Vegetation response and succession simulation in Nanji Wetland National Nature Reserve of Poyang Lake under changing hydrological condition

HAN Zhen; SUN Long; WANG Shiyan; WANG Jie; WANG Jialin

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202508005

Volume 43 Issue 8

Aug. 2025

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2025 > 43(8): 60-71

HAN Zhen, SUN Long, WANG Shiyan, WANG Jie, WANG Jialin. Vegetation response and succession simulation in Nanji Wetland National Nature Reserve of Poyang Lake under changing hydrological condition[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 60-71. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508005

Citation:

HAN Zhen, SUN Long, WANG Shiyan, WANG Jie, WANG Jialin. Vegetation response and succession simulation in Nanji Wetland National Nature Reserve of Poyang Lake under changing hydrological condition[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 60-71. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508005

Citation:

HAN Zhen, SUN Long, WANG Shiyan, WANG Jie, WANG Jialin. Vegetation response and succession simulation in Nanji Wetland National Nature Reserve of Poyang Lake under changing hydrological condition[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 60-71. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508005

PDF( 0 KB)

Vegetation response and succession simulation in Nanji Wetland National Nature Reserve of Poyang Lake under changing hydrological condition

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508005

1. China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China;
2. State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, Beijing 100038, China;
3. Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China

Received Date: 2024-09-30
Accepted Date: 2025-03-25
Rev Recd Date: 2025-02-08

Abstract

Abstract

Hydrological processes are the fundamental driving force of wetland vegetation community succession. Poyang Lake， the largest freshwater wetland in China， exhibits highly dynamic vegetation structures and spatial distributions that are highly sensitive to variations in hydrological conditions. Since 2003， changes in the relationship between the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake have led to an earlier onset and prolonged duration of low-water periods， accompanied by decreasing average water levels during these periods. These hydrological changes have driven the succession of wetland vegetation communities toward mesophytic and drought-tolerant species， with their distribution elevations shifting progressively downward and aquatic vegetation experiencing significant degradation. This study focuses on the Nanji Wetland National Nature Reserve （NWNNR）， a representative wetland located in the southern part of Poyang Lake. NWNNR is a typical inland estuarine delta with rich and diverse wetland vegetation that supports a large number of wintering waterbirds. The reserve is close to a waterway connected to the Yangtze River. In recent years， changes in the hydrological relationship between the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake have worsened dry-season conditions， and the vegetation community structure and spatial distribution have also changed. However， existing research is still limited. Using field survey data on hydrology， topography， and vegetation， along with historical datasets， a population dynamics model driven by hydrological processes was developed by coupling the Lotka-Volterra model and the cellular automata model. This model can capture the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation expansion under varying hydrological conditions. The simulation results revealed significant differences in the response of wetland vegetation area to different hydrological cycles. During high-water periods， the wetland vegetation area contracted noticeably， whereas during normal- and low- water periods， vegetation expansion was prominent， with overall stability achieved within 3 to 5 years. The spatial heterogeneity of vegetation expansion was also evident， with weaker expansion observed in the delta of the northern branch of the Ganjiang River compared to the middle and southern branches. Longer inundation durations and higher inflow volumes in the northern branch were identified as key factors driving this disparity. Among the four dominant vegetation species， Carex spp. and Phalaris arundinacea exhibited relatively large expansion， predominantly on sandbars at elevations of 10 to 13 meters. In contrast， Phragmites australis and Triarrhena lutarioriparia tended to expand along inflow channels at elevations of approximately 14 meters， forming narrow strips no wider than 5 meters. These distribution patterns highlighted the influence of hydrological conditions and species-specific adaptation strategies， such as morphological adjustments or seasonal dormancy， to flooding stress. The results emphasize that hydrological processes not only govern vegetation dynamics but also influence the overall ecological structure and function of the wetland. This study provides critical insights into the mechanisms driving wetland vegetation dynamics under varying hydrological regimes. Furthermore， it underscores the importance of integrating hydrological management with ecological restoration to enhance habitat quality and biodiversity. The developed model serves as a valuable tool for predicting the impacts of future hydrological changes on wetland vegetation and offers guidance for sustainable wetland management. By improving the understanding of the interactions between hydrological processes and wetland vegetation， this research contributes to the development of effective conservation strategies and the maintenance of ecosystem services in dynamic freshwater wetlands.
- wetland vegetation,
- population expansion,
- spatial distribution,
- Poyang Lake,
- Nanji Wetland National Nature Reserve

FullText(HTML)

References(45)

References

[1]	TAO Y，HASTINGS A，LAFFERTY K D，et al. Landscape fragmentation overturns classical metapopulation thinking[J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences，2024，121（20）：e2303846121.
[2]	QI M，SUN T，ZHANG H，et al. Maintenance of salt barrens inhibited landward invasion of spartina species in salt marshes [J]. Ecosphere，2017，8（10）：e01982.
[3]	RAYFIELD B，BAINES C B，GILARRANZ L J，et al. Spread of networked populations is determined by the interplay between dispersal behavior and habitat configuration[J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences， 2023， 120（11）： e2201553120.
[4]	ZHU J，LUKIĆ N，PAGEL J，et al. Density dependence of seed dispersal and fecundity profoundly alters the spread dynamics of plant populations[J]. Journal of Ecology，2023，111（8）：1735-1748.
[5]	KEDDY P A. Wetland ecology：principles and conservation[M]. Cambridge，New York：Cambridge University Press，2000.
[6]	MENG Y，LI S peng，WANG S，et al. Scale-dependent changes in ecosystem temporal stability over six decades of succession[J]. Science Advances，2023，9（40）：eadi1279.
[7]	ZHANG W P，PAN S，JIA X，et al. Effects of positive plant interactions on population dynamics and community structures：a re-view based on individual-based simulation models：Effects of positive plant interactions on population dynamics and community structures： a re-view based on individual-based simulation models[J]. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology，2013，37（6）： 571-582.
[8]	汪洁，韩祯，刘晓波，等.江湖关系变化下雁类生境格局模拟及雁类种群的响应——以都昌保护区为例[J].生态学报， 2023，43（21）：9024-9037. WANG J，HAN Z，LIU X B，et al. Simulation of habitat pattern and population response of geese under the change of river-lake relationship：a case study of Duchang Nature Reserve，Jiangxi Province[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica，2023，43（21）：9024-9037
[9]	WAN R， DAI X， SHANKMAN D. Vegetation response to hydrological changes in Poyang Lake， China[J]. Wetlands， 2019，39（1）：99-112.
[10]	MU S，LI B，YAO J，et al. Monitoring the spatio-temporal dynamics of the wetland vegetation in Poyang Lake by Landsat and MODIS observations[J]. Science of the Total Environment， 2020，725：138096.
[11]	方春明，曹文洪，毛继新，等.鄱阳湖与长江关系及三峡蓄水的影响[J].水利学报，2012，43（2）：175-181. FANG C M，CAO W H，MAO J X，et al. Relationship between Poyang Lake and Yangtze River and influence of Three Georges Reservoir[J]. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering，2012，43（2）： 175-181
[12]	卢金友，朱勇辉.三峡水库下游江湖演变与治理若干问题探讨[J].长江科学院院报，2014，31（2）：98-107. LU J Y，ZHU Y H. Issues on evolution and regulation of Yangtze River and lakes downstream of TGP[J]. Journal of Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute，2014，31（2）：98-107.
[13]	邴建平，邓鹏鑫，吕孙云，等.鄱阳湖与长江干流水量交换效应及驱动因素分析[J].中国科学：技术科学，2017，47（8）： 856-870. BING J P，DENG P X，LÜ S Y，et al. The analysis of water exchange regime research on Poyang Lake and Yangtze River and driving factors[J]. Science China： Technological Sciences， 2017，47（8）：856-870.
[14]	刘晓波，韩祯，王世岩，等.长江大保护视角下鄱阳湖湿地保护的研究思考[J].中国水利水电科学研究院学报，2021，19（2）：201-209. LIU X B，HAN Z，WANG S Y，et al. A research thinking of Poyang Lake wetland from the perspective of Yangtze River protection[J]. Journal of China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research，2021，19（2）：201-209.
[15]	韩新星，艾金泉，叶子君，等.基于遥感云计算的鄱阳湖湿地植被群落分类研究[J].人民长江，2023，54（7）：55-60. HAN X X，AI J Q，YE Z J，et al. Classification of wetland vegetation community in Poyang Lake based on remote sensing cloud computing[J]. Yangtze River，2023，54（7）：55-60.
[16]	冯钱云.基于高光谱影像的南矶湿地光谱特征分析及分类[D].赣州：江西理工大学，2024. FENG Q Y. Spectral characteristics analysis and classification of Nanji Wetland based on hyperspectral imagery[D]. Ganzhou： Jiangxi University of Science and Technology，2024.
[17]	ZHANG Z，HUANG Y，XU C Y，et al. Analysis of Poyang Lake water balance and its indication of river-lake interaction[J]. SpringerPlus，2016，5（1）：1555.
[18]	GUO Y，LAI X，WU X，et al. Dry-season water level shift induced by channel change of the river-lake system in China’s largest freshwater lake，Poyang Lake[J]. Wetlands，2022，42（8）：112.
[19]	JIANG F，KUANG R，XIA A，et al. Variation characteristics of Poyang Lake water area and its response to meteorological factors in the past 35 years[J]. Journal of Water and Climate Change， 2023，14（8）：2706-2718.
[20]	TIAN B，GAO P，MU X，et al. Water area variation and river– lake interactions in the Poyang Lake from 1977-2021[J]. Remote Sensing，2023，15（3）：600.
[21]	韩祯，王世岩，刘晓波，等.基于淹水时长梯度的鄱阳湖优势湿地植被生态阈值[J].水利学报，2019，50（2）：252-262. HAN Z，WANG S Y，LIU X B，et al. Ecological thresholds for the dominated wetland plants of Poyang Lake along the gradient of flooding duration[J]. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering，2019， 50：252-262.
[22]	李文，王鑫，潘艺雯，等.不同水淹深度对鄱阳湖洲滩湿地植物生长及营养繁殖的影响[J].生态学报，2018，38（9）：3014-3021.LI W，WANG X，PAN Y W，et al. Effects of different water depths on the growth and vegetative reproductive characteristics of wetland vegetation in Lake Poyang[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica， 2018，38（9）：3014-3021.
[23]	周云凯，白秀玲，宁立新.鄱阳湖湿地灰化苔草种群生产力特征及其水文响应[J].生态学报，2018，38（14）：4953-4963. ZHOU Y K， BAI X L， NING L X. Productivity of Carex cinerascens population and its response to hydrological conditions in the Poyang Lake wetland[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica，2018，38（14）：4953-4963.
[24]	WAN R， DAI X， SHANKMAN D. Vegetation response to hydrological changes in Poyang Lake， China[J]. Wetlands， 2019，39（1）：99-112.
[25]	MU S，LI B，YAO J，et al. Monitoring the spatio-temporal dynamics of the wetland vegetation in Poyang Lake by landsat and MODIS observations[J]. Science of the Total Environment， 2020，725：138096.
[26]	周苏芬，黄志文，唐立模，等.赣江尾闾多级分汊河道分流影响因素及联动响应分析[J].河海大学学报（自然科学版）， 2019，47（2）：163-169. ZHOU S F，HUANG Z W，TANG L M，et al. Analysis on influencing factors of flow diversion ratio and linkage response of multistage bifurcations in the Ganjiang River[J]. Journal of Hohai University（Natural Sciences），2019，47（2）：163-169.
[27]	白玉川，李晓文，徐海珏，等.赣江尾闾河网地形变化对洪季水动力的影响[J].水力发电学报，2022，41（3）：9-21. BAI Y C，LI X W，XU H Y，et al. Effects of topographic changes in the terminal river network of the Ganjiang River on its hydrodynamics in the flood season[J]. Journal of Hydroelectric Engineering，2022，41（3）：9-21.
[28]	余莉，何隆华，张奇，等.三峡工程蓄水运行对鄱阳湖典型湿地植被的影响[J].地理研究，2011，30（1）：134-144. YU L，HE L H，ZHANG Q，et al. Effects of the Three Gorges Project on the typical wetland vegetations of Poyang Lake[J]. Geographical Research，2011，30（1）：134-144.
[29]	方朝阳，邬浩，陶长华，等.鄱阳湖南矶湿地景观信息高分辨率遥感提取[J].地球信息科学学报，2016，18（6）：847-856. FANG C Y，WU H，TAO Z H，et al. The wetland information extraction research of Nanji Wetland in Poyang Lake based on high resolution remote sensing image [J]. Journal of GeoInformation Science，2016，18（6）：847-856.
[30]	刘星根，谭志强，范宏翔.赣江尾闾碟形湖水体季节性分布特征[J].人民长江，2021，52（5）：66-72. LIU X G，TAN Z Q，FAN H X. Seasonal distribution of sublakes on tail-streams of Ganjiang River[J]. Yangtze River， 2021，52（5）：66-72.
[31]	张全军，于秀波，胡斌华.鄱阳湖南矶湿地植物群落分布特征研究[J].资源科学，2013，35（1）：42-49. ZHANG Q J，YU X B，HU B H. Distribution characteristics of plant communities in the Nanji Wetland of Poyang Lake[J]. Resources Science，2013，35（1）：42-49.
[32]	汪琴，胡佳，冯哲，等.鄱阳湖南矶湿地6种优势植物群落植被碳储量分布特征[J].江西师范大学学报（自然科学版）， 2020，44（4 ）：437-441. WANG Q，HU J，FENG Z，et al. The characteristics of carbon storage in six dominant plant communities in Nanji Wetland， Poyang Lake[J]. Journal of Jiangxi Normal University（Natural Science Edition），2020，44（4）：437-441.
[33]	罗文泊，谢永宏，宋凤斌.洪水条件下湿地植物的生存策略[J].生态学杂志，2007（9）：1478-1485. LUO W B，XIE Y H，SONG F B. Survival strategies of wetland plants in flooding environments[J]. Chinese Journal of Ecology， 2007（9）：1478-1485.
[34]	孙清凡，钱海燕，任盛明，等.鄱阳湖枯水期水域特征对季节性淹水湿地优势植被固碳能力的影响[J].江西农业学报， 2023，35（2）：174-181. SUN Q F，QIAN H Y，REN S M，et al. Effects of water characteristics on carbon sequestration capacity of dominant vegetation in seasonal waterlogged wetlands of Poyang Lake in the dry season[J]. Jiangxi Journal of Agricultural Science，2023，35（2）：174-181.
[35]	尧波，邹素珍，梁金凤，等.候鸟活动对鄱阳湖苔草湿地土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征的影响[J].应用生态学报，2024，35（7）： 1988-1996. YAO B，ZOU S Z，LIANG J F，et al. Effects of migratory bird activities on the stoichiometry of soil carbon， nitrogen， and phosphorus in a Carex-dominated wetland of Poyang Lake[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology，2024，35（7）：1988-1996.
[36]	郭宇菲，万荣荣，龚磊强，等.鄱阳湖湿地中低滩典型植物群落的生物多样性及影响因子[J].湖泊科学，2023，35（4）： 1370-1379. GUO Y F， WAN R R， GONG L Q， et al. Typical plant communities′ biodiversity and its environmental drivers in the middle and low floodplains of Lake Poyang wetland[J]. Journal of Lake Sciences，2023，35（4）：1370-1379.
[37]	张思青，刘依，刘怡然，等.基于元胞自动机的黄河三角洲互花米草种群扩散动态模拟[J].北京师范大学学报（自然科学版），2021，57（1）：121-127. ZHANG S Q， LIU Y， LIU Y R， et al. Cellular automata simulation of population expansion dynamics of Spartina alterniflora in the Yellow River Delta[J]. Journal of Beijing Normal University （Natural Science Edition），2021，57（1）： 121-127.
[38]	易雨君，谢泓毅，宋劼，等.黄河口盐沼湿地植被群落适宜生境模拟I：理论[J].水利学报，2021，52（3）：255-264. YI Y J，XIE H Y，SONG J，et al. Simulation of salt marsh vegetation community′s suitable habitat in Yellow River Estuary I：Theory[J]. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering，2021，52（3）： 255-264.
[39]	易雨君，谢泓毅，宋劼，等.黄河口盐沼湿地植被群落适宜生境模拟Ⅱ：应用[J].水利学报，2021，52（4）：401-408. YI Y J，XIE H Y，SONG J，et al. Simulation of salt marsh vegetation community′s suitable habitat in Yellow River Estuary II：Application[J]. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering，2021，52（4）：401-408.
[40]	叶飞，陈求稳，吴世勇，等.空间显式模型模拟河流岸边带植被在水库运行作用下的演替[J].生态学报，2008（6）：2604-2613. YE F，CHEN Q W，WU S Y，et al. Spatially-explicit modelling of riparian vegetation dynamics under reservoir operations[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica，2008（6）：2604-2613.
[41]	陈求稳，韩瑞，叶飞.水库运行对下游岸边带植被和鱼类的影响[J].水动力学研究与进展A辑，2010，25（1）：85-92. CHEN Q W，HAN R，YE F. Impacts of reservoir regulations on the downstream riparian vegetation and fish dynamics[J]. Journal of Hydrodynamics（A Series），2010，25（1）：85-92.
[42]	齐相贞，林振山，刘会玉.竞争和景观格局相互作用对外来入侵物种传播影响的动态模拟[J].生态学报，2016，36（3）： 569-579. QI X Z，LIN Z S，LIU H Y. Dynamic modeling of the interactive effects of competition and landscape patterns on the spread of exotic species[J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica， 2016， 36（3）： 569-579.
[43]	刘会玉，林振山，齐相贞，等.基于景观中性模型的不同竞争力外来种入侵对栖息地毁坏的响应[J].生态环境学报， 2011，20（11）：1638-1646. LIU H Y，LIN Z S，QI X Z，et al. Response of exotic species with different competitive abilities to habitat destruction based on landscape neutral model[J]. Ecology and Environment，2011，20（11）：1638-1646.
[44]	ZHU J，LUKIĆ N，PAGEL J，et al. Density dependence of seed dispersal and fecundity profoundly alters the spread dynamics of plant populations[J]. Journal of Ecology，2023，111（8）：1735-1748.
[45]	张弘，陈兰荪.种群动力学与害虫治理[J].科学观察，2012， 7（6）：52-53. ZHANG H，CHEN L S. Population dynamics and pest control [J]. Science Observer，2012，7（6）：52-53.