Study On Bryoflora And Ecology Of Bryophytes In Sangong River Valley, Xinjiang

The methods of traditional classification, quantitative classification and ordination analysis, coefficient of similarity, diversity index and so on were applied to study the bryoflora, ecology and diversity pattern of bryophyte vegetation in Sangong River Valley, North part of Xinjiang, China.Based on comprehensive collecting and identifying of specimen, investigating of sites and samples, a relatively complete checklist of bryophytes in Sangong River Valley was provided (there are 216 taxa belonging to 91genera and 37 families). The dominant geographic element is north temperate element accounting for 63.88% of the total species. The description and illustrations of Cinclidotus fontinaloides based on Chinese collection is presented in detail for the first time in China. The distribution characteristic of bryophyte in this valley was also studied. Based on field data, TWINSPAN, DCA and regression analysis were applied in the ecological studies of bryophytes for the first time in arid areas in China. The relationships of main bryophytes with their environmental factors were quantitatively and visually displayed on the ordination plots of DCA. Through quantitative analysis, the bryophyte vegetation in study area can be grouped into 6 main community types. The main environmental factors determining distribution of various kinds of bryophyte communities are soil water content and annual rainfall. Through analysis of coefficient of similarity and diversity index, the diversity patterns of bryophyte vegetation were studied and it was put forward that the forest belt of this valley is a distribution center of bryophytes and key area for bryophyte diversity conservation in this region. The author also investigated certain bryophyte species involving in formation of the soil crust in desert surface. Four bryophyte species were isolated and identified for the first time in Guerbantonggute Desert, the second largest desert in Xinjiang. The structure and distribution patterns of soil crust were also studied, which act as a threshold for further study of the mechanism and process of formation of soil crust in desert area. In this paper, coefficient of similarity analysis was used to study flora similarity of mountain bryophyte in Xinjiang. The results show that the similarity of bryophyte vegetation between Tianshan Mountains and Altai Mountains is the highest one among three mountains in Xinjiang. The results of coefficient of similarity analysis are in accordance with results of climatic data analysis.