草地利用方式对草甸草原植被空间异质性的影响

研究不同利用方式下植物群落中物种的分布特征,有助于解释植物在不同利用方式干扰下的演替规律。本研究以内蒙古呼伦贝尔草甸草原为研究对象,通过野外调查,基于幂函数法则,探讨围封、放牧和刈割利用方式下草地植被物种分布状况和群落整体空间分布的变化。结果表明:在放牧和刈割利用及围封下,草甸草原植被物种分布规律符合幂函数法则;与围封相比,放牧增加了群落整体的空间分布异质性,而刈割则降低了这种变化,刈割和放牧草地物种异质性指数高于群落整体异质性指数的物种增多;物种出现频率发生变化,如对糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa)种群而言,围封地中糙隐子草的出现频率为0.010,刈割和放牧增加了糙隐子草的出现频率(0.151和0.521),刈割和放牧降低了狭叶青蒿(Artemisia dacunculus)的出现频率(0.132和0.028)。     

利用方式对大针茅草原优势种糙隐子草空间异质性的影响

为探讨不同草地利用方式下糙隐子草种群空间分布的变化特点,以内蒙古自治区锡林郭勒盟毛登牧场大针茅草原优势物种糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa)为研究对象,通过野外试验,以地统计学为基础,采用半方差函数、分形维数及克里格插值法,分析了围封、放牧和刈割样地糙隐子草种群小尺度空间分布异质性。结果表明:糙隐子草种群密度分别为放牧(28.63株·m~(-2))围封(13.60株·m~(-2))刈割(3.85株·m~(-2))(P0.05),放牧显著增加糙隐子草种群密度(P0.05),而刈割显著降低糙隐子草种群密度(P0.05);通过半方差函数进行模型拟合,围封、放牧和刈割样地糙隐子草种群分布分别符合指数模型、球状模型和球状模型;空间分布格局分析表明,各样地糙隐子草种群的结构比分别为刈割(91.9%)放牧(75.3%)围封(71.1%),放牧与刈割样地的空间自相关性均较高,主要受结构性因素影响,而围封样地空间自相关处于中等程度,受随机性因素影响较大;结合分形维数、2D平面图及3D立体图分析,3块样地空间结构良好,空间分布简单,说明合理放牧及刈割不会对种群分布格局造成很大影响,但与围封样地相比,放牧增加了糙隐子草种群空间异质性,而刈割降低了种群异质性。     

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。     

氮素添加和刈割对内蒙古弃耕草地土壤氮矿化的影响

以内蒙古多伦县恢复生态学试验示范研究站弃耕10余年的草地为研究对象,于2006年起分别设置对照、氮素添加、刈割和氮素添加+刈割4种处理,每种处理6次重复,研究弃耕草地氮素添加和刈割对土壤氮矿化的影响,结合土壤理化性质和植被地上生产力的动态变化,分析弃耕草地土壤氮矿化对植被恢复的响应,为当地草地恢复与重建提供理论依据和数据支持。实验结果表明:1氮素添加显著增加了植物地上净初级生产力(ANPP)和土壤无机氮库,与对照相比分别提高115%和196%,同时显著提高了土壤总硝化速率;但是氮素添加对总氨化速率、土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、微生物生物量碳氮比(MBC/MBN)、微生物呼吸(MR)以及呼吸熵(q CO2)均无显著影响;2总氨化速率和硝化速率对刈割处理的响应均不显著,但是刈割处理显著降低了土壤MR(P0.05);3氮素添加+刈割处理5—7a后,土壤总氨化和硝化速率均无显著变化;但是氮素添加+刈割处理显著增加了ANPP、土壤无机氮库和q CO2,同时显著降低了MBC和MBC/MBN。这说明在弃耕草地适应性管理中,氮素添加可以显著提高草地生产力,但是长期的氮添加对土壤微生物氮的转化是否有利还值得我们进一步研究。     

长期围封对不同放牧强度下草地植物和AM真菌群落恢复的影响

为探明人为干扰对草地生态系统生态恢复的影响,以不同放牧强度试验草地为研究对象,调查了围封14a后草地植物群落的多样性,并应用第二代高通量测序技术454测序法分析了植物根际土壤中AM真菌的群落结构。研究结果显示,14a围封保育使得不同放牧强度小区与长期封育小区植被盖度及植物多样性指数基本恢复至同一水平。土壤速效磷含量在重度放牧小区最低(1.00 mg/kg),轻度放牧区最高(2.25 mg/kg),其它土壤理化性质指标在不同小区之间没有显著差异。通过分子鉴定发现所有土壤样品中AM真菌共有87个分类单元(VT),隶属于Diversispora、Otospora、Scutellospora、Glomeraceae Glomus、Rhizophagus、Paraglomus和Archaeospora等7个属。对不同放牧强度小区AM真菌进行多样性分析,结果表明长期封育小区AM真菌Shannon多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数最低,且显著低于中度放牧区,而AM真菌多样性在各放牧小区之间差异不显著。本研究表明长期围封可以有效促进退化草地植物群落的恢复,而AM真菌表现出与植物群落恢复的不同步性。对于草地生态系统退化及恢复过程中植物和土壤功能微生物类群的协同关系还需要进一步系统深入的研究。     

刈割强度对大针茅草原地上生物量时间稳定性的影响

在草地刈割过程中, 群落地上生物量的时间稳定性与物种多样性及物种异步性关系密切。本文基于2014-2018年的野外刈割实验, 研究了围封(对照, 无刈割)、轻度(留茬8 cm)、中度(留茬5 cm)和重度(留茬2 cm)等不同刈割强度对内蒙古大针茅(Stipa grandis)典型草原地上生物量时间稳定性的影响。结果表明: (1)与围封相比, 刈割对群落时间稳定性无显著影响, 但对种群平均时间稳定性影响显著, 重度刈割处理的种群平均时间稳定性显著降低; 且种群平均时间稳定性与群落时间稳定性无显著相关关系, 表明这二者独立波动。(2)与围封相比, 重度刈割处理的物种丰富度显著降低, 但它与群落时间稳定性无显著相关关系, 表明物种丰富度不是群落地上生物量时间稳定性的主导因素; 此外, 重度刈割处理的群落抵抗力显著降低, 但也与群落时间稳定性无显著相关关系。(3)异步性与群落稳定性存在极显著正相关关系, 但刈割对异步性无显著影响, 故未造成群落稳定性显著变化。因此, 异步性可能是影响群落时间稳定性的主导效应之一, 在草地管理与利用过程中, 可从物种异步性角度来对草地稳定性进行评价。     

放牧及刈割强度对鸭茅密度及能量积累的影响

1　引　　言放牧及刈割对牧草种群的影响 .一直是草地生态学研究的重点 .科学的放牧、刈割管理制度是保证草地畜牧业可持续发展的重要前提 .作为南方人工草地优势植物之一的鸭茅(Ｄａｃｔｙｌｉｓｇｌｏｍｅｒａｔａ) ,是一种经济效益高、生产价值大、在我国具有广泛应用前景的优良牧草 .通过对亚热带高山人工草地进行的梯度放牧及刈割实验 ,本文分析比较了不同放牧及刈割强度对鸭茅种群密度及能量积累的影响 ,旨在为该地区合理刈牧制度的建立提供理论依据 .2　研究地区与研究方法2 1　自然概况研究地点位于湖北长阳火烧坪 ,地理位置在 30…     

内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原不同利用方式土壤微生物功能多样性

基于Biolog-ECO技术,研究了贝加尔针茅草原在自由放牧、刈割和围封3种不同利用方式下土壤微生物群落功能多样性变化。结果表明:不同的利用方式能显著改变土壤微生物群落代谢活性,反映微生物活性的平均颜色变化率表现为围封>自由放牧>刈割,围封时土壤微生物群落代谢活性最高;不同的利用方式改变了土壤微生物群落多样性指数,自由放牧土壤微生物群落丰富度指数、均匀度指数和优势度指数均最高,围封次之,刈割最低。主成分分析结果表明:在自由放牧和刈割2种利用方式下土壤微生物群落碳源利用模式及代谢功能相似,而围封土壤微生物群落具有不同的碳源利用模式和代谢功能;糖类、氨基酸类和代谢中间产物及次生代谢物为土壤微生物利用的主要碳源。不同的利用方式改变了贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物群落功能多样性。     

放牧和刈割对大针茅草原土壤微生物群落结构及多样性的影响

放牧和刈割是内蒙古草原的两种主要利用方式,然而,长期放牧和刈割对大针茅草原土壤微生物群落的影响知之甚少,因此,以内蒙古大针茅草原为研究对象,设置放牧和刈割两种利用方式,以围封不利用为对照,基于高通量测序技术,研究大针茅草原在不同利用方式下土壤微生物组成及多样性的变化,并结合土壤理化因子进一步探究土壤微生物群落组成的主要影响因素。研究结果表明：不同利用方式下土壤细菌α多样性指数无显著差异,而刈割显著提高了土壤真菌Observed＿species、Chao1和ACE指数;土壤细菌群落的优势菌门是变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria),土壤真菌群落的优势菌门是子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和被孢霉门(Mortierellomycota),不同利用方式下部分微生物类群的相对丰度差异显著,放牧显著提高了细菌群落的变形菌门、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)和芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)的相对丰度,刈割显著提高了真菌群落的担子菌门(Basidiomycota)相对丰度,此外,放牧和刈割均显著降低了厚壁菌门(Firmicutes...     

放牧对呼伦贝尔草地植物和土壤生态化学计量学特征的影响

放牧通过畜体采食、践踏和排泄物归还影响草地群落组成、植物形态和土壤养分,植物通过改变养分利用策略适应环境变化。通过分析呼伦贝尔草原放牧和围封样地中的群落植物和土壤的碳氮磷养分及化学计量比,探讨放牧对生态系统化学计量学特征和养分循环速率的影响机制。结果如下:(1)群落尺度上,放牧和围封草地植物叶片C、N和P的含量没有显著差异;但是在种群尺度上,放牧草地植物叶片N含量显著高于围封草地;(2)放牧草地土壤全C、全N、有机C、速效P含量,低于围封草地,硝态N含量高于围封草地;土壤全P和铵态N指标没有显著差异;(3)放牧草地植物C∶N比显著低于围封草地,植物残体分解速率较快,提高了生态系统养分循环速率。     

Effects of different fencing regimes on community structure of degraded desert grasslands on Mu Us desert,China

Grazing is one of the major anthropogenic driving factors influencing community structure and ecological function of grasslands. Fencing has been proved to be one of the main measures for rehabilitating degraded grasslands in northwestern China. However, data from combined empirical studies on the effects of different management regimes in desert grasslands are lacking. So we selected long‐term fencing (fenced since 1991), mid‐term fencing and seasonal fencing (fenced since 2002), and adjacent free‐grazing grasslands to investigate vegetation and soil properties on southwest Mu Us desert. Our results showed that fencing increased plant cover, height, aboveground biomass (AGB) of different plant life‐form groups, Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Evenness index, Simpson index, total soil nitrogen, total soil phosphorus, and soil organic matter, but decreased plant density, species richness, Richness index, soil bulk density, water content, and pH. However, 22–24 years of long‐term complete fencing might cause redegradation of vegetation and soil nutrients, characterized by the reduction of some vegetation properties, biodiversity, total AGB, and some soil properties. Seasonal fencing with 11–13 year was more beneficial to vegetation restoration than that with completely fencing measures. Our study suggests that appropriate artificial disturbances, such as seasonal fencing (winter grazing and summer fencing), should be used after long‐term fencing in order to maintain grassland productivity and biodiversity. These findings will help to provide theoretical support for vegetation restoration and sustainable management in grassland under grazing prohibition at Mu Us desert.     

Effect of fencing and grazing on a Kobresia-dominated meadow in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Grazing is one of the most important factors influencing community structure and productivity in natural grasslands. Fencing to exclude grazers is one of the main management practices used to protect grasslands. Can fencing improve grassland community status by restraining grazing? We conducted a field community study and indoor soil analyses to determine the long-term effects of fencing and grazing on the above-ground community and soil in a Kobresia-dominated meadow in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, NW China. Our results showed that fencing significantly improved above-ground vegetation productivity but reduced plant density and species diversity. Long-term fencing favored the improvement of forage grass functional groups and restrained the development noxious weed functional groups. There were significant positive effects of fencing on below-ground organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total phosphorus and available phosphorus. The productivity of grazed meadow showed a weak decrease over time. There were long-term decreasing trends for plant density both in fenced and grazed meadows. Our study suggests that grazing can be considered as a useful management practice to improve species diversity and plant density in long-term fenced grasslands and that periodic grazing and fencing is beneficial in grassland management.     

Plant Community Biomass Shifts in Response to Mowing and Fencing in Invaded Oak Meadows with Non‐Native Grasses and Abundant Ungulates

Many herbaceous meadows are dominated by competitive non‐native grasses and subject to ungulate herbivory, ecological processes that shift the proportional biomass of plant groups in the community. Predicting the outcome of restoration is complicated because herbivory and competition can interact. We examined the relationship between herbivory by native black‐tailed deer and domestic sheep and dominance of non‐native grasses in Garry oak meadows, one of North America's most endangered habitat types. A 3‐year factorial experiment tested the effects of mowing and fencing on plant community biomass, categorized into eight groups by geographic origin (native/non‐native), growth form (annual/perennial), and plant type (forb/grass). To test if the rarity of native plant groups was related to herbivory, we estimated ungulate foraging preferences for each plant group. Mowing and fencing treatments interacted for annual and perennial non‐native grasses. Dominance was shifted from non‐native to native grasses only when both mowing and fencing were applied. Fencing increased the total biomass, whereas mowing had no overall effect; however, fencing alone did not affect any individual plant group. Mowing shifted dominance from grasses to forbs, although both native and non‐native forbs benefited from the increased light availability. We also noted that herbivore fecal pellet densities were greatest in the spring, which coincided with the peak season of their preferred plant group, native perennial forbs. Overall, applying both mowing and fencing was the most effective restoration treatment to increase native plant groups and biomass.     

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。     

Resilience of a high‐conservation‐value,semi‐arid grassland on fertile clay soils to burning,mowing and ploughing

In grassland reserves, managed disturbance is often necessary to maintain plant species diversity. We carried out experiments to determine the impact of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing and disc ploughing on grassland species richness and composition in a nature reserve in semi‐arid eastern Australia. Vegetation response was influenced by winter–spring drought after establishment of the experiments, but moderate rainfall followed in late summer–autumn. Species composition varied greatly between sampling times, and the variability due to rainfall differences between seasons and years was greater than the effects of fire, kangaroo grazing, mowing or disc ploughing. In the fire experiment, species richness and composition recovered more rapidly after spring than autumn burning. Species richness and composition were similar to control sites within 12 months of burning and mowing, suggesting that removal of the dominant grass canopy is unnecessary to enhance plant diversity. Two fires (separated by 3 years) and post‐fire kangaroo grazing had only minor influence on species richness and composition. Even disc ploughing caused only a small reduction in native richness. The minor impact of ploughing was explained by the small areas that were ploughed, the once‐off nature of the treatment, and the high degree of natural movement and cracking in these shrink‐swell soils. Recovery of the composition and richness of these grasslands was rapid because of the high proportion of perennial species that resprout vegetatively after fire and mowing. There appears to be little conservation benefit from fire, mowing or ploughing ungrazed areas, as we could identify no native plant species dependent on frequent disturbance for persistence in this grassland community. However, the ability of the Astrebla‐ and Dichanthium‐dominated grasslands to recover quickly after disturbance, given favourable seasonal conditions, suggests that they are well adapted to natural disturbances (e.g. droughts, fire, flooding and native grazing).     

Responses of grassland ecosystems to precipitation and land use along the Northeast China Transect

Abstracts. The Northeast China Transect (NECT) has been used to study how water availability influences the composition of plant functional types, soil organic matter, net primary production, trace gas flux, and land‐use patterns. We discuss relations of plant species number, soil C and N and above‐ground biomass with a precipitation gradient and interactions with land‐use practices (grassland fencing, mowing and grazing), on the basis of data from the west part of NECT. The results indicate: 1. The above‐ground biomass of grassland communities has a linear relationship with precipitation under three land‐use practices, while plant species number, soil C, and total soil N have linear relationships with precipitation under fencing and mowing; under grazing the relationships are non‐linear. 2. Plant species number, soil C and total soil N have strong linear relationships with above‐ground biomass under both fencing and mowing, while they seem to have nonlinear relationships under grazing. 3. Land‐use practices along the precipitation gradient result not only in changes in grassland communities but also in qualitative changes of their structure and function. 4. Grasslands are more vulnerable to changes in climate under mowing than under fencing, and are more capable to store C in soil and plants. 5. At a given precipitation level, number of plant species, above‐ground biomass, and soil C are higher under low to medium intensity of human activities (mowing and grazing). A better understanding of how different intensities of human activities will affect the structure and function of grassland will require further research.     

Ecological Consequences of Shifting the Timing of Burning Tallgrass Prairie

In the Kansas Flint Hills, grassland burning is conducted during a relatively narrow window because management recommendations for the past 40 years have been to burn only in late spring. Widespread prescribed burning within this restricted time frame frequently creates smoke management issues downwind. A potential remedy for the concentrated smoke production in late spring is to expand burning to times earlier in the year. Yet, previous research suggested that burning in winter or early spring reduces plant productivity and cattle weight gain while increasing the proportion of undesirable plant species. In order to better understand the ecological consequences of burning at different times of the year, plant production and species abundance were measured for 20 years on ungrazed watersheds burned annually in autumn, winter, or spring. We found that there were no significant differences in total grass production among the burns on either upland or lowland topographic positions, although spring burned watersheds had higher grass culm production and lower forb biomass than autumn and winter burned watersheds. Burning in autumn or winter broadened the window of grass productivity response to precipitation, which reduces susceptibility to mid-season drought. Burning in autumn or winter also increased the phenological range of species by promoting cool-season graminoids without a concomitant decrease in warm-season grasses, potentially widening the seasonal window of high-quality forage. Incorporating autumn and winter burns into the overall portfolio of tallgrass prairie management should increase the flexibility in managing grasslands, promote biodiversity, and minimize air quality issues caused by en masse late-spring burning with little negative consequences for cattle production.     

长期封育演替下典型草原植物群落生产力与多样性关系

封育是退化草地的重要恢复措施, 理解长期封育过程中草地群落生产力和植物多样性变化特征及两者间关系, 有助于草地植被的恢复管理与利用。该研究依托宁夏云雾山国家级自然保护区典型草原长期封育演替梯度, 选择持续放牧、封育9年、26年和34年的草地群落作为研究对象, 分析其地上生产力、物种多样性和功能多样性的变化特征及内在联系。结果表明, 封育显著提高典型草原植物群落的地上生产力、凋落物生物量、功能丰富度和功能离散度, 未改变草地群落的物种丰富度、Shannon-Wiener指数和功能均匀度, 但Simpson优势度指数和Pielou均匀度指数在长期封育(34年)后显著下降。此外, 封育对不同植物群落加权平均功能性状的影响存在差异。随机森林模型和方差分解结果显示, 群落加权平均功能性状对封育草地群落地上生产力变异的解释度高达70.70%, 其中植株高度是最主要的解释因子; 功能多样性的解释度为36.86%, 主要由功能丰富度贡献; 而物种多样性的解释度仅为14.72%。由此可见, 植物功能性状和功能多样性对草地群落地上生产力的贡献远高于物种多样性, 建议将其纳入植物群落恢复演替动态研究, 以便全面了解植物多样性与生态系统功能的关系, 为更好地实现生态恢复目标奠定基础。     

物种多样性和功能性状驱动高寒草原地上生物量对长期禁牧的响应

围封对草地生物多样性和初级生产力的影响是草地生态学研究的热点问题之一。基于2013—2021年在青藏高原东北部紫花针茅(Stipa purpurea)高寒草原围栏内外植物群落长期调查数据,从物种多样性、功能性状的角度解析了高寒草原地上生物量对长期围封的生态响应过程。结果表明：(1)围封处理对高寒草原物种多样性的负效应具有强烈的时间依赖性。围封处理显著提高地上生物量,但也显著降低了生物量稳定性和异步性,意味着高寒草原稳定的、可持续的生态系统服务功能被长期围封处理削弱。(2)植物功能性状对长期围封处理表现出差异性响应模式;与叶绿素性状相比,叶形态性状对长期围封处理表现出更强的敏感性。(3)物种多样性和功能性状与地上生物量之间均存在显著相关关系,并且物种多样性的影响被功能性状调控进而对地上生物量发挥间接效应,群落加权性状和功能分异度共同对草地生物量发挥直接的主导效应。研究结果证明了植物功能性状通过介导物种多样性与其共同驱动高寒草原地上生物量对长期围封的响应。因此,在未来草地管理过程中,同步研究植物物种和功能属性对于全面揭示生态系统的响应机制至关重要。     

Effects of nitrogen addition and mowing on rodent damage in an Inner Mongolian steppe

Rodent damage is a serious threat to sustainable management of grassland. The effects of nitrogen (N) deposition and grassland management on rodent damage have been scarcely studied. Here, we reported the effects of 2 years of N addition and mowing on burrow density and damage area of Citellus dauricus in a semiarid steppe in Inner Mongolia. N addition significantly aggravated, while mowing alleviated rodent damage in the grassland under study. Burrow density and damage area increased 2.8‐fold and 4.7‐fold, in N addition plots compared to the ambient N addition treatment, respectively. Conversely, mowing decreased burrow density and damage area by 75.9% and 14.5%, respectively, compared to no mowing plots. Observed changes in rodent damage were mainly due to variations in plant community cover, height, and aboveground net primary productivity. Our findings demonstrate that N addition and mowing can affect the rodent density and activity in grassland, suggesting that the effects of a changing atmospheric composition and land use on rodent damage must be considered in order to achieve better grassland management.