沙地生态系统因其松散的沙基质和常年的强风条件，特别容易形成风蚀沙化斑块。同时，这些风蚀沙化斑块在一定程度上通过植被生长和/或扩展过程而得到自然修复。研究沙地植被风蚀沙化斑块的自然修复机理具有重要的理论和现实意义。强风环境在对沙地生态系统环境因子产生影响的同时，也对沙地植物种和群落产生直接影响。本研究项目拟通过研究风致根系暴露和机械刺激对沙地重要植物种生长的影响，分析不同植物种抵抗风蚀的能力，进而深入理解沙地植物对风蚀胁迫的适应对策；通过对不同面积大小的沙地植被风蚀沙化斑块自然修复过程进行动态监测，探讨沙地植被自然修复的面积临界点；通过研究沙地植被风蚀沙化斑块内环境条件的动态变化和沙地植被类型对风蚀沙化斑块自然修复过程的影响，探讨沙地植被风蚀沙化斑块自然修复的机理。通过本项目的实施，可为沙地植被风蚀沙化斑块的植被修复提供理论基础，对沙地的恢复与治理以及典型草地生态系统的维持具有重要意义。

Wind erosion is common and serious in the sandland, resulting from the loose soil matrix and strong wind and in destruction of vegetation. Wind has an effect not only on environmental factors, but also directly on plant species and community in the sandland. This research project, with sandland vegetation as research object, aims to analyze abilities of plants to resist wind erosion, and to deepen understanding of plant adaptation strategy to wind erosion, by studying the effects of wind-induced root exposure and wind mechanical stimulation on plant growth in sandland; to determine vegetation resilience threshold in sandland through monitoring the self-recovery process of wind-eroded desertified patches; and to clarify the vegetation recovery mechanism of the patches in sandland, by studying dynamic of the environmental factors in and effects of different vegetation types on the recovery of the patches. This research project can provide a theoretical basis for the recovery of wind-eroded sandy patches in sandland in China，and it is of important significance for the restoration and management of sandland and the maintenance of the grassland ecosystem.