新疆北部荒漠典型“风滚”植物角果藜多态繁殖体生产的生态适应意义

繁殖体多态性是植物长期适应严酷环境条件而形成的一种繁殖策略，是植物适应性进化的重要特征之一。本项目将以新疆北部荒漠植物群落中同时兼具“风滚”扩散特性、地上-地表结实以及多态繁殖体等特点的优势藜科植物角果藜为研究材料，通过对该物种多态繁殖体的发生与形态建成及其对子代适合度的影响、生境异质性对多态繁殖体生产及“风滚”扩散特性对不同休眠程度的多态繁殖体扩散和定植及种群格局的影响等研究，分析该物种繁殖体形态差异与其花器官发生及多态繁殖体胚形态与其萌发行为和幼苗建成的关系，揭示该物种多态繁殖体生产对异质生境的可塑性响应特征，预测该物种在新疆北部的种群分布动态，探讨多态繁殖体与其“风滚”扩散特性的耦合对荒漠环境的生态适应对策，以期为全面揭示新疆北部荒漠生态系统的维持和演变提供重要理论依据，并为新疆荒漠区的生态保育与治理提供理论资料。

Propagule polymorphism is one of the reproductive strategies that has evolved as a long-term adaptation of plants to harsh and variable environments. The species selected as the experimental organism is Ceratocarpus arenarius, one of the predominant species in plant communities of the cold desert region of northern Xinjiang. Ceratocarpus arenarius is a typical “tumbleweed” and an amphi-basicarpic species that produces polymorphic propagules with various degrees of dormancy. The occurrence and development of the polymorphic propagules and their effects on offspring fitness, polymorphic propagules production in heterogeneous habitats and the effects of plant tumbling on dispersal and placement of polymorphic propagules with different degrees of dormancy and the population patterns of this species will be quantified for C. arenarius. Through the above study, we will determine the relationship between different morphologies and sizes of the propagules and the developmental patterns of their flowers and between color and size of embryo and seed germination and seedling establishment. More specifically, the plastic response of polymorphic propagules production of this species to the heterogeneous environmental conditons of its habitat will be ascertained. Moreover, we will forecast the effects of polymorphic propagules and plant tumbling on population patterns of temporal and spatial distribution in the desert region of northern Xinjiang. Thereby, we will explore the ecological adaptive strategies of this tumbling species with polymorphic propagules to its various habitats in the cold desert. The information collected in this study will serve as a basis for the development of a general theoretical basis on maintenence of the desert ecosystem of northern Xinjiang and as an important resource for people working to protect and restore this arid region of northwest China.