Spatial Analysis as a Tool for Plant Population Conservation: A Case Study of Tamarix chinensis in the Yellow River Delta, China

Saltcedar (Tamarix chinensis) is undergoing population declination and fragmentation due to climate change human disturbance. The existing restoration strategies usually focus on improving the environmental conditions based environment–saltcedar relationship, while they ignore role of spatial autocorrelation resulting from biological interaction ecological processes. This oversight limits efficiency sustainability restoration. Here, we explored pattern saltcedar in Yellow River Delta, China, its relationship with factors, incorporating autocorrelation. plant soil parameters were extracted by an airborne LiDAR system integrated fixed environment measurements. was evaluated different regression models. Results showed that saltcedars aggregated at small scales (2–6 m), intraspecific facilitation wind dispersal seeds, competition responsible for random distribution large (>10 m). long-distance seeds through water explained significant positive distances up 125 m. Consequently, seed dispersal, aggregation within improved adaptability stress thereby reduced impact factors abundance saltcedar.