Effects of different livestock classes on species diversity， niches， and interspecific associations in alpine grassland

doi:10.11686/cyxb2024363

Abstract

Abstract:

This study aimed to investigate the effects of livestock classes and their combinations on species diversity， ecological niches， and interspecific associations in alpine grasslands under moderate grazing conditions， and to explore the mechanisms that sustain the stability of alpine grasslands under such conditions. Six treatments were established based on moderate grazing intensity： yak-only grazing， Tibetan sheep-only grazing， mixed yak-Tibetan sheep grazing at ratios of 1∶6， 1∶4， and 1∶2， and an ungrazed control. The results indicate that： 1） The 12 plant species with higher importance values exhibited broader niche widths within the community； 2） There was a significant positive correlation between species importance value and niche width （P<0.05）； 3） Overall community associations showed significant negative correlations， while interspecific associations were predominantly characterized by non-significant negative correlations； 4） A significant positive correlation was detected between niche similarity/overlap values and interspecific associations； 5） The niche characteristics and interspecific associations of community species suggested that well-structured spatial arrangements and interspecific relationships of dominant species enhanced the stability of the grassland ecosystem. The sensitivity of alpine grassland ecosystems to moderate grazing disturbance decreased progressively from species to functional groups to the entire community. As a consequence of the broad niche widths and weak interspecific associations of dominant plant species， there were no significant differences among the grazing treatments. Under moderate grazing conditions， different grazing methods effectively maintained the diversity and stability of alpine grassland ecosystems. From a vegetation perspective， the weak interspecific relationships and strong resource competition within the community significantly enhanced its resistance to disturbances. The results of this study provide insights into the mechanisms by which alpine grasslands maintain biodiversity and stability during grazing disturbances， and emphasize the roles of species’ niches and interspecific associations.

Key words: moderate grazing, yaks, Tibetan sheep, ecological niche, community stability

Bin FENG, Xiao-xia YANG, Yu-zhen LIU, Wen-ting LIU, Wei-dong LYU, Yan-fen ZHANG, Quan-min DONG. Effects of different livestock classes on species diversity， niches， and interspecific associations in alpine grassland[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2025, 34(8): 1-14.

Figures/Tables 14

References 47

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功能群Functional group	物种Species	功能群Functional group	物种Species
禾本科 Poaceae	西北针茅Stipa sareptana var. krylovii	杂类草 Forb	鸡冠茶Sibbaldianthe bifurca
	紫花针茅Stipa purpurea		白花枝子花Dracocephalum heterophyllum
	赖草Leymus secalinus		猪毛蒿Artemisia scoparia
	早熟禾Poa annua		冷蒿Artemisia frigida
	洽草Koeleria macrantha		蒲公英Taraxacum mongolicum
	扁穗冰草Agropyron cristatum		毛莓草Sibbaldianthe adpressa
	垂穗披碱草Elymus nutans		白苞筋骨草Ajuga lupulina
	芨芨草Neotrinia splendens		车前Plantago asiatica
	醉马草Achnatherum inebrians		狼毒Stellera chamaejasme
莎草科 Cyperaceae	矮生嵩草Carex alatauensis		鳞叶龙胆Gentiana squarrosa
莎草科 Cyperaceae	干生薹草Carex aridula		狗娃花Aster hispidus
豆科 Fabaceae	白花棘豆Oxytropis coerulea f. albiflora		唐松草Thalictrum aquilegiifolium var. sibiricum
	斜茎黄芪Astragalus laxmannii		湿生扁蕾Gentianopsis paludosa
	青海苜蓿Medicago archiducis-nicolai		北柴胡Bupleurum chinense
	披针叶野决明Thermopsis lanceolata		蚓果芥Braya humilis
杂类草 Forb	星毛委陵菜Potentilla acaulis		达乌里秦艽Gentiana dahurica
杂类草 Forb	多茎委陵菜Potentilla multicaulis		麻花艽Gentiana straminea

功能群Functional group	物种Species	功能群Functional group	物种Species
禾本科 Poaceae	西北针茅Stipa sareptana var. krylovii	杂类草 Forb	鸡冠茶Sibbaldianthe bifurca
	紫花针茅Stipa purpurea		白花枝子花Dracocephalum heterophyllum
	赖草Leymus secalinus		猪毛蒿Artemisia scoparia
	早熟禾Poa annua		冷蒿Artemisia frigida
	洽草Koeleria macrantha		蒲公英Taraxacum mongolicum
	扁穗冰草Agropyron cristatum		毛莓草Sibbaldianthe adpressa
	垂穗披碱草Elymus nutans		白苞筋骨草Ajuga lupulina
	芨芨草Neotrinia splendens		车前Plantago asiatica
	醉马草Achnatherum inebrians		狼毒Stellera chamaejasme
莎草科 Cyperaceae	矮生嵩草Carex alatauensis		鳞叶龙胆Gentiana squarrosa
莎草科 Cyperaceae	干生薹草Carex aridula		狗娃花Aster hispidus
豆科 Fabaceae	白花棘豆Oxytropis coerulea f. albiflora		唐松草Thalictrum aquilegiifolium var. sibiricum
	斜茎黄芪Astragalus laxmannii		湿生扁蕾Gentianopsis paludosa
	青海苜蓿Medicago archiducis-nicolai		北柴胡Bupleurum chinense
	披针叶野决明Thermopsis lanceolata		蚓果芥Braya humilis
杂类草 Forb	星毛委陵菜Potentilla acaulis		达乌里秦艽Gentiana dahurica
杂类草 Forb	多茎委陵菜Potentilla multicaulis		麻花艽Gentiana straminea

处理 Treatment	数量Number		小区Plot
处理 Treatment	牦牛 Yak	藏羊 Sheep	面积 Area （hm²）	数量 Number
禁牧NG	0	0	0.05	3
藏羊单牧SG	0	2	0.17	3
MG1∶6	1	6	0.77	3
MG1∶4	1	4	0.60	3
MG1∶2	1	2	0.43	3
牦牛单牧YG	1	0	0.26	3

处理 Treatment	数量Number		小区Plot
处理 Treatment	牦牛 Yak	藏羊 Sheep	面积 Area （hm²）	数量 Number
禁牧NG	0	0	0.05	3
藏羊单牧SG	0	2	0.17	3
MG1∶6	1	6	0.77	3
MG1∶4	1	4	0.60	3
MG1∶2	1	2	0.43	3
牦牛单牧YG	1	0	0.26	3

编号 No.	优势物种 Dominant species	重要值 Importance value	生态位宽度 Niche breadth
编号 No.	优势物种 Dominant species	重要值 Importance value	B_S	B_L
1	矮生嵩草 C. alatauensis	0.20	4.95	134.98
2	西北针茅 S. sareptana var. krylovii	0.16	4.99	133.82
3	星毛委陵菜 P. acaulis	0.13	4.86	113.20
4	早熟禾 P. annua	0.09	4.96	131.26
5	赖草 L. secalinus	0.07	4.98	132.94
6	洽草 K. macrantha	0.07	4.90	126.83
7	干生薹草 C. aridula	0.06	4.76	98.57
8	斜茎黄芪 A. laxmannii	0.03	4.79	101.14
9	冷蒿 A. frigida	0.02	4.37	51.56
10	狼毒 S. chamaejasme	0.02	4.00	46.11
11	多茎委陵菜 P. multicaulis	0.02	4.59	82.41
12	白花枝子花D. heterophyllum	0.02	4.58	79.82