Objective This study aims to analyze hydrological cycle patterns under different climatic and vegetation conditions and evaluate vegetation water carrying capacity in arid and semi-arid regions using an ecohydrological model. Methods Eagleson′s ecohydrological model was applied to analyze vegetation water carrying capacity and growing-season water budget under different climatic zones and land use types in the study area. Results 1) Eagleson′s model showed good applicability in simulating vegetation water carrying capacity in the study area, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.85. 2) Current vegetation coverage and vegetation water carrying capacity showed obvious regional differences. Fractional vegetation coverages (FVC) values in five core ecological functional zones-water conservation and management area in the Bashang Plateau and hilly mountainous area of northern North China, desertification control area in the Ordos Plateau, desertification control area in the Hunshandake-Horqin sandy land, degraded desert grassland control area in the Ulanqab Plateau, and degraded grassland control area in the Xilin Gol Plateau-Ujimqin Basin-were 0.54, 0.28, 0.36, 0.20, and 0.31, respectively. 3) In the water conservation and management area of the Bashang Plateau and hilly mountainous areas of northern North China, 49.83% of the land area still has potential for increased FVC, whereas the degraded grassland control area in the Xilin Gol Plateau-Ujimqin Basin, vegetation in 82.04% of the land area has reached the upper limit of water carrying capacity. Across the entire region, vegetation interception and transpiration during the growing season accounted for nearly 90% of precipitation, whereas bare-soil evaporation accounted for less than 10%. Vegetation transpiration increased with increasing FVC. Water budget patterns differed markedly among different vegetation types. Conclusion Eagleson′s model shows good performance and can be used to predict vegetation water carrying capacity in arid and semi-arid regions. Vegetation water carrying capacity shows obvious spatial differentiation, and the potential for increasing FVC varies significantly among regions. Shrublands and grasslands show better climatic adaptability in vegetation-hydrology coupling. Climatic differentiation is the fundamental factor driving spatial differentiation of vegetation-hydrology coupling effects. The results provide theoretical reference and data support for determining FVC in ecological restoration.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |