中国林学（英文版）2008，Vol.10Issue(2)：67-73,7.
Analysis of root fractal characteristics in remote areas of the Taklimakan desert, China
Analysis of root fractal characteristics in remote areas of the Taklimakan desert, China
摘要
Abstract
Fractal geometry is a potential new approach to analyze the root architecture, which may offer improved ways to quantify and summarize root system complexity as well as yield ecological and physiological insights into the functional relevance of specific architectural patterns. Fractal analysis is a sensitive measure of root branching intensity and fractal dimension expresses the "space filling" properties of a structure. The objective of this study was to find out the fractal characteristics of root systems in a remote area of the Taklimakan desert in China. The entire root system of two naturally occurring species were excavated and exposed with shovels in 2007. The species were Tamarix taklamakanensis and Calligonum roborovskii. A one-factorial ANOVA with species as factor showed statistically a highly significant difference in fractal dimensions, indicating differences in their pattern of root branching. There was no relationship between root diameter and two parameters of fractal root models a and q, representing general characteristics of root systems, for either species (α: the ratio of the sum of root cross-sectional areas after a branching to the cross-sectional area before root division; q: the distribution of the cross-sectional areas after branching). We have found significant linear relationships between the diameter after branching and root length and biomass respectively, because of the self-similarity of root branching. Branching rules are the same for roots of all sizes and lengths. Root biomass for the root systems of entire trees can be estimated by measuring the diameter of each root at the base of the trunk or the diameter after branching. We have shown that the diameter of each root at the base of the trunk and the diameter after branching are effective indices that can be measured easily in order to estimate the root lengths, biomass and other parameters of root architecture.关键词
Taklimakan desert, root architecture, fractal dimension, root length, root biomassKey words
Taklimakan desert, root architecture, fractal dimension, root length, root biomass分类
农业科技引用本文复制引用
YANG Xiao-lin,ZHANG Xi-ming,LI Yi-ling,LI Shao-cai,SUN Hai-long..Analysis of root fractal characteristics in remote areas of the Taklimakan desert, China[J].中国林学（英文版）,2008,10(2):67-73,7.基金项目
This study was financially supported by the Important Directional Projects of the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZCX-SW-3542-02) and the Research Development Planning Program of the National High and New Technology of China (Grant No. 2004BA901A21-1). （Grant No. KZCX-SW-3542-02）
