Study on potential distribution of Haloxylon plants dominated desert vegetation in China
我国以梭梭属植物为优势的潜在荒漠植被分布

Based on a new published Vegetation Atlas of China and digitizing function of ARC/INFO GIS package, we produced a digital map to describe the actual distribution of Haloxylon plants dominated desert vegetation. The climatic requirements of Haloxylon species were extracted from the map subsequently using GREEN, a climate matching and mapping program for their potential distribution prediction. Compared between actual and potential distribution maps, the major factors that determine the potential distribution of Haloxylon plants dominated vegetation can be recognized and used to evaluate ecological potential of Haloxylon dominated desert vegetation in the future. The results showed that the desert vegetation dominated by Haloxylon plants mainly distribute in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Gansu and Qinghai Provinces, while the distribution of Haloxylon persicum dominated desert vegetation inhabit only in Xinjiang. Both actual and potential distributions of Haloxylon plants dominated desert vegetations cover the same administration divisions with similar topographic distribution. However, there are large differences in geographical extension and areas between actual and potential distribution. The potential distributions of Haloxylon plants are much bigger than their actual distribution. In China, the proportion of actual distribution area of Haloxylon ammodendron dominated desert vegetation accounts for 9.1% of its potential distribution area. Of which the actual area of H. ammodendron dominated desert vegetation accounts for 5.6% of potential area in Gansu province and vary from 16.1% to 6.4% and 10.5% in Qinghai, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, respectively. Meanwhile, the proportion of actual area of Haloxylon persicum dominated desert vegetation is 34.1% of its potential distribution area. The prediction of potential distribution of Haloxylon plants dominated desert vegetation provides a support of decision making for Haloxylon dominated desert vegetation restoration in western China.