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Article
Open AccessEffect of grazing disturbance on floral display, pollen limitation and plant pollination efficiency in the desert steppe
Grazing disturbance usually affects floral display and pollination efficiency in the desert steppe, which may cause pollen limitation in insect-pollinated plants. Effective pollination is essential for the rep...
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Article
Open AccessComparative effects of pollen limitation, floral traits and pollinators on reproductive success of Hedysarum scoparium Fisch. et Mey. in different habitats
Reproduction in most flowering plants may be limited because of the decreased visitation or activity of pollinators in fragmented habitats. Hedysarum scoparium Fisch. et Mey. is an arid region shrub with ecologic...
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Article
Open AccessImpact of floral characters, pollen limitation, and pollinator visitation on pollination success in different populations of Caragana korshinskii Kom
Caragana korshinskii Kom. has a significant function in desert-grassland revegetation in arid regions. Plant reproduction in arid regions can be restricted due to inadequate pollen receipt and reduced pollen tran...
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Article
Effects of sand burial on the survival and growth of two shrubs dominant in different habitats of northern China
Plants that grow in dune ecosystems always suffer from sand burial. Shrubs play implications on the healthy functioning of dune ecosystems due to control blowing sand. However, the survival and growth response...
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Article
Effects of habitat disturbance on the pollination system of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim) Cheng f. at the landscape-level in an arid region of Northwest China
Ammopiptanthus mongolicus is an ecologically important species in the arid region of Northwest China. Habitat disturbance can significantly affect plant mating success and ultimately spec...
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Article
Responses of soil fungal community to the sandy grassland restoration in Horqin Sandy Land, northern China
Sandy grassland restoration is a vital process including re-structure of soils, restoration of vegetation, and soil functioning in arid and semi-arid regions. Soil fungal community is a complex and critical co...
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Article
Comparative reproductive biology of Apocynum venetum L. in wild and managed populations in the arid region of NW China
Apocynum venetum L. (dogbane) is one of the ecologically important species in the arid region of Northwest China. To select plants with higher flowering rate and fruit production, we investigated...
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Article
Effects of land use intensity on the restoration capacity of sandy land vegetation and soil moisture in fenced sandy land in desert area
Effects of different land use intensity (phytomass semi-cutting and all-cutting) on structure characteristics of plant community and soil moisture in a natural vegetation enclosure and an artificially-aided en...
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Article
Changes in soil macrofaunal community composition under selective afforestation in shifting sand lands in Horqin of Inner Mongolia, northern China
Large-scale afforestation programs have had some beneficial effects on reducing severity of dust storms and controlling desertification in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the influences of selective affor...
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Article
Linking root morphology, longevity and function to root branch order: a case study in three shrubs
Root branching order supports a powerful approach to understanding complex root systems; however, how the pattern of root morphological characteristics, tissue carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, and r...
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Article
Vertical distribution, biomass, production and turnover of fine roots along a topographical gradient in a sandy shrubland
In an artificial Salix gordejevii Chang et Skv. plantation of the Horqin sandy land, we investigated vertical distribution (in 0–100 cm depth), biomass (FRD), fine root production (FRP), fine root length density ...
