| Sumario: | The stability of artificial, sand-binding communities has not yet fully studied. A
similarity index was developed to evaluate the stability of artificial communities in
shifting and semi-fixed sand dunes. This similarity index consisted of 8 indicators (i.e.,
vegetation cover, Shannon-Wiener Index, biomass, organic matter, Total N, available P
and K, and sand particle ratio). The relative weight of these indicators was obtained
using an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. Stability was compared on
Artemisia halodendron Turczaninow ex Besser, Bull communities in shifting and semifixed
sand dunes, and of Caragana microphylla Lam. communities with different planting
ages. The similarity indexes of the A. halodendron communities were 0.24 and 0.54 in
shifting and semi-fixed sand dunes, respectively. The peak stability of C. microphylla
communities was 0.55, and it was reached when these communities were 20-year-old.
It is suggested that A. halodendron communities should be planted preferentially in
semi-fixed to moving sand dunes. Furthermore, the planting age of artificial communities
should be included in planting programs. This study improved the understanding
of some mechanisms contributing to maintain community stability, and is critical for
guiding the artificial planting in sand dunes.
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