Abstract
AbstractIn this paper a geomorphic-centered system was proposed for classifying the wetlands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in western China, where the flora comprises primarily grasses. Although the geomorphic properties (e.g., elevation and morphology) of wetlands form the primary criteria of classification, this system also takes hydrological processes into implicit consideration. It represents an improvement over the hydrogeomorphic perspective as the relative importance of the two components (wetness and landform) of wetlands is clearly differentiated. This geomorphic-centered perspective yields insights into the hydrogeomorphic dynamics of plateau wetlands while indicates their vulnerability to change and degradation indirectly. According to this geomorphic-centered perspective, all plateau wetlands fall into one of the seven types of alpine, piedmont, valley, terrace, floodplain, lacustrine, and riverine in three elevational categories of upland, midland, and lowland. Upland (alpine and piedmont) wetlands with the steepest topography are the most sensitive to change whereas midland (floodplain, terrace and valley) wetlands are less vulnerable to degradation owing to a high water reserve except terrace wetlands. They have a dry surface caused by infrequent hydrological replenishment owing to their higher elevation than the channel. Low lying (lacustrine and riverine) wetlands are the most resilient. The geomorphic-centered perspective developed in this paper provides a framework for improving recognition and management of wetlands on the Plateau. Resilient wetlands can be grazed more intensively without the risk of degradation. Fragile and vulnerable wetlands require careful management to avoid degradation.
Highlights
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the world’s largest, covering an area of 1,000 km by 2,500 km
Since vegetation on the Plateau has a homogeneous composition of mostly Kobresia littledalei swampy meadows, these classifications are quite suited to plateau wetlands, and adopted in this paper
None of them are deemed suitable for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau that is characterized by a low annual temperature and a low rainfall regime
Summary
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the world’s largest, covering an area of 1,000 km by 2,500 km. Despite its arid to semi-arid climate, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is nicknamed the “water tower of China” because abundant water is generated from snow melting It replenishes a variety of wetlands on the Plateau. Apart from the usual wetlands associated with rivers and lakes in lowland areas, there are extensive swampy meadows that total 510,000 ha in the headwater region of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers alone (Zhou et al 2005) They are commonly distributed in the low depressions of broad valleys, basins, the peripheries of proluvial fans with a ground water level at 20-40 cm (Wang 2000). The development of a classification system for plateau wetlands that is indicative of their vulnerability to change and degradation is a prerequisite for and preparatory step towards their effective management and protection
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