Plant community structure and species diversity differences in alpine grassland in the Qilian Mountains with different levels of degradation

doi:10.11686/cyxb2018302

Abstract

Abstract: This research aimed to provide a theoretical basis for effective management, productivity improvement, biodiversity protection, and sustainable resource use in the restoration of Kangle grassland in the Qilian Mountains. The plant community structure and soil characteristics at selected sites with different levels of degradation were sampled and analyzed. Five diversity indexes (the Margalef index, Dominance index, Simpson index, Evenness index and Shannon index) were used to explore changes in species diversity. The results showed that: 1) As expected, aboveground biomass, vegetation height and ground cover, plant density, and plant frequency showed a decreasing trend (P<0.05), from lightly degraded grassland (LDG) to moderately degraded grassland (MDG) and from MDG to severely degraded grassland (SDG). 2) There were 39 species, 35 genera and 15 families in the study area. The plant community had strong ecological adaptability, which was mainly represented by the Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae and Cyperaceae families. The dominant species of different degradation degrees were: LDG, Poa pratensis and Polygonum viviparum; MDG, Leymus secalinus and Kobresia humilis; SDG, K. humilis and L. secalinus. Poaceae had a key role in the stability of the community. 3) In defining functional groups in alpine grassland, it was found that forb plants were of primary importance, followed by graminoid plants, with harmful grass plants the least important. The importance values of forb plants at differing grassland degradation levels were 75.14% (SDG)>48.67% (LDG)>30.05% (MDG). The importance values of harmful grass plants at differing grassland degradation levels were 20.81% (LDG)>18.01% (SDG)>17.11% (MDG). 4) The highest species Dominance index within the SDG community was 0.23; the highest Margalef richness index of the LDG was 2.64 and the Shannon comprehensive index of the LDG community was 2.09. 5) With increased degree of degradation, the soil total phosphorus, total nitrogen, organic matter and water contents showed downward trends, while pH increased. In summary, with increasing degree of degradation, the change in grassland community structure exhibited a continuous single trend Kangle, while the major environmentally limiting factors changed.

Key words: west Qilian Mountains, alpine grassland, degraded level, community structure, species diversity

ZHANG Jian-gui, WANG Li-de, YAO Tuo, LI Hai-yun, GAO Ya-min, YANG Xiao-mei, LI Chang-ning, LI Qi, FENG Ying, HU Yan-ting. Plant community structure and species diversity differences in alpine grassland in the Qilian Mountains with different levels of degradation[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2019, 28(5): 15-25.

References

[1] Dong S K, Tang L, Zhang X F, et al. Relationship between plant species diversity and functional diversity in alpine grasslands. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2017, 37(5): 1472-1483.
董世魁, 汤琳, 张相锋, 等. 高寒草地植物物种多样性与功能多样性的关系. 生态学报, 2017, 37(5): 1472-1483.
[2] Xiong D P, Zhao G S, Wu J S, et al. The relationship between species diversity and ecosystem multi-functionality in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Qiangtang Plateau. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2016, 36(11): 3362-3371.
熊定鹏, 赵广帅, 武建双, 等. 羌塘高寒草地物种多样性与生态系统多功能关系格局. 生态学报, 2016, 36(11): 3362-3371.
[3] Sun H Q, Lin G J, Li X L, et al. Analysis of vegetation community structure and productivity of different degraded grasslands of alpine meadows in the Sanjiangyuan area. Heilongjiang Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, 2013, 37(19): 1-3.
孙海群, 林冠军, 李希来, 等. 三江源地区高寒草甸不同退化草地植被群落结构及生产力分析. 黑龙江畜牧兽医, 2013, 37(19): 1-3.
[4] Dong L, An S Z, Dong Y Q, et al. The succession of plant biodiversity in different degraded of Bayinbluke Alpine Grasslands. Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences, 2017, 54(4): 756-765.
董磊, 安沙舟, 董乙强, 等. 新疆巴音布鲁克高寒草原植被多样性退化演替分析. 新疆农业科学, 2017, 54(4): 756-765.
[5] Yang Q, Wang W, Zeng H.Effects of nitrogen addition on the plant diversity and biomass of degraded grasslands of Inner Mongolia, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2018, 42(4): 430-441.
杨倩, 王娓, 曾辉. 氮添加对内蒙古退化草地植物群落多样性和生物量的影响. 植物生态学报, 2018, 42(4): 430-441.
[6] Pan Y, Wu J X, Luo L M, et al. Climatic and geographic factors affect ecosystem multi-functionality through biodiversity in the Tibetan alpine grasslands. Journal of Mountain Science, 2017, 14(8): 1604-1614.
[7] Zhang G H, Zhao C Z, Nie X M, et al. Relationship between productivity and plant species diversity of grassland community in relation to altitude in the upper Shiyang River. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 2010, 24(4): 156-160.
张国辉, 赵成章, 聂学敏, 等. 石羊河上游不同海拔天然草地群落多样性与生产力的关系. 干旱区资源与环境, 2010, 24(4): 156-160.
[8] Qi S, Zheng H X, Lin Q M, et al. Effects of livestock grazing intensity on soil biota in a semiarid steppe of Inner Mongolia. Plant and Soil, 2011, 340(1): 117-126.
[9] Chu X H, Xie Y, Shan G L, et al. Effect of management patterns on community structure and species diversity of Subalpine Meadow of the Southern Margin of Tibetan Plateau. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2017, 25(5): 939-945.
初晓辉, 谢勇, 单贵莲, 等. 放牧和封育对青藏高原南缘亚高山草甸群落结构及物种多样性的影响. 草地学报, 2017, 25(5): 939-945.
[10] Wang H D, Zhang L L, Zhu Z H.Effects of clipping and fertilizing on the relationships between species diversity and ecosystem functioning and mechanisms of community stability in alpine meadow. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2013, 37(4): 279-295.
王海东, 张璐璐, 朱志红. 刈割、施肥对高寒草甸物种多样性与生态系统功能关系的影响及群落稳定性机制. 植物生态学报, 2013, 37(4): 279-295.
[11] Zhao C Z, Gao F Y, Wang X P, et al. Fine-scale spatial patterns of Stellera chamaejasme population in degraded alpine grassland in upper reaches of Heihe, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2010, 34(11): 1319-1326.
赵成章, 高福元, 王小鹏, 等. 黑河上游高寒退化草地狼毒种群小尺度点格局分析. 植物生态学报, 2010, 34(11): 1319-1326.
[12] Ren J Z.Pratacultural science research methods. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 1998.
任继周. 草业科学研究方法. 北京: 中国农业出版社, 1998.
[13] Su D X, Zhang Z H, Chen Z Z.Grade index of natural grassland degradation, desertification and salinization, GB 19377-2003. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2003.
苏大学, 张自和, 陈佐忠. 天然草地退化、沙化、盐渍化的分级指标, GB 19733-2003. 北京: 中国标准出版社, 2003.
[14] Bao S D.Analysis of agri-chemical soil (Third Edition). Beijing: China Agricultural Publishing Press, 2000.
鲍士旦. 土壤农化分析(第三版). 北京: 中国农业出版社, 2000.
[15] Chen L L, Shi J J, Wang Y L, et al. Study on different degraded degrees grassland community structure characteristics of the Alpine area. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2016, 24(1): 210-213.
陈乐乐, 施建军, 王彦龙, 等. 高寒地区不同退化程度草地群落结构特征研究. 草地学报, 2016, 24(1): 210-213.
[16] Li J H, Li X P, Lu H, et al. Characteristics of, and the correlation between, vegetation and N-fixing soil bacteria in alpine grassland showing various degrees of degradation. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2017, 37(11): 3647-3654.
李建宏, 李雪萍, 卢虎, 等. 高寒地区不同退化草地植被特性和土壤固氮菌群特性及其相关性. 生态学报, 2017, 37(11): 3647-3654.
[17] Zhou L, Zhang D G, Yun X J, et al. The vegetation and soil characteristics of degraded alpine meadow. Pratacultural Science, 2016, 33(11): 2196-2201.
周丽, 张德罡, 贠旭江, 等. 退化高寒草甸植被与土壤特征. 草业科学, 2016, 33(11): 2196-2201.
[18] Liu X N, Sun J L, Zhang D G, et al. A study on the community structure and plant diversity of alpine meadow under different degrees of degradation in the Eastern Qilian Mountains. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2008, 17(4): 1-11.
柳小妮, 孙九林, 张德罡, 等. 东祁连山不同退化阶段高寒草甸群落结构与植物多样性特征研究. 草业学报, 2008, 17(4): 1-11.
[19] Li Y L.Study on species diversity and dynamic characteristics of plant communities in Kanas Nature Reserve of Xinjiang. Xi’an: Northwest University, 2010.
李永亮. 新疆喀纳斯自然保护区植物群落物种多样性及动态特征研究. 西安: 西北大学, 2010.
[20] Dong Y Q, Sun Z J, An S Z.Effects of grazing and grazing exclusion on species diversity in grassland vegetation and organic carbon. Chinese Journal of Grassland, 2018, 40(1): 105-114.
董乙强, 孙宗玖, 安沙舟. 放牧和禁牧影响草地物种多样性和有机碳库的途径. 中国草地学报, 2018, 40(1): 105-114.
[21] Li B.The rangeland degradation in North China and its preventive strategy. Scientia Agricutura Sinica, 1997, 30(6): 2-10.
李博. 中国北方草地退化及其防治对策. 中国农业科学, 1997, 30(6): 2-10.
[22] Wang X X, Dong S K, Yang B, et al. The effects of grassland degradation on plant diversity, primary productivity, and soil fertility in the alpine region of Asia’s headwaters. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2014, 186(10): 6903-6917.
[23] Zheng C C, Yi L T, Zhang C, et al. Interspecific relationship and canonical correspondence analysis of the dominant species in ecological service forest of Jiangshan City in Zhejiang Province. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2015, 35(22): 7511-7521.
郑超超, 伊力塔, 张超, 等. 浙江江山公益林物种种间关系及CCA排序. 生态学报, 2015, 35(22): 7511-7521.
[24] Yang Y W, Li X L, Zhou X H, et al. Study on relationship between plant community degradation and soil environment in an alpine meadow. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 2016, 24(6): 1211-1217.
杨元武, 李希来, 周旭辉, 等. 高寒草甸植物群落退化与土壤环境特征的关系研究. 草地学报, 2016, 24(6): 1211-1217.
[25] Shi X H, Fan C R, Li C Y, et al. Soil hydrological characteristics of different grazing system grassland in Hulunbuir. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2015, 29(2): 145-149, 214.
史小红, 樊才睿, 李畅游, 等. 呼伦贝尔草原不同放牧草场土壤水文特性研究. 水土保持学报, 2015, 29(2): 145-149, 214.
[26] Sa R L, Hou X Y, Li J X, et al. Organic carbon storage in vegetation-soil systems of typical grazing degraded steppes. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2013, 22(5): 18-26.
萨茹拉, 侯向阳, 李金祥, 等. 不同放牧退化程度典型草原植被—土壤系统的有机碳储量. 草业学报, 2013, 22(5): 18-26.
[27] Luo Y Y, Meng Q T, Zhang J H, et al. Species diversity and biomass in relation to soil properties of alpine meadows in the eastern Tibetan Plateau in different degradation stages. Journal of Glaciology And Geocryology, 2014, 36(5): 1298-1305.
罗亚勇, 孟庆涛, 张静辉, 等. 青藏高原东缘高寒草甸退化过程中植物群落物种多样性、生产力与土壤特性的关系. 冰川冻土, 2014, 36(5): 1298-1305.
[28] Zhang J G, Jiang Y M, Yao T, et al. Effects of different management strategies on the number of soil nitrogen microorganism groups in an alpine meadow. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2017, 26(8): 65-73.
张建贵, 蒋永梅, 姚拓, 等. 不同管理措施对高寒草甸土壤微生物氮素生理群数量影响研究. 草业学报, 2017, 26(8): 65-73.
[29] Feng R Z, Zhou W H, Long R J, et al. Study on the changes of soil nutrients, microbial biomass P and neutral phosphatase activity of artificial grassland sown in different years in the headwaters of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2007, 16(6): 1-6.
冯瑞章, 周万海, 龙瑞军, 等. 江河源区不同建植期人工草地土壤养分及微生物量磷和磷酸酶活性研究. 草业学报, 2007, 16(6): 1-6.
[30] Jiang Y M, Shi S L, Tian Y L, et al. Characteristics of soil microorganism and soil enzyme activities in alpine meadows under different degrees of degradation. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2017, 31(3): 244-249.
蒋永梅, 师尚礼, 田永亮, 等. 高寒草地不同退化程度下土壤微生物及土壤酶活性变化特征. 水土保持学报, 2017, 31(3): 244-249.