Disturbance effect of rodents on soil and vegetation in desert ecosystem

Abstract

Abstract: Disturbance-caused patch is of significance in the development and maintenance of temporal and spatial heterogeneity in desert ecosystem, while rodents are the important representatives of bio-disturbance, being a major source of patch formation in desert ecosystem. Rodents have evolved a series of physiological, morphological, and behavioral characteristics to adapt the asperity of desert environment, and their excavating and feeding activities also deeply affect the environment of desert ecosystem. This paper summarized the disturbance effect of rodents on soil (pedogenesis, patch formation, and physical and chemical properties) and vegetation (species diversity, productivity, and seed dispersion), aimed to illustrate the contributions of rodents activities to desert ecosystem.

Key words: Mangrove, Sonneratia apetala extension area, Tree species, Niche breadth, Niche overlap

JIANG Hui-ping^1,2; YANG Wei-kang¹; HU Zuo-jun³ . Disturbance effect of rodents on soil and vegetation in desert ecosystem[J]. cje.

[1]	ZHANG Yannan, WANG Juan, LIU Jinwei, XUE Zhiyong, WU Qiucheng, MU Fanghong. Community characteristics of meiofauna in sediment and leaf litter of different habitats in mangrove wetland of Zhangjiang estuary. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2026, 45(1): 28-39.
[2]	ZE Handong, CHEN Yahui, CHEN Xuechu, YOU Wenhui, YANG Yue, ZHANG Zhao, YANG Hualei. Dynamics and modulators of soil organic carbon stocks in the northward-afforested mangroves in southern Zhejiang, China. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2026, 45(1): 40-48.
[3]	WU Yifan, JIANG Biqian, LI Ruili, SHEN Xiaoxue. Valuation and strategic application of carbon sequestration services in mangrove ecosystems. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2026, 45(1): 49-60.
[4]	WU Kangli, YE Yong. Review on the effects of flooding stress on mangrove plants. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2026, 45(1): 61-68.
[5]	HAO Zongran, SHEN Qinghua, ZHOU Weilong, WANG Dan, CHEN Yani, ZHANG Yulin, CHENG Xiangrong. Plant functional traits and their relationship with stand carbon density in Cunninghamia lanceolata forests with different sprout densities at the early stage of succession. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2026, 45(1): 102-110.
[6]	HAN Jiaxuan, SUN Haokang, ZHANG Zihang, JIA Jianheng, GUO Mingming. Resilience response of radial growth of Betula platyphylla, Picea asperata, and Larix principis-rupprechtii to extreme drought events. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2025, 44(9): 2887-2894.
[7]	BAO Mingyan, LI Xiuzhen, CHEN Xuechu, DU Minghui, LI Changda, CHEN Yahui, YANG Hualei. Dynamics of carbon sink capacity in young northward-afforested mangroves in southern Zhejiang Province. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2025, 44(9): 2976-2982.
[8]	Enkaer Shadekebieke, Kailibinuer Nuermaimaiti, Aliya Baiduorela. Spatiotemporal variation of dust retention in the leaves of common greening tree species in Urumqi. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2025, 44(7): 2185-2192.
[9]	WANG Wenjing, YAO Qi, ZHAO Chunzhou, WANG Na, WANG Yan. Structure and physiological and ecological functions of root tissue of typical mangrove plants. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2025, 44(7): 2399-2407.
[10]	LI Mao, CHEN Sirong, HUANG Guoyan, GONG Zhanbin, LI Chao, ZHANG Jinlong, CHEN Guohua, LI Yunguo, ZHANG Xiaoming. Population dynamics and temporal niche of main pests and natural enemies in apple orchards under different planting patterns. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2025, 44(2): 471-481.
[11]	HAO Jiaxin, JIN Shan, TIE Jun. Niche characteristics and interspecific association of herbaceous medicinal plants in Huguan County, Shanxi, China. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2025, 44(2): 493-501.
[12]	HONG Ruicheng, ZHU Xilong, XU Shiying, MA Cheng, FANG Xiangyang, YAN Xiangxiang, HAN Li, WANG Qiuhua. Research advances on fire adaptations and responses of major coniferous tree species in southwest China’s forests. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2025, 44(12): 4152-4158.
[13]	LIN Junliang, TIAN Yichao, ZHANG Yali, BAI Xiaomei, ZHANG Qiang, TAO Jin, YANG Yunzhen. Characteristics of soil particle size distribution at the estuary of Maoling River, Beibu Gulf. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2025, 44(11): 3683-3693.
[14]	LI Huazhe, DOU Zhiguo, NIE Leichao, WANG Junjie, GAO Changjun, TANG Xiying, ZHAI Xiajie, LI Wei. Hyperspectral retrieval of leaf ecological stoichiometry of mangrove species with RF and BPNN models in Qinglangang Mangrove Nature Reserve, Hainan. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2024, 43(8): 2523-2530.
[15]	SU Yingjia, YANG Kai, ZHANG Qian, XU Shuang, YU Lizhong, ZHANG Jinxin. Research progress on soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability and influencing factors of different mycorrhizal tree species. [J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2024, 43(7): 2208-2221.

Disturbance effect of rodents on soil and vegetation in desert ecosystem

PDF (PC)

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

References

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments