The effect of plateau pika disturbance on plant community diversity and stability in an alpine meadow

doi:10.11686/cyxb2018298

Abstract

Abstract: Plant community diversity and functional redundancy are useful vegetation characteristics to consider when evaluating the community stability. A field survey was carried out to determine the disturbance effects of plateau pika on plant community diversity, functional diversity, functional redundancy and community stability of an alpine meadow. It was found that plateau pika disturbance increased plant species richness, functional diversity and functional redundancy, and decreased the plant diversity index, evenness index and community stability. In disturbed areas, plant species diversity, plant species richness, functional redundancy and community stability initially increased and then later decreased with increasing the plateau pika disturbance intensity. These results suggest that research into the effect of plateau pika disturbance on the plant community diversity and stability should consider not only the disturbance, but also the intensity of the disturbance.

Key words: plateau pika, Kobresia pygmaea meadow, species diversity, community stability, correlation

XU Hai-peng, YU Cheng, SHU Chao-cheng, JIN Shao-hong, PANG Xiao-pan, GUO Zheng-gang. The effect of plateau pika disturbance on plant community diversity and stability in an alpine meadow[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2019, 28(5): 90-99.

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