transpiration rate/leaf area and by the capacity of the root for water uptake. For perennial woody spp. the significance of plant architecture and morphology is demonstrated for a situation of competitive growth. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

scholarly journals Simulation of Vegetation Cover Based on the Theory of Ecohydrological Optimality in the Yongding River Watershed, China

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1377
Author(s):  
Yixuan Zhang ◽  
Tingning Zhao ◽  
Changqing Shi ◽  
Qiang Ma
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
River Watershed ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
The Yongding River ◽  
Yongding River

During ecological restoration, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the state of vegetation in climate–soil–vegetation systems. The theory of ecohydrological optimality assumes that this state tends to reach long-term dynamic equilibrium between the available water supply of the system and the water demand of vegetation, which is driven by the maximization of productivity. This study aimed to understand the factors that affect the spatial distribution of vegetation and simulate the ideal vegetation coverage (M0) that a specific climate and soil can maintain under an equilibrium state. The ecohydrological optimality model was applied based on meteorological, soil, and vegetation data during the 2000–2018 growing seasons, and the sensitivity of the simulated results to input data under distinct vegetation and soil conditions was also considered in the Yongding River watershed, China. The results revealed that the average observed vegetation coverage (M) was affected by precipitation characteristic factors, followed by wind speed and relative humidity. The M, as a whole, exhibited horizontal zonal changes from a spatial perspective, with an average value of 0.502, whereas the average M0 was 0.475. The ecohydrological optimality theory ignores the drought resistance measures evolved by vegetation in high vegetation coverage areas and is applicable to simulate the long-term average vegetation coverage that minimizes water stress and maximizes productivity. The differences between M and M0 increased from the northwest to the southeast of this area, with a maximum value exceeding 0.3. Meteorological factors were the most sensitive factors of this model, and the M0 of the steppe was most sensitive to the stem fraction, mean storm depth, and air temperature. Whether soil factors are sensitive depends on soil texture. Overall, the study of the carrying capacity of vegetation in the natural environment contributes to providing new insights into vegetation restoration and the conservation of water resources.

scholarly journals Quantifying the Influences of Natural Factors and Human Activities on NDVI Changes in the Hanjiang River Basin, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 3780
Author(s):  
Ting Chen ◽  
Jun Xia ◽  
Lei Zou ◽  
Si Hong
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Vegetation Growth ◽  
Natural Factors ◽  
Range Type ◽  
Hanjiang River ◽  
The Impact

The Hanjiang River Basin (HJRB) is an important source area for drinking water in Hubei Province, China, and the vegetation coverage there is important to the ecological system. Due to the spatial heterogeneity and synergistic effect of various factors, it is very difficult to identify the main factors affecting vegetation growth in the HJRB. With the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data from 2001 to 2018 in the HJRB, the spatiotemporal patterns of NDVI and the influences of natural factors and human activities on NDVI were investigated and quantified based on the Mann-Kendall (M-K) test, partial correlation analysis, and Geographical Detector. The individual factors and their interactions and the range/type of factor attributes suitable for vegetation growth were also examined. NDVI in the HJRB increased from 2001 to 2018, and the variation rate was 0.0046 year−1. NDVI was increasing in 81.17% of the area (p < 0.05). Elevation and slope can effectively explain the vegetation distribution. The interactions of factors on NDVI were significant, and the interactions of the elevation and precipitation can maximize the impact among all factors. The range of available landforms is thought to be highly conducive to vegetation growth. The rates of the annual precipitation and annual mean temperature changed from 2001 to 2018, which were 3.665 mm/year and 0.017 °C/year, and the regions where NDVI positively correlated with them were over 85%. Contrary to the general trend, NDVI has obviously decreased in urban areas since 2010. The quantitative findings of this study can help us better understand the effects of various factors on vegetation growth and provide appropriate suggestions for vegetation protection and restoration in the HJRB.

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