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。     

放牧方式影响高寒草地矮生嵩草种子大小与数量的关系

种子大小和种子数量变异是植物适合度研究的核心问题, 探究不同大型草食动物对嵩草(Kobresia spp.)草地优势种种子大小与数量的影响, 有助于了解其繁殖策略和种群更新机制。该研究依托青藏高原高寒草地-家畜系统适应性管理技术平台, 对不放牧(对照)、牦牛单牧、藏羊单牧、牦牛藏羊1:2混牧、牦牛藏羊1:4混牧、牦牛藏羊1:6混牧6个放牧处理下矮生嵩草(K. humilis)的种子大小和数量特征, 种子大小和数量与生殖性状的关系, 种子大小和数量的权衡关系进行研究。结果显示: 1)放牧处理增加矮生嵩草种子大小15%以上, 增加种子数量30%以上; 除了牦牛藏羊1:2混牧处理, 其他放牧处理与对照相比种子大小变异系数降低15%以上, 种子数量变异系数降低25%以上。2) Pearson相关分析结果显示, 放牧处理下矮生嵩草种子数量、种子大小与生殖相关性状均呈正相关关系。3)放牧处理增加了矮生嵩草种子大小与数量的权衡, 单条生殖枝质量是影响种子大小与数量权衡的重要性状。研究表明, 即使是中度放牧, 家畜依旧是矮生嵩草资源获取的限制性因子; 长期的放牧改变了矮生嵩草性状间的潜在联系和权衡关系, 稳定了种子大小和种子数量特征, 并通过提高种子大小和种子数量的方式优化繁殖策略, 提高了子代的竞争力和适合度。     

不同强度牦牛放牧对青藏高原高寒草地土壤和植物生物量的影响

放牧作为家畜饲养方式之一,是草地最简单、有效的利用方式,放牧中的家畜对草地生态系统的影响是全球畜牧生态学研究的焦点。过度放牧导致草地退化严重,虽然在青藏高原地区已有较多放牧对草地影响的研究,但探究连续4年放牧对高寒草地生态系统影响的定位实验却鲜见报道。本研究在青藏高原东缘选取典型高寒草地,使用高原特有且分布最广的牦牛作为大型草食放牧家畜,设置了4个牦牛放牧强度（禁牧：无放牧、轻牧：1头/hm²、中牧：2头/hm²和重牧：3头/hm²）以研究其对高寒草地土壤和植物功能的影响。开展4年试验后的结果表明：放牧条件下土壤含水率显著增加;而土壤容重、全磷和有机质含量对放牧强度均无显著性响应;土壤全氮和pH的响应主要在表层0-20 cm,其中全氮为轻牧和重牧处理分别显著高于中牧,中牧处理下的土壤pH为显著高于轻牧;土壤全钾含量在禁牧处理中显著高于放牧处理;而土壤有效氮和速效钾均为中牧处理显著高于禁牧;放牧可以显著降低植物地上生物量。牦牛放牧强度显著影响土壤含水率、有效养分和植物地上生物量,而对其它土壤理化性质影响较弱。本研究结果揭示放牧对高寒草地土壤理化性质和植物地上生物量的影响,为青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统保护、可持续管理和合理放牧率提供理论依据。     

短期牦牛放牧强度对川西北高原高寒草甸土壤细菌群落的影响

气候变化和人类干扰使青藏高原的草地退化日趋严重,特别是过度放牧导致的草地退化现象尤为突出;然而,牦牛作为青藏高原分布广且数量多的重要家畜,其不同放牧强度对高寒草甸土壤理化性质与细菌群落的影响仍不明晰。在川西北高原典型高寒草甸开展牦牛放牧强度试验,设置了对照组(禁牧)、轻度放牧(1头牦牛/hm~2)、中度放牧(2头牦牛/hm~2)和重度放牧(3头牦牛/hm~2)4个放牧强度,每个强度设置3个重复。两年放牧实验后的结果表明：短期的重度放牧导致土壤有效磷显著增加,而其它土壤性质在各放牧强度变化不显著;随着放牧强度的增加,土壤细菌α多样性呈先增加后减少的趋势,其主要原因是牦牛活动为细菌的生长繁殖提供了有利的营养条件,但由于放牧的持续时间较短,变化不显著;就优势菌而言,土壤绿弯菌门中存在光合自养细菌,在重度放牧下显著高于对照组,其它各菌门在不同放牧强度下无显著差异;土壤氮与硝化螺旋菌门呈正相关,速效磷与酸杆菌门也呈显著正相关,均说明放牧强度对土壤细菌类群的影响是通过土壤性质间接实现的。本实验通过研究不同牦牛放牧强度下的土壤细菌群落结构,为放牧策略的制定提供了基础数据支持,为草地退化的防治提供理论...     

高寒草甸物种多样性对藏系牧羊放牧行为的影响

为探究草原植物物种多样性对家畜放牧行为的影响及其机制,在青藏高原高寒草甸开展藏系牧羊轮牧试验,调查植被物种多样性,观察藏系牧羊采食速率、觅食速率和采食时间,并计算藏系牧羊日采食量。结果表明：两年间,植物物种丰富度与藏系牧羊采食速率呈显著正相关关系（P<0.05）;觅食速率、采食时间和日采食量对放牧率响应敏感（P<0.05）,呈夏秋增冬春减的趋势。植物Shannon-Wiener指数与藏系牧羊的采食时间显著负相关（P<0.05）;在暖季或8羊/hm²放牧率下植物Shannon-Wiener指数与藏系牧羊日采食量呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。Pilelou均匀度指数与藏系牧羊采食速率和采食时间显著负相关（P<0.05）;在暖季或8羊/hm²放牧率下Pilelou均匀度指数与藏系牧羊日采食量呈显著负相关（P<0.05）。植物物种丰富度对藏系牧羊放牧行为贡献较大,且放牧藏系牧羊的采食速率和采食时间比觅食速率和日采食量对植物物种丰富度响应更敏感,以用植物物种丰富度为自变量可以更好预测藏系牧羊放牧行为。放牧管理通过影响植被物种多样性从而进一步影响了藏系牧羊放牧行为。放牧行为不仅是评价草地营养价值和家畜生产力的关键指标,也是草地健康管理的基础。因此,明确草原植物物种多样性-藏系牧羊放牧行为的互作机制有助于更好的提高藏系牧羊地生产力,维护草原生态健康。     

科尔沁沙质草地放牧和围封条件下的土壤种子库

该文研究了科尔沁沙质草地在放牧和围封条件下土壤种子库密度、组成及其与地上植被的关系。结果表明:1)放牧草地植物种数22种,围封草地植物种数30种,围封使土壤种子库植物种数增加了36%;2)放牧草地土壤种子库密度为16 149±1 900有效种子数·m^-2, 围封草地土壤种子库密度为20 657±3 342有效种子数·m^-2,比放牧草地增加了28%。放牧和围封草地种子库组成密度均以一年生植物为主(分别占99%和98%的比例),多年生植物所占的比例很小;3)放牧草地种子库的Shannon-Wiener指数和丰富度指数分别为0.836 3和4.954 9,明显小于围封草地的0.968 2和7.226 0,表明自由放牧导致物种多样性下降;4)放牧和围封草地土壤种子库密度与地上植被密度均存在显著的相关性(p<0.001)。表明了随着土壤种子库密度的增加, 地上植被密度随之增加,放牧草地地上植被密度78%的变异可归结为土壤种子库密度的变异, 而围封草地地上植被密度58%的变异可由土壤种子库密度的变异来解释。     

不同放牧强度草原休牧后土壤养分和植物群落变化特征

在内蒙古典型草原,对不同放牧率草地休牧3a后的土壤养分空间异质性和植物群落的数量变化特征进行了研究,结果表明：不同放牧率草地休牧3a后,由于维持土壤养分或植被空间格局的匀质化条件消失,土壤养分的空间异质性呈不同程度的增大趋势,随机性因素所占比例增加,其中土壤有机碳、全氮、无机氮、有效磷和有效硫的空间异质性均以0．00羊/hm^2区最大,4．00羊／hm^2区（中牧区）最小,其它样地不同土壤养分指标表现不同的变化特征;群落生物量和群落盖度均表现增加趋势,但群落盖度增加不显著（P〉0．05）,与1998年相比,群落生物量除对照区外均达到了显著性差异（P〈0．05）,与1．33羊／hm^2、4．00羊／hm^2和6．67羊／hm^2相比,O．00羊／hm^2优势植物出现多样化特征;群落的灌丛化与牧压和恢复演替的时间序列高度相关,牧压越小,恢复演替的时间序列越大,群落灌丛化的趋势越明显;1年生植物、羊草、克氏针茅、木地肤、冷蒿（除6．67羊／hm^2）和扁蓿豆（除O．00羊／hm^2）均表现增加趋势,星毛委陵菜则均表现降低趋势;植物群落的生物量、群落高度、群落盖度和群落物种多样性与土壤养分分布均表现一致的正相关关系,但只有植物群落生物量和群落高度与土壤有机碳、全氮、无机氮、土壤有效磷和有效硫相关显著（P〈0．05）。     

放牧扰动下高寒草甸植物多样性、生产力对土壤养分条件变化的响应

为了揭示高寒小嵩草草甸群落在放牧扰动下,探讨土壤养分供给水平的变化对生态系统初级生产力和多样性影响,为高寒草地的退化演替机理研究提供依据,以野外样地调查和室内分析法研究了放牧扰动下高寒草甸植物多样性、生产力对土壤养分条件变化的响应.结果表明,放牧干扰不仅改变了高寒小蒿草草甸群落土壤根系和蕴育土壤根系的"载体"量及根土比例,改变了植物群落的结构和功能,而且使土壤的物理和化学特性发生了明显的改变.随着放牧强度的增加,蕴育土壤根系的基质量逐渐减少,根土比特别是0～10 cm土层的根土比例增加;"载体"量减少导致大部分地下根系由于营养供给水平的降低而死亡,归还土壤中有机质的数量逐渐减少,加之地上部分持续利用,土壤养分也在不断消耗,土壤基质量的减少和土壤资源持续供给能力的下降,草地发生逆向演替(退化),表现在:物种数减少、多样性下降、能量的分配转向地下等;土壤性状上的某些改变(土壤容重、土壤湿度等),也会引起植被组成、物种多样性变化;放牧主要通过影响土壤环境及其养分含量来改变草地群落生物量(地上、地下);土壤表面的适度干扰和原有植物的适度破坏为新成员提供了小生境,从而允许新的植物侵入群落,并提高了植物的丰富度.但是,在受到强度干扰时,草地植物群落的主要物种的优势地位发生明显的替代变化.     

藏北高寒草地植被和土壤对不同放牧强度的响应

放牧压力在时间和空间的不均衡分布导致局部土地过度利用和生态退化,然而当前对放牧强度的量化多采用替代性指标或对照试验,缺乏直接监测数据,也缺乏不同草地类型对放牧强度变化的响应差异性研究。以西藏自治区那曲市为研究区,利用佩戴式GPS牛羊定位器构建高精度放牧轨迹数据集模拟放牧强度,构建栅格尺度放牧强度空间分布和划分方法,结合草地群落样方调查,通过Duncan法（Duncan''s multiple comparative analysis）进行多重比较分析,探究自由放牧模式下高寒草甸和高寒草原两类区域植被和土壤对不同放牧强度的响应方式及差异性。本研究可为放牧行为环境效应监测提供新思路,并根据不同草地状况因地制宜提出放牧优化管理策略,助力高寒传统牧区的可持续发展。主要结论有：1）随着放牧强度的增大,高寒草原地上生物量先升高后降低,高强度放牧对高寒草原植被的影响大于高寒草甸。2）高放牧强度下,高寒草原土壤水分显著高于中低强度,高寒草甸土壤容重显著低于低强度。可能原因是放牧压力多集聚于水源附近。高寒草原区土壤的砂粒含量随放牧强度的增大而增加。放牧强度的增大导致草甸上层土壤有机质增加,草甸下层、草原上层、草原下层土壤有机质先增加后减小。草甸上下层土壤全磷含量在低放牧强度下显著低于中高强度。3）植被土壤变化受到自然因子和放牧活动的共同影响。高寒草甸更加耐牧,高强度放牧对高寒草原的负面影响更大,而中度放牧有利于草地尤其是高寒草原的放牧利用。4）放牧生态系统是一个环境-植物-家畜自适应系统。在放牧管理中不能仅通过控制载畜量缓解草地超载,还需要综合考虑生态系统的弹性及各营养级的适应性,合理配置放牧强度,控制季节性超载和局部超载。     

放牧对草地群落与土壤特征的影响

针对放牧干扰对草地生态系统的影响,采用回归分析和典型对应分析(CCA)方法,研究放牧对草地植物群落物种多样性与生产力、土壤碳氮含量与生物量关系的影响。结果表明:(1)与休牧草地相比,放牧草地的地上生物量降低31.63%,凋落物生物量降低134.29%;放牧草地的禾草类生物量提高19.77%,而杂草类生物量和豆科类生物量分别降低31.09%和23.42%。(2)当物种多样性指数小于1.3时,休牧草地的生产力明显高于放牧草地;当物种多样性指数大于1.3时,放牧草地的生产力高于休牧草地。(3)CCA分析显示,家畜主要通过影响群落地上生物量、凋落物质量和土壤容重进而影响土壤的碳氮含量。(4)当群落地上生物量小于100g·m-2时,休牧草地的土壤有机碳和全氮含量高于放牧草地,当群落地上生物量大于100g·m-2时,放牧草地则略高于休牧草地。(5)当群落地下生物量小于1 200g·m-2时,放牧草地土壤有机碳、全氮含量高于休牧草地;当地下生物量大于1 200g·m-2时,放牧草地则略低于休牧草地。     

Yaks and sheep trigger different changes in the grasshopper assemblages of the Qilian Mountains via differentially altering plant assemblages

1. The Qilian Mountains represent one of the key livestock‐raising grasslands in China. The two main herbivore species raised in this area – yaks and sheep – are of critical economical value. Grasshoppers compete with these animals for available nutrients, creating multifaceted relationships between livestock, grasshoppers and plants. A clear understanding of such relationships is lacking and is urgently needed to guide conservation efforts. 2. This study aims to document the effects of yak and sheep grazing on grasshopper assemblages and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of such effects. 3. It is shown here that yaks and sheep impact grasshopper assemblages differently. Grasshopper assemblages exhibited lower density, biodiversity, richness, and evenness of distribution in yak‐grazed pastures than in grazing‐free grasslands. Sheep‐grazed pastures exhibited a dramatically divergent picture, with elevated density, biodiversity and richness, and a slightly decreased evenness of distribution. Grasshoppers were generally larger in grazed pastures than in grazing‐free grasslands, especially in yak‐grazed plots. 4. The present study suggests that differences between yak and sheep pastures in plant assemblage structure and plant traits are probably the underlying forces driving the differences in grasshopper assemblage structure and grasshopper traits, respectively. 5. The study shows that the grasshopper habitat indicator species differ between yak and sheep pastures, raising the possibility that such indicators can be used to monitor grassland usage and degradation in the Qilian Mountains. 6. These results provide novel insights into the dynamic interactions of common domesticated herbivore species, grasshoppers and plants in Qilian Mountains, which augment current knowledge and may ultimately lead to better conservation practices.     

禁牧对西藏亏祖山温性草原主要植物生态位及种间联结的影响

【目的】揭示禁牧处理对西藏亏祖山温性草原优势植物群落中主要植物物种的生态位和种间联结的影响,为青藏高原温性草原植物多样性保护和科学管理提供理论依据。【方法】采用“Levins”方法、方差比率法(V_r)、卡方检验、联结系数(A_c)和Ochiai(O_i)指数,对亏祖山温性草原优势植物群落中的8个主要植物物种进行分析。【结果】(1)禁牧增加了草沙蚕(Tripogon bromoides)、高山嵩草(Carex parvula)、白草(Pennisetum flaccidum)和丝颖针茅(Stipa capillacea)的生态位宽度和生态位重叠值。(2)研究区内禁牧处理的群落总体表现为负关联(V_r=0.43),自然放牧群落总体表现为正关联(V_r=1.21);χ²检验表明8个优势物种所组成的28个种对在禁牧和自然放牧处理下分别有67.9%和53.6%的种对表现出负联结性;联结系数A_c值表明,禁牧和自然放牧处理下分别有50%和42.9%的种对均...     

Loss of a large grazer impacts savanna grassland plant communities similarly in North America and South Africa

Large herbivore grazing is a widespread disturbance in mesic savanna grasslands which increases herbaceous plant community richness and diversity. However, humans are modifying the impacts of grazing on these ecosystems by removing grazers. A more general understanding of how grazer loss will impact these ecosystems is hampered by differences in the diversity of large herbivore assemblages among savanna grasslands, which can affect the way that grazing influences plant communities. To avoid this we used two unique enclosures each containing a single, functionally similar large herbivore species. Specifically, we studied a bison (Bos bison) enclosure at Konza Prairie Biological Station, USA and an African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) enclosure in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Within these enclosures we erected exclosures in annually burned and unburned sites to determine how grazer loss would impact herbaceous plant communities, while controlling for potential fire-grazing interactions. At both sites, removal of the only grazer decreased grass and forb richness, evenness and diversity, over time. However, in Kruger these changes only occurred with burning. At both sites, changes in plant communities were driven by increased dominance with herbivore exclusion. At Konza, this was caused by increased abundance of one grass species, Andropogon gerardii, while at Kruger, three grasses, Themeda triandra, Panicum coloratum, and Digitaria eriantha increased in abundance.     

Livestock grazing ingestion suppressed the dominant species population (Stipa aliena) germination: a laboratory experiment

Grazing has an important effect on population dynamics in grassland vegetation. This paper aims at providing information on the impact of livestock ingestion on seed germination in a Tibetan meadow. We conducted a laboratory germination experiment in which Stipa aliena seeds were treated by yak and Tibetan sheep rumen fluids and yak dung extract with undiluted, 1‐fold and 10‐fold diluted solutions. The results showed that seed germinability was restrained in all these treatments. In the control treatment, 66.2% of the seeds germinated, while there was almost no S. aliena germination in the undiluted and 1‐fold diluted solutions of both yak and Tibetan sheep rumen fluids. Yak dung extract had relatively less effect on seed germination. Additionally, the primary effect of rumen fluid seems to be that it kills part of the seeds rather than delaying germination. Seed death may be due to the acidity of the fluid or/and due to the effect of microorganisms in the fluid. The negative effects of livestock digestive juices on S. aliena germination may constitute a mechanism explaining the population dynamics in alpine meadows of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau.     

Rumen prokaryotic communities of ruminants under different feeding paradigms on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Yak and Tibetan sheep are the major indigenous ruminants on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China. The aim of this work was to study the differences in ruminal fermentation parameters and rumen prokaryotic community composition between hosts and feeding paradigms. The 16S rRNA genes targeting bacteria and archaea were sequenced using the MiSeq platform. The results showed that the prokaryotic community structure between yak and Tibetan sheep was significantly different (P < 0.01). A significant difference in structure was also found between groups of yaks barn fed with a total mixed ration (TMR) and those naturally grazing (NG) (P = 0.034), as well as for Tibetan sheep of the two groups (P = 0.026). The core prokaryotic populations that existed in the rumen mostly dominated the structure. There was an obvious correlation of the prokaryotic community composition at the phylum and genus levels with the host or the feeding pattern. In addition, Tibetan sheep showed significantly higher yields of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) than yak, as did the NG group compared with the TMR group. In conclusion, both the host and feeding pattern may influence rumen microbial ecology system, with host effects being more important than those of the feeding pattern.     

Carabid beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) richness and functional traits in relation to differently managed grasslands in the Alps

Species richness, composition, and functional traits of carabid beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were studied in relation to different grassland management. Carabid beetles were sampled during the summers 2008 and 2009 by 165 traps located in 11 sites in the central-eastern Italian Alps. Using mixed effect models to account for potential spatial bias, we found that mown grasslands had significantly more species, a lower proportion of wingless species and a lower proportion of species with long larval development than grazed and natural grasslands. Within grazed and mown grasslands, neither cattle density nor number of cuts had any significant effect neither on species richness nor on any of the traits. The influence of grassland management can be summarised as follows: (1) grazing does not change community structure and functional traits compared to natural grasslands; (2) mowing negatively affects the carabid beetle assemblages; (3) the intensity of grazing and of cutting may not affect the structure of species assemblages of ground beetles. Our results support the hypothesis that agroecosystem practices in alpine grasslands influence carabid beetle communities. Specifically, the species with traits typical of undisturbed habitats (low dispersal abilities and long larval development) are more sensitive to perturbations (e.g. cutting). Our suggestion for agricultural and environmental planning and for conservation schemes is that the preservation of natural grasslands (e.g. forest gaps) and the implementation of grazing should be promoted during the planning of agroecosystem mosaics.     

Linking sheep density and grazing frequency to persistence of herb species in an alpine environment

Large herbivores are important drivers in ecosystems worldwide. Changes in herbivore densities are predicted to especially affect herbs that are strongly preferred by herbivores. The persistence of herbs could be challenged by enhanced grazing, but also grazing cessation may affect persistence, especially for prostrate herbs, which might be out-competed. To test how different herbivore densities (high, low, and no sheep) affect grazing frequency and plant responses (plant height, flowering frequency, and plant density) at the herb community and species level, we conducted a fully replicated, landscape-scale experiment in an alpine environment. We found that none of the herb species changed their densities after 5 years with experimental changes in grazing pressure. Sheep density affected grazing and flowering frequency at the herb community level. Eight herb species were more grazed at high sheep density as compared to enclosures with no sheep. Herb height decreased at high sheep density as compared to no sheep for the two species with the highest grazing frequency. Increased height and flowering frequency were found for small herbs at high sheep density. Our experiment clearly shows that herbs do not constitute a homogeneous functional group and that, in particular, tall and small herbs are affected in contrasting ways but all species (n = 15) tolerated changes in grazing regimes as densities were maintained at both enhanced grazing and grazing cessation.     

长期围封对疏勒河源区高寒草甸地表节肢动物多样性的影响

围封会促进退化高寒草甸植被和土壤环境恢复,长期围封也会导致生物多样性及其功能下降,影响高寒草甸生态系统的稳定,但这种影响会随着季节和生境条件变化而异。为了探究不同退化程度高寒草甸地表节肢动物群落变化对围封禁牧的响应,利用陷阱法调查了疏勒河源区沼泽化草甸、草甸和草原化草甸3种不同退化梯度高寒草甸围封禁牧和自由放牧处理下地表节肢动物群落结构变化。结果表明：围封禁牧对高寒草甸地表节肢动物群落组成及多样性的影响随生境条件不同而异。禁牧降低了沼泽化草甸地表节肢动物的物种丰富度,而提高了草甸和草原化草甸地表节肢动物的物种丰富度;围封禁牧对沼泽化草甸地表节肢动物群落结构影响较小,显著降低了草甸生境地表节肢动物活动密度、提高了地表节肢动物多样性和均匀度,相反,禁牧显著提高了草原化草甸生境地表节肢动物活动密度、降低其多样性和均匀度;豹蛛属1种是高寒草甸主要的地表节肢动物类群（相对多度为67.0%）,高寒草甸土壤水分有效性等生境条件不同影响了豹蛛属1种对围封禁牧的响应模式,进而影响了地表节肢动物群落结构变化。总之,高寒草甸退化程度影响了地表节肢动物多样性对禁牧和放牧的响应模式,沼泽化草甸适度放牧有利于提高地表节肢动物多样性及其功能。     

Grazing impacts on the diversity and composition of alpine rangelands in Northwest Yunnan

Aims The eastern Himalayan region of Southwest China represents the world's most biodiverse temperate region as well as a cultural hotspot undergoing rapid cultural and ecological change. This area represents the center of origin for many plant groups including horticulturally valuable species of Pedicularis, Rhododendron and Primula. Alpine meadows here also provide summer pastures for Tibetan yak herders and the source for important medicinal plants. Stocking levels for livestock here have quadrupled over the last five decades and shrubs are encroaching into many historical rangelands. Yak herders voice concerns over both shrub encroachment and shrinking grasslands. In this study, we sought to determine: (i) Are alpine rangelands in Deqin County overgrazed and degraded? (ii) What are the local impacts of grazing on plant diversity and community composition? And (iii) which environmental variables covary with these differences in species composition across the grazing gradient?Methods To examine the ecological impacts of grazing in Deqin County, northwest Yunnan and assess its long-term sustainability, we used county records to determine historical population and livestock numbers, confirmed the results of interviews by Haynes (2011) and surveyed plant species richness and cover along a grazing gradient extending away from herder huts. Along these transects, we sampled 1?m 2 quadrats at 5 m intervals, noting species present and percent cover for vascular plants, grasses, sedges, rushes, moss, lichen, exposed rock, bare ground and feces. We also measured the average and maximum plant height within each quadrat. We then computed species richness for each of the 38 transects, calculating alpha and beta diversities. We used one-way ANOVAs to compare mean species richness values and average and maximum plant height across grazing intensities. To chart changes in composition along the 100m gradient, we also plotted the percent cover of graminoid, forb, shrub and bare ground versus distance from the hut. We applied NMS ordination to relate community patterns to environmental variables and grazing intensity using distances to determine species groupings.Important findings Livestock impacts are clearly evident with proportions of grass and bare ground decreasing, shrubs increasing and forbs maintaining even cover with increasing distance from the huts. In comparison with earlier surveys of sites farther from huts, we found reduced plant cover and diversity. Plant species richness almost doubles with increasing distance from herder huts from 9.9 to 19.3 species per 1 m 2 quadrat. An ordination of species and environmental variables demonstrates that grazing strongly affects plant community com position across these plots with strong impacts on palatable plants. If herd sizes remain large and suitable areas for grazing continue to decline, the cumulative impacts of grazing appear likely to degrade the rich diversity of the region and reduce rangeland quality, threatening its ability to sustain current grazing levels.