养分添加对天山高寒草地植物多样性和地上生物量的影响

为揭示高寒草地物种多样性和地上生物量以及二者之间关系对养分添加的响应模式, 该研究以天山高寒草地为对象, 通过两年的多重养分添加实验, 研究氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K) 3种养分单独和组合添加对天山高寒草地群落物种多样性和地上生物量的影响。结果表明: (1)养分添加使当地植物物种多样性不同程度地减少, 其中以N + P、N + K、N + P + K添加的效应最为显著, 多重养分添加导致的土壤生态位维度降低是当地物种丧失的重要原因。(2)养分添加能显著提高群落地上生物量, 其中N为第一限制养分, 解除N限制后P和K成为限制养分, N + P + K复合添加对地上生物量的提高最为显著。(3)养分添加两年后, 地上生物量与物种丰富度之间无显著回归关系且地上生物量增加主要是由于禾草类生物量增加导致, 说明地上生物量主要由少数优势种决定而非群落物种数。     

松嫩草地水淹干扰后的土壤种子库特征及其与植被关系

研究了松嫩平原羊草草地不同强度水淹干扰对土壤种子库种类组成、物种多样性及其与植被物种组成的相似性关系等的影响。结果表明：（1）随着水淹强度的加重或水淹持续时间的延长,相应地段的土壤种子库物种数目和种子存量都呈减小趋势;（2）土壤种子库的种类成分在干扰样带和对照样带间差异明显,而受水淹干扰的样带之间种子库的种类组成差异不大,表明洪水漂移行使了繁殖体传播和散布的功能;（3）随水淹干扰强度增加,种子库物种多样性指数减小;（4）种子库与地上植被物种组成相似性普遍较低,其原因是主要靠营养繁殖以更新种群的多年生根茎植物经常在植被中出现而不在种子库中出现;（5）种子库与地上植被物种组成相似性随水淹干扰强度增加而下降,表明了水淹干扰对种子库与地上植被物种组成相似性有一定程度的影响。     

环青海湖地区天然草地和退耕恢复草地植物群落生物量对氮、磷添加的响应

植物群落生物量反映了植被的初级生产能力, 是陆地生态系统碳(C)输入的最主要来源, 往往受到自然界中氮(N)、磷(P)元素供应的限制。该试验以青藏高原环青海湖地区的高寒草原为研究对象, 探讨了天然草地和退耕恢复草地植被群落生物量对N (10 g·m^-2)、P (5 g·m^-2)养分添加的响应。N、P添加显著增加了天然草地禾草的生物量, 进而促使地上总生物量显著提高。退耕恢复草地禾草和杂类草的生物量对N添加均有一致的正响应, 从而促使地上总生物量显著增加174%, 群落地上和地下总生物量显著增加34%; 而P添加对恢复草地生物量各项参数均无显著影响。回归分析显示: 天然草地植物群落地上生物量随土壤中NO₃^--N含量的增加而增加(p < 0.05), 退耕恢复草地植被地上、地下和总生物量均与土壤NO₃^--N含量显著正相关(p < 0.01), 说明环湖地区高寒草原植物生长主要受N供应的限制, P的限制作用随土地利用方式的转变和群落演替阶段的不同而变化; 相比天然草地, 恢复草地在现阶段植被初级生产力受N的限制作用更强烈, 土壤中可利用N含量是限制其植被自然恢复和重建的关键因子。     

放牧家畜组合对高寒草地植物群落特征及生产力的影响

为明晰中等放牧强度下不同放牧家畜组合如何调控高寒草地地上净初级生产力,进而提高高寒草地管理水平,本研究以青藏高原东端高寒草地为对象,设置中等放牧强度下不同放牧家畜组合样地(牦牛、藏羊单独放牧及1∶2混合放牧)和不放牧样地,分析了不同放牧家畜组合下高寒草地植物群落特征、土壤理化性质及地上净初级生产力变化。结果表明：不同放牧家畜组合对物种丰富度与多样性指数无显著影响,但显著降低高寒草地植物群落的高度与盖度,并改变功能群重要值占比;藏羊单独放牧显著增加高寒草地土壤速效氮、磷含量以及土壤容重;放牧弱化高寒草地植物多样性对地上净初级生产力的调控作用并加强土壤环境因子的作用强度;牦牛、藏羊混合放牧时高寒草地地上净初级生产力、家畜采食量均最高。为提升高寒草地管理水平,建议基于中等放牧强度进行牦牛、藏羊适宜比例的混合放牧,采用植被-家畜-土壤耦合管理方式以实现高寒草地生态功能维持与可持续利用。     

典型草原建群种羊草对氮磷添加的生理生态响应

由于人类活动和气候变化的共同作用, 大气氮(N)沉降日益加剧, 使得陆地生态系统中的可利用性N显著增加, 生态系统更易受其他元素如磷(P)的限制。然而, 目前关于N、P养分添加对草原生态系统不同组织水平的影响研究较少, 相关机制尚不清楚。该文以内蒙古典型羊草(Leymus chinensis)草原为研究对象, 通过连续两年(2011-2012年)的N和P养分添加实验, 研究建群种羊草的生理生态性状、种群生物量和群落初级生产力对N、P添加的响应及其适应机制。结果表明: 羊草草原不同组织水平对N、P添加的响应不同。群落水平上, 地上净初级生产力在不同降水年份均受N和P元素的共同限制, N、P共同添加显著提高了地上净初级生产力; 物种水平上, N、P添加对羊草种群生物量和密度, 以及相对生物量均没有显著影响, 表明羊草能够维持种群的相对稳定; 个体水平上, 在正常降水年份(2011年), 羊草生长主要受N素限制, 而在湿润年份(2012年), 降水增加使得羊草生长没有受到明显的养分限制。羊草通过增加比叶面积、叶片大小和叶片N含量, 提高整体光合能力, 以促进个体生长。总之, 内蒙古典型草原群落净初级生产力受N、P元素共同限制, 作为建群种的羊草, 其对N、P添加的响应因组织水平而异, 也受年际间降水变化的影响。     

锡林河流域草原群落植物多样性和初级生产力沿水热梯度变化的样带研究

 用样带法研究了草原群落植物多样性和初级生产力沿海拔和水分梯度的变化,结果表明;在样带梯度上,物种丰富度、多样性和群落初级生产力与海拔高度、年降水量和土壤有机C及全N含量呈正相关,而与年平均气温和干燥度呈负相关。随着海拔高度的降低,降水量的减少,热量和干燥度的增加,以及土壤有机C和全N含量的降低,草原群落的物种丰富度、多样性和初级生产力逐渐降低。典型相关分析的结果揭示出,土壤有机C含量和干燥度是对草原群落物种丰富度和初级生产力具有更大的影响。同时,草地的利用方式和强度对群落植物多样性和生产力也具有较强的影响。     

锡林河流域草原群落植物多样性和初级生产力沿水热梯度变化的样带研究

 用样带法研究了草原群落植物多样性和初级生产力沿海拔和水分梯度的变化,结果表明;在样带梯度上,物种丰富度、多样性和群落初级生产力与海拔高度、年降水量和土壤有机C及全N含量呈正相关,而与年平均气温和干燥度呈负相关。随着海拔高度的降低,降水量的减少,热量和干燥度的增加,以及土壤有机C和全N含量的降低,草原群落的物种丰富度、多样性和初级生产力逐渐降低。典型相关分析的结果揭示出,土壤有机C含量和干燥度是对草原群落物种丰富度和初级生产力具有更大的影响。同时,草地的利用方式和强度对群落植物多样性和生产力也具有较强的影响。     

锡林河流域草原群落植物多样性和初级生产力沿水热梯度变化的样带研究

用样带法研究了草原群落植物多样性和初级生产力沿海拔和水分梯度的变化,结果表明;在样带梯度上,物种丰富度、多样性和群落初级生产力与海拔高度、年降水量和土壤有机C及全N含量呈正相关,而与年平均气温和干燥度呈负相关。随着海拔高度的降低,降水量的减少,热量和干燥度的增加,以及土壤有机C和全N含量的降低,草原群落的物种丰富度、多样性和初级生产力逐渐降低。典型相关分析的结果揭示出,土壤有机C含量和干燥度是对草原群落物种丰富度和初级生产力具有更大的影响。同时,草地的利用方式和强度对群落植物多样性和生产力也具有较强的影响。     

松嫩平原羊草草地植物功能群组成及多样性特征对水淹干扰的响应

为研究草地植被对水淹干扰的响应 ,在松嫩平原羊草 (Aneurolepidiumchinense)草地 1998年部分遭受水淹的吉林省大安市三家甸子草场内设置了经历不同水淹强度的样带 ,并对这些样带的植被组成及物种多样性特征进行了比较研究。结果表明 :1)在植被的水分生态类型功能群组成中 ,随水淹干扰强度的增加 ,湿生、湿中生类植物功能群的优势度比例基本上是逐渐增加的 ,中生、中旱生类植物功能群的优势度比例则逐渐减小 ;2 )在植被的生活型功能群组成中 ,随水淹干扰强度的增加 ,一年生植物的优势度比例呈单峰型变化 ,地下芽植物比例增加 ,地面芽植物比例减小。某些单个物种优势度比例的不规则变化和功能群组成的规则变化表明 ,生态补偿作用不仅仅存在于植物群落的各个功能群之间 ,而且存在于同一功能群内部的不同物种之间 ;3)群落的物种丰富度、多样性在经历中等强度水淹干扰的样带上较高 ,而在未受干扰的对照样带和受干扰较为严重的样带都较低 ,这有力地支持了中度干扰假说。     

内蒙古草地样带植物群落生物量的梯度研究

采用样带法对内蒙古草地植物群落生物量沿水热梯度的变化特征进行了研究,并对几种回归方法进行了比较。一元回归结果表明:在本样带的限定范围内,生物量与年均温、≥0 ℃年积温、≥10 ℃年积温、年实际日照总时数等热量因子呈负相关(年均温的相关性最高),而与年降水量、年均相对湿度等水分因子呈正相关(年均相对湿度的相关性最高),其中年均温和年均相对湿度对生物量的影响最为显著,二者对生物量的空间变异起着互为消长的作用,而海拔高度的影响则不显著。多元回归结果表明,作为半干旱区植物生长的主要限制因子,年降水量在大尺度上对生物量产生影响的途径更为复杂,但其作用不可低估。生物量和地下地上生物量比值会因不同的气候区、不同的植被类型和物种组成,对环境因子的响应程度不同,在经向、纬向和草地类型梯度上的变化特征也不同。水热的配比关系要比单一的水分和温度与植物的生长具有更紧密的关系,地下地上生物量比随着水热配比关系的变化也会呈现出不同的变化规律,其驱动因子并不一定始终都是降水。也许可以认为:半干旱/干旱的划分界限是本研究所涉及的草地样带上生物量和地下地上生物量比值沿草地类型梯度变化的一个转折界限,在此界限前后,气候对生物量的主导因素和生物量对此关键因子的响应程度都有所变化。     

松嫩草原主要草本植物种间关系及其对水淹干扰的响应

为弄清草地植物种间关系对水淹干扰的响应,在松嫩平原羊草(Leymus chinensis)草地1998年部分遭受水淹的吉林省大安市三家甸子草场内,设置了经历不同水淹强度或水淹时间的样带,并通过种间关联分析及种间协变的秩相关分析对这些样带上植物的种间关系进行了比较研究．结果表明,水淹干扰对大多数植物种对的关联类型影响不显著,对种间协变的秩相关系数却有一定程度影响,而且不同种对之间的协变关系对水淹干扰的响应有较大差异,说明植物种间协变关系既受环境波动和干扰因子的影响。也取决于组成种对的植物种的生物生态学特性,其中主要是对土壤水分状况反应的差异．以组成群落物种的数量特征为基础的种间协变系数比仅仅根据物种出现与否的二元数据为基础的种间关联指数对于外界干扰的反应更为敏感．     

Hydrologic control of litter decomposition in seasonally flooded prairie marshes

The effect of seasonal inundation on the decomposition of emergent macrophyte litter (Scolochloa festucacea) was examined under experimental flooding regimes in a northern prairie marsh. Stem and leaf litter was subjected to six aboveground inundation treatments (ranging from never flooded to flooded April through October) and two belowground treatments (nonflooded and flooded April to August). Flooding increased the rate of mass loss from litter aboveground but retarded decay belowground. Aboveground, N concentration decreased and subsequently increased earlier in the longer flooded treatments, indicating that flooding decreased the time that litter remained in the leaching and immobilization phases of decay. Belowground, both flooded and nonflooded litter showed an initial rapid loss of N, but concentration and percent of original N remaining were greater in the nonflooded marsh throughout the first year. This suggested that more N was immobilized on litter under the nonflooded, more oxidizing soil conditions. Both N concentration and percent N remaining of belowground litter were greater in the flooded than the nonflooded marsh the second year, suggesting that N immobilization was enhanced after water-level drawdown. These results suggest different mechanisms by which flooding affects decomposition in different wetland environments. On the soil surface where oxygen is readily available, flooding accelerates decomposition by increasing moisture. Belowground, flooding creates anoxic conditions that slow decay. The typical hydrologic pattern in seasonally flooded prairie marshes of spring flooding followed by water-level drawdown in summer may maximize system decomposition rates by allowing rapid decomposition aboveground in standing water and by annually alleviating soil anoxia.     

高原鼢鼠干扰对三江源区高寒草甸群落特征的影响

高原鼢鼠是三江源高寒草甸区域的主要啮齿动物之一.它啃食植物根系,挖掘大量通道,并将挖掘出的土壤堆积于地表,形成覆盖于植物地上部分的裸露土丘,对草地群落特征会产生不同程度的影响.本研究以高原鼢鼠土丘密度表示高原鼢鼠对草地的干扰程度,选取7个不同高原鼢鼠土丘密度的样地,同时选取没有遭受高原鼢鼠干扰的样地作为对照,获得各样地的物种信息及地上、地下生物量,探讨不同高原鼢鼠干扰强度对草地群落的物种组成、物种多样性及群落生产力的影响.结果表明: 随着高原鼢鼠土丘的增加,草地植物优势种群发生由以莎草科和禾本科植物为主向珠牙蓼、鹅绒委陵菜、西伯利亚蓼等杂类草植物为主的转变,群落盖度和高度显著降低;轻度或中度的高原鼢鼠干扰能够提高群落的物种多样性,而群落均匀度指数变化不显著;群落生产力不存在类似中度干扰假说的结果.随高原鼢鼠干扰活动的增强,群落地上、地下及总生物量显著降低,群落生产力大幅度降低.     

Effect of flooding and draw‐down disturbance on germination from a seashore meadow seed bank

Abstract. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of flooding and draw‐down on the germination from the coastal grassland seed banks and to determine whether the effect of flooding varies between the delta and the seashore. Seed bank samples were collected from three shore transects in SW Finland, two on the shore of the Baltic Sea and one on the delta of River Kokemäenjoki. Samples were germinated in non‐flooded and flooded conditions for over a month, after which both treatments were maintained in non‐flooded conditions. A total of 9267 seedlings of 47 species germinated and mean density of seeds in the soil was ca. 84 000/m². Most of the seedlings were monocots (98%) and perennials (98%). Ca. 30–40% of the species found in the above‐ground vegetation had a seed bank including the majority of the most abundant species. The number of seeds and species richness increased as the organic layer became thicker. The organic layer was thicker in the seashore samples and the seed bank was significantly larger than in the delta. The flooding and draw‐down treatment significantly increased the number of germinating seedlings in the seashore and also increased species richness in two transects, one in the delta and the other in the seashore. Two species, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani and Typha latifolia, had significantly higher germination in the flooded treatment than in the non‐flooded. Apparently, many species in these coastal grasslands have adapted to flood disturbance and for seeds of some species flooding may work as a positive signal, possibly breaking dormancy.     

Response of Plant Height,Species Richness and Aboveground Biomass to Flooding Gradient along Vegetation Zones in Floodplain Wetlands,Northeast China

Flooding regime changes resulting from natural and human activity have been projected to affect wetland plant community structures and functions. It is therefore important to conduct investigations across a range of flooding gradients to assess the impact of flooding depth on wetland vegetation. We conducted this study to identify the pattern of plant height, species richness and aboveground biomass variation along the flooding gradient in floodplain wetlands located in Northeast China. We found that the response of dominant species height to the flooding gradient depends on specific species, i.e., a quadratic response for Carex lasiocarpa, a negative correlation for Calamagrostis angustifolia, and no response for Carex appendiculata. Species richness showed an intermediate effect along the vegetation zone from marsh to wet meadow while aboveground biomass increased. When the communities were analysed separately, only the water table depth had significant impact on species richness for two Carex communities and no variable for C. angustifolia community, while height of dominant species influenced aboveground biomass. When the three above-mentioned communities were grouped together, variations in species richness were mainly determined by community type, water table depth and community mean height, while variations in aboveground biomass were driven by community type and the height of dominant species. These findings indicate that if habitat drying of these herbaceous wetlands in this region continues, then two Carex marshes would be replaced gradually by C. angustifolia wet meadow in the near future. This will lead to a reduction in biodiversity and an increase in productivity and carbon budget. Meanwhile, functional traits must be considered, and should be a focus of attention in future studies on the species diversity and ecosystem function in this region.     

浑善达克沙地无芒雀麦（Bromus inermis）空间分布格局

通过西北-东南和东北-西南方向两条宽5m×长3 km的样带和一块4m×4m的样方调查,研究了浑善达克沙地无芒雀麦、植被、土壤水分及土壤盐分的空间变异特点及其相互关系。结果表明,样带内植被盖度、无芒雀麦盖度、土壤水分和土壤盐分的空间变化格局相似,然而,在不同的空间方向上,它们具有不同的空间变化;样方内无芒雀麦地上部生物量、分株数和土壤盐分具有相似的空间变化格局,但却不同于植被地上部总生物量和土壤水分的空间变化格局。相关分析表明,样带内植被盖度、无芒雀麦盖度与土壤水分和土壤盐分之间均具有显著的正相关关系。土壤水分和土壤盐分也具有显著的正相关。样方内无芒雀麦地上部生物量、分株数及植被地上部总生物量与土壤水分均具有显著的正相关关系,但与土壤盐分没有显著的相关关系。无芒雀麦地上部生物量、分株数和植被地上部总生物量三者之间,以及土壤水分和土壤盐分之间也均具有显著的正相关关系。研究结果表明了植被与土壤之间的相互关系依赖于空间尺度。     

Plant community establishment following drawdown of a reservoir in southern Arkansas, USA

Wetland area, function and wildlife habitat value are extensively altered by the construction of freshwater reservoirs. We studied the effects of a temporary drawdown on shoreline vegetation communities of Felsenthal Navigation Pool (“the pool”), an impoundment at Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arkansas that is managed as a greentree reservoir. The pool was permanently flooded from 1985 until the summer of 1995 when the water level was dropped 0.3 m for about 16 weeks, exposing about 1,591 ha of soil. To document plant succession on the sediments exposed, we recorded plant species composition and cover at 14 transects along the pool margin prior to the drawdown, during the drawdown, and in the following summer. A soil disturbance treatment was applied near five transects following the drawdown, and soil was collected at each transect for seed bank and soil analyses. Plants colonized the drawdown zone quickly and high vegetation cover was present at some transects 4 weeks after the drawdown was initiated. Plants included species that are high quality food sources for waterfowl, including Cyperus erythrorhizos and Leptochloa fascicularis var. fascicularis. Vegetation response, measured by species richness, total cover, and cover of Cyperus species, was often greater at low compared to high elevations in the drawdown zone; this effect was probably intensified by low summer rainfall. Response on the disturbed transects was lower than that on the undisturbed transects. This effect was attributed to two factors: (1) removal of the existing seed bank by the disturbance applied and (2) reduced incorporation of seeds recruited during the drawdown because of unusually low rainfall. Seed bank studies demonstrated that several species persisted despite 10 years of continual flooding, and that seed bank species richness increased during the drawdown. Although conclusions are limited by the 1-year time frame of the study, it is unlikely that permanent change to plant community structure in the drawdown zone resulted from the lowered water level.     

放牧和水淹干扰对松嫩平原碱化草地空间格局影响的分形分析

对东北松嫩平原碱化草地植物群落空间格局的分形性质进行了分析,分别用边长面积指数和Ｋｏｒｃａｋ相对斑块化指数估计了斑块边界复杂性和斑块面积大小频率分布格局。结果表明：随放牧强度增加,占优势的羊草（Ｌｅｙｍｕｓｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ（Ｔｒｉｎ．）Ｔｚｒｅｌ）斑块的斑块化加剧,而斑块的边界在中度放牧时最不规则;在水淹地,占优势的羊草斑块和次优势的碱茅（Ｐｕｃｉｎｅｌｉａｓｐｐ．）斑块、獐茅（Ａｅｌｕｒｏｐｕｓｌｉｔｏｒａｌｉｓ（Ｇｏｕａｎ）Ｐａｒｌ．ｖａｒ．ｓｉｎｅｎｓｉｓＤｅｂｅａｕｘ）斑块的斑块边界复杂性和斑块化程度比未水淹地都低,说明水淹降低了群落复合体内的异质性;在水淹地,优势斑块的边长面积指数和Ｋｏｒｃａｋ指数均低于次优势种,但在重度放牧地结果正好相反,可能是由于两种样地处于不同的演替阶段;而且,斑块边界复杂性符合同一尺度规律,在现有的面积范围内没有尺度转换,斑块面积大小的频率分布格局则存在尺度转换点。     

Flooding and salinity effects on growth and survival of four common forested wetland species

The survival, growth, and biomass of baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.), water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.), Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.), and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) seedlings were examined in an experiment varying water levels (watered, flooded) and salinity levels (0, 2, and 10 ppt, plus a simulated storm surge with 32 ppt saltwater). All seedlings, except for those flooded with 10 ppt saltwater, survived to the end of the experiment. In 10 ppt saltwater, flooded baldcypress, water tupelo, and green ash survived two weeks whereas Chinese tallow survived for 6 weeks. However, a second set of slightly older baldcypress, water tupelo, and Chinese tallow seedlings survived eight weeks of flooding with 10 ppt saltwater. When carried through the winter to the beginning of the second growing season, flooded baldcypress and Chinese tallow seedlings from the 0 and 2 ppt treatments leafed out, but only Chinese tallow recovered from the saltwater surge treatment. The diameter and growth (height) of each species was not affected when watered with 2 ppt saltwater, except for the effects of the height growth of baldcypress. Growth was reduced for all species when watered with 10 ppt saltwater. The diameter growth of green ash was reduced by freshwater flooding. The diameter growth of baldcypress and water tupelo was greater when flooded with fresh water. Flooding with 2 ppt saltwater caused a significant reduction in diameter growth in water tupelo, green ash, and Chinese tallow, but not in baldcypress. Root and stem biomass values were not significantly different for any species between the 0 and 2 ppt salinity watering treatments. However, seedlings watered with 10 ppt saltwater had significantly lower root and stem biomass values, except for baldcypress roots and green ash stems. Baldcypress was least affected by flooding with 0 and 2 ppt saltwater, although there were slight reductions in root biomass with increasing salinity. Because of the susceptibility of the seedlings of these four species to increases in flooding and salinity, their regeneration may be limited in the future, thereby causing shifts in species composition.     

Nonlinear responses of productivity and diversity of alpine meadow communities to degradation北大核心CSCD

Aims The alpine meadow degradation could have profound effects on the grassland productivity. The aim of our study is to clarify the dynamic response of community productivity and species diversity in the process of alpine meadow degradation. Methods In the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Northern Tibetan Grassland Ecosystem Research Station (Nagqu station), we conducted stages experiments with multiple degradation levels: control, mild degraded meadow, moderate degraded meadow, severe degraded meadow and serious sandy meadow. Important findings The response of aboveground biomass to alpine meadow degradation showed a linear or nonlinear increased response patterns, but the belowground biomass and total biomass decreased nonlinearly. As observed in measurement of aboveground biomass, Margalef index, Simpson index, Shannon-Wiener index and Pielou evenness index also exhibit a nonlinear increased response to degradation. The results of structural equation models showed that belowground biomass has a positive relationship with soil carbon content (p < 0.05) and volume water content (p < 0.1). However, soil nutrient and soil physical properties had no significant impact on aboveground biomass (p < 0.1). Compared with soil physical properties, soil nutrition is an important factor influencing the diversity index. In our study, the nonlinear responses of productivity and diversity of alpine meadow were described by using the multiple levels of degradation in space. The results suggested that aboveground productivity cannot interpret the degree of degradation of alpine meadow, and by contrast, alpine meadow degradation should be measured by the change of plant functional groups, such as edible grasses and poisonous forbs. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All rights reserved.