Abstract: ased on the 1951-2006 air temperature and precipitation data from seven meteorological stations in Horqin Sandy Land, the past 56-year climate change characteristics in this semi-arid area with vulnerable eco-environment and severe land desertification were analyzed. From 1951 to 2006, the mean annual air temperature in this area increased by 0.28 ℃·10 a^-1, much higher than the global average value of 0.13 ℃·10 a^-1 in recent 50 years. The increasing trend of the temperature appeared in all four seasons, but was only significant in winter and spring (P<0.01), with an increasing rate of 0.46 ℃·10 a^-1and 0.39 ℃·10 a^-1, respectively. Both the maximum and the minimum mean annual temperatures increased significantly (P<0.01), and the increasing rate was about 0.17 ℃·10 a^-1 and 0.42 ℃·10 a^-1, respectively. The annual precipitation fluctuated among years, with no obvious change trend at yearly and seasonal scales, while the precipitation days decreased significantly at yearly scale (1.3 d·10 a^-1) but not at seasonal scale. No obvious change patterns were observed in the precipitation intensity both in yearly and seasonal scales. The annual light-rain days decreased significant (P<0.05) in a rate of 1.0 d·10 a^-1.

Key words: Megranate orchard, Arthropod community, Dynamics