Groundwater Depth Drives Carbon Pools and Population Dynamics in Deep-Rooted Desert Plants of a Hyper-Arid Ecosystem.

ABSTRACT: Groundwater plays a crucial role in supporting vegetation in hyper-arid regions, yet its regulatory effects on deep-rooted plants remain poorly understood. This study examined Alhagi sparsifolia Shap., a groundwater-dependent desert shrub at the southern Tarim Basin, over 4 years (2021-2024). We investigated how groundwater depth (2.5, 4.5, 11.0 m) influences population dynamics, biomass, and non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs). Our findings reveal that groundwater depth critically regulates carbon allocation and plant performance. NSC content exhibited nonlinear responses, with soluble sugars and starch reduced at 4.5 m depth, but elevated at 11.0 m. While total carbon content remained stable, its seasonal and interannual fluctuations were significant. Population density decreased,

SUBMITTER: Huang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12572830 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature