Point Pattern Analysis for a Population of Artemisia halodendron in a Kerqin Sandlot

Artemisia halodendron is mainly distributed on shifting or semi-fixed sand dunes in the Hulunbeier and Kerqin Sandlands of Inner Mongolia. It is a semi-shrub and a valuable species for sand fixation. A. halodendron is a constructive species for controlling the shifting sand dunes during vegetation restoration. In this study, we used point pattern analysis, a multivariate spatial-pattern analysis method, to examine the spatial pattern of A. halodendron in relation to ground conditions. Young individuals are generally aggregated at all scales, and older individuals display a tendency for random distribution. Individuals of the neighboring age classes show no apparent spatial association, whereas individuals of disjunct age classes show a negative spatial association. This pattern is consistent with the spatial pattern of clustered distribution of young individuals but random distribution of adults.