Variations and spatial distribution pattern of seed mass in the Gurbantunggut Desert

Gurbantunggut Desert is a famous temperate desert with plant diversity is more special than the same latitude desert in the world. It is an important desert from the viewpoint of drought resistance, heat resistance, and saline plant germplasm resources. Samples were collected from 70 permanent plots (100 m x 10 m) in the desert, and the total number of different types of seeds and spatial patterns were investigated. Variations in seed mass and seed projected area among 87 species in different taxa were analyzed by measuring the 100-seed weight. There was significant difference in seed size among genera such as Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, and Boraginaceae. It also increased with significant increase in longitude and precipitation. The results of this study may facilitate the understanding of seed mass in the life history strategy of plants in arid desert areas and lay the foundation for further studies of plant biology in the Gurbantunggut Desert.