Long-term effects of mowing on plasticity and allometry of Leymus chinensis in a temperate semi-arid grassland,China

Mowing is an important land management practice for natural semi-arid regions. A growing body of empirical evidence shows that different mowing regimes affect the functioning of grassland ecosystems. However, the responses of plant functional traits to long-term mowing and their allometric scaling under long-term mowing are poorly understood. For a better understanding of the effects of mowing on grassland ecosystems, we analyzed the allometric traits of leaves and stems of Leymus chinensis （Trin.） Tzvel., a dominant grass species in eastern Eurasian temperate grassland, at different mowing intensities （no clipping, clipping once every two years, once a year and twice a year）. Experiments were conducted on plots established over a decade ago in a typical steppe of Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Results showed that most of the functional traits of L. chinensis decreased with the increased mowing intensity. The responses of leaves and stems to long-term mowing were asymmetric, in which leaf traits were more stable than stem traits. Also significant allometric relationships were found among most of the plant functional traits under the four mowing treatments. Sensitive traits of L. chinensis （e.g. leaf length and stem length） were primary indicators associated with aboveground biomass decline under high mowing intensity. In conclusion, the allometric growth of different functional traits of L. chinensis varies with different long-term mowing practices, which is likely to be a strategy used by the plant to adapt to the mowing disturbances.

Dynamics and controls of ecosystem multiserviceability across the Qingzang Plateau

Ecosystem multiserviceability(EMS),a comprehensive and significant ecological indicator,reflects the capacity of ecosystems to offer multiple services concurrently.Intensified climate change and human activity are continu-ously altering ecosystem functions,services,and EMSs.However,numerous studies have only focused on one or a few ecosystem services,rarely taking into account spatial-temporal distribution and drivers of EMS on behalf of different agencies.We calculated EMS including pastoralist(PA),environmental protection agency(EPA),bio-diversity conservation agency(BCA),and climate change mitigation agency(CCMA)using grassland production,habitat quality,water conservation,and carbon sequestration.Then,the effects of geographical features,climate factors,and human activities on spatial-temporal patterns of EMS were explored.The result indicated that EMS showed a decreasing tendency from the southeast to northwest on the Qingzang Plateau(QZP).Meanwhile,there were no obvious fluctuations in four simulated scenarios(PA,EPA,BCA and CCMA)among different vegetation types during 2000 to 2015.Notably,EMS of all simulated scenarios decreased in the alpine steppe ecosystem,but negligible changes were found in other ecosystems from 2015 to 2020.Moreover,the relative importance of precipitation in annual mean value(from 2000 to 2020)of PA,EPA,BCA and CCMA were 0.13,0.11,0.30 and 0.19,respectively.Overall,precipitation played the dominant role on the dynamics of EMS,followed by elevation and human footprint.Our findings highlighted that understanding the patterns and drivers of EMS could provide a reference for the regional management and maintenance of ecosystem stability on QZP.

Combining field data and modeling to better understand maize growth response to phosphorus(P) fertilizer application and soil P dynamics in calcareous soils

We used field experimental data to evaluate the ability of the agricultural production system model (APSIM) to simulate soil P availability,maize biomass and grain yield in response to P fertilizer applications on a fluvo-aquic soil in the North China Plain.Crop and soil data from a 2-year experiment with three P fertilizer application rates(0,75 and 300 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(–1)) were used to calibrate the model.Sensitivity analysis was carried out to investigate the influence of APSIM SoilP parameters on the simulated P availability in soil and maize growth.Crop and soil P parameters were then derived by matching or relating the simulation results to observed crop biomass,yield,P uptake and Olsen-P in soil.The re-parameterized model was further validated against 2 years of independent data at the same sites.The re-parameterized model enabled good simulation of the maize leaf area index (LAI),biomass,grain yield,P uptake,and grain P content in response to different levels of P additions against both the calibration and validation datasets.Our results showed that APSIM needs to be re-parameterized for simulation of maize LAI dynamics through modification of leaf size curve and a reduction in the rate of leaf senescence for modern staygreen maize cultivars in China.The P concentration limits (maximum and minimum P concentrations in organs)at different stages also need to be adjusted.Our results further showed a curvilinear relationship between the measured Olsen-P concentration and simulated labile P content,which could facilitate the initialization of APSIM P pools in the NCP with Olsen-P measurements in future studies.It remains difficult to parameterize the APSIM SoilP module due to the conceptual nature of the pools and simplified conceptualization of key P transformation processes.A fundamental understanding still needs to be developed for modelling and predicting the fate of applied P fertilizers in soils with contrasting physical and chemical characteristics.

Community structure and carbon and nitrogen storage of sagebrush desert under grazing exclusion in Northwest China

Overgrazing is regarded as one of the key factors of vegetation and soil degradation in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China.Grazing exclusion(GE)is one of the most common pathways used to restore degraded grasslands and to improve their ecosystem services.Nevertheless,there are still significant controversies concerning GE’s effects on grassland diversity as well as carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)storage.It remains poorly understood in the arid desert regions,whilst being essential for the sustainable use of grassland resources.To assess the effects of GE on community characteristics and C and N storage of desert plant community in the arid desert regions,we investigated the community structure and plant biomass,as well as C and N storage of plants and soil(0-100 cm depth)in short-term GE(three years)plots and adjacent long-term freely grazing(FG)plots in the areas of sagebrush desert in Northwest China,which are important both for spring-autumn seasonal pasture and for ecological conservation.Our findings indicated that GE was beneficial to the average height,coverage and aboveground biomass(including stems,leaves and inflorescences,and litter)of desert plant community,to the species richness and importance values of subshrubs and perennial herbs,and to the biomass C and N storage of aboveground parts(P<0.05).However,GE was not beneficial to the importance values of annual herbs,root/shoot ratio and total N concentration in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil layers(P<0.05).Additionally,the plant density,belowground biomass,and soil organic C concentration and C storage in the 0-100 cm soil layer could not be significantly changed by short-term GE(three years).The results suggest that,although GE was not beneficial for C sequestration in the sagebrush desert ecosystem,it is an effective strategy for improving productivity,diversity,and C and N storage of plants.As a result,GE can be used to rehabilitate degraded grasslands in the arid desert regions of Northwest China.

Contrasting patterns of accumulation,partitioning,and remobilization of biomass and phosphorus in a maize cultivar

Maize growth,organ development,and yield formation are highly controlled by the manner in which the plant captures,partition,and remobilizes biomass and phosphorus(P).Better understanding of biomass and P accumulation,partition,and remobilization processes will improve modeling of crop resource use.However,there is still a lack of detailed data to parameterize the modeling of these processes,particula rly for modern maize cultivars.A two-year(2016 and 2017)field experiment with three P fertilization treatments(0(P0),75(P75),and 300(P300)kg P_(2)O_(5)ha^(-1))was conducted on a Fluvo-aquic soil(Quzhou,Hebei province,China)to collect data and quantify key processes for a representative modern maize cultivar(Zhengdan 958)widely grown in China.The proportions of biomass and P partitioned into various maize organs were unaffected by P application rate.Zhengdan 958 showed a much lower leaf-senescence rate than older cultivars,resulting in post-silking leaf photosynthesis being sufficient to meet grain biomass demand.In contrast,50%-85%of leaf P and 15%-50%of stem P accumulated pre-silking were remobilized into grain,in spite of the large proportion of post-silking P uptake.Our results are consistent with the theory that plants use resources according to the priority order of re-allocation from senescence followed by assimilation and uptake,with the re-translocation of reserves last.The results also enabled us to estimate the threshold P concentrations of Zhengdan 958 for modeling crop P demand.The critical leaf P concentration for individual leaves was 0.25%-0.30%,with a corresponding specific leaf P(SLP)of 75-100 mg P m^(-2).The structural P concentration for leaf was 0.01%,corresponding to an SLP of 3.8 mg P m^(-2).The maximum P concentrations of leaves and stems were 0.33%and 0.29%.The residual P concentration for stems was 0.006%.

Impact of Climate Change and Grazing on Temperate Steppe

Ecosystem of eastern Eurasian steppe is facing more and more challenges of global issues such as climate change, food and ecological security and human excessive utilization since the 21st century. Facing on the increasingly prominent international issues, it is very essential for relevant countries, international organizations and domestic counterparts to enhance systematic and mutual cooperation and exchanges to carry out scientific research and develop protection practice on the Eurasian steppe.

Effects of water stress and NaCl stress on different life cycle stages of the cold desert annual Lachnoloma lehmannii in China

For a plant species to complete its life cycle in arid and saline environments,each stage of the life cycle must be tolerant to the harsh environmental conditions.The aim of the study was to determine the effects of water stress(water potentials of–0.05,–0.16,–0.33,–0.56,–0.85 and–1.21 MPa)and NaCl stress(50,100,200,300,400,500 and 600 mmol/L NaCl)on seed germination percentage,seedling survival and growth,juvenile growth and plant reproduction of Lachnoloma lehmannii Bunge(Brassicaceae),an cold desert annual that grows in the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang,China in 2010.Results indicated that low water stress(–0.05 and–0.16 MPa)had no significant effect on seed germination percentage.With a decrease in water potential,germination percentage decreased,and no seeds germinated at–0.85 and–1.21 MPa water stresses.Germination percentage of seeds was significantly affected by NaCl stress,and higher germination percentages were observed under non-saline than saline conditions.An increase in NaCl concentrations progressively inhibited seed germination percentage,and no seeds germinated at ≥400 mmol/L NaCl concentration.Non-germinated seeds were transferred from both PEG(polyethylene glycol-6000)and NaCl solutions to distilled water for seed germination recovery.The number of surviving seedlings and their heights and root lengths significantly decreased as NaCl stress increased.About 30% of the plants survived and produced fruits/seeds at 200 mmol/L NaCl concentration.Thus,seed germination,seedling establishment and reproductive stage in the life cycle of L.lehmannii are water-and salt-tolerant,with seedlings being the least tolerant.These tolerances help explain why this species can survive and produce seeds in arid and saline habitats.

Nitrogen addition and mowing alter drought resistance and recovery of grassland communities

Nitrogen enrichment and land use are known to influence various ecosystems,but how these anthropogenic changes influence community and ecosystem responses to disturbance remains poorly understood.Here we investigated the effects of increased nitrogen input and mowing on the resistance and recovery of temperate semiarid grassland experiencing a three-year drought.Nitrogen addition increased grassland biomass recovery but decreased structural recovery after drought,whereas annual mowing increased grassland biomass recovery and structural recovery but reduced structural resistance to drought.The treatment effects on community biomass/structural resistance and recovery were largely modulated by the stability of the dominant species and asynchronous dynamics among species,and the community biomass resistance and recovery were also greatly driven by the stability of grasses.Community biomass resistance/recovery in response to drought was positively associated with its corresponding structural stability.Our study provides important experimental evidence that both nitrogen addition and mowing could substantially change grassland stability in both functional and structural aspects.Our findings emphasize the need to study changes across levels of ecological organization for a more complete understanding of ecosystem responses to disturbances under widespread environmental changes.

Linking nutrient strategies with plant size along a grazing gradient： Evidence from Leymus chinensis in a natural pasture

St udying the changes in nutrient use strategies induced by grazing can provide insight into the process of grassland degradation and is important for improving grassland quality and enhancing ecosystem function. Dominant species in meadow steppe can optimize their use of limiting resources; however, the regulation of nutrient use strategies across grazing gradients is not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we report an in situ study in which the impact of grazing rates on nutrient use strategies of Leymus chinensis, the dominant plant species in eastern Eurasian temperate steppes, was investigated. We conducted a large randomized controlled experiment（conducted continuously for five years in grassland plots in a natural pasture in Ha ilar, eastern Mongolia Plateau, China） to assess the effects of grazing rate treatments（0.00, 0.23, 0.34, 0.46, 0.69, and 0.92 adult cattle unit（AU） ha-1） on L. chinensis along a grazing gradient and employed a random sampling approach to compare the accumulation, allocation, and stoichiometry of C, N, and P in leaves and stems. Ou r findings demonstrated the follows：（i） The height of L. chinensis decreased with an increase in the grazing gradient, and the concentrations of C, N, and P significantly increased;（ii） the accumulation of C, N, and P per individual was negatively correlated with the concentration of aboveground tissues, suggesting that there was a tradeoff in L. chinensis between nutrient accumulation and concentration at the individual scale;（iii） the leaf-to-stem ratio of C, N, and P accumulation increased with grazing intensity, indicating a tradeoff in nutrient allocation and plant size at the individual plant level; and（iv） grazing rates were negatively correlated with the ratios of C：N and C：P in the stem; however, these ratios in leaves significantly increased with grazing intensity. Our findings suggest that L. chinensis in meadow steppe adapts to grazing disturbance through tradeoffs between plant size and nutrient use strategies. Moreover, our results imply that grazing produces a compensatory effect on nutrient use efficiency between the stems and leaves of L. chinensis.

Sustainable management of Chinese grasslands—issues and knowledge

China has almost 400 Mhm^2 of grasslands,90% of which is considered degraded to varying degrees,on which 16 million herders depend for their livelihoods and many more indirectly, along the value-adding chain.Since 1950, average stocking rates across China have increased 4-fold. National policies have focused over recent decades on finding ways to rehabilitate the degraded grasslands, to sustain livestock production from them, and to improve the livelihoods of herder households, who are among the poorest people in China. A large collaborative program commenced in the early 2000 s to help find solutions to the sustainable management of grasslands.This paper summarizes key findings of many research projects, identifies where knowledge is weak and argues that the successful rehabilitation of grasslands will also require policies that provide incentives and support for herders as they move from a focus on survival to a focus on production of higher quality products, for which consumers are increasingly willing to pay. A key focus is to emphasize the improvement of animal production per head. When this is done, it naturally leads to lower stocking rates, which in turn provides the opportunities for grasslands to recover. Across a range of experiments, farm demonstrations and analyses using models, in Inner Mongolia and Gansu, a consistent result has been that a 50% reduction in stocking rates, improves net household income and starts the process of grassland rehabilitation.Rather than focusing on stocking rates, better management of grasslands could be achieved by maintaining the grasslands above critical values for herbage mass, values that help optimize botanical composition, reduce soil erosion, optimize animal growth rates and aid ecosystem functions. Managing to critical values for herbage mass is likely to be more effective than efforts to calculate sustainable stocking rates. An early summer rest is valuable for aiding grassland rehabilitation and summer productivity, but a total grazing ban(typically for 5 years)may not achieve its aims as evidence shows it may take 10–15 years to achieve a better grassland state. Lessdesirable plant species often increase in degraded grasslands that are rested and grazing can help manage those species. Surveys of herders indicate they have very mixed views on the benefits of total grazing bans that are unlikely to rehabilitate grasslands to an ideal botanical composition.The current objective is to work with grasslands that herders now have and optimize the existing composition.Grazing grasslands in winter results primarily in weight loss by animals and there is now evidence of how winter grazing reduces grassland growth in the next summer. It is better to keep animals in well-built sheds and feed them better, improved feeding through the cold months is required. In addition to the application of results from national programs designed to improve grasslands, it will be important to train herders as they move from survival to production, to foster the development of better markets for their livestock products, to devise better financial support for herder businesses and to revise land tenure arrangements so that herders can expand the area of land they graze on better terms than apply at present.

Crepis desertorum(Asteraceae,Cichorieae),a new species from northern Xinjiang(China)based on morphological and molecular data

Crepis desertorum from the Junggar Basin of no rthern Xinjiang,northwestern China,is described as a new species.Molecular studies indicate that the species is closely related to Crepis frigida.Morphological studies indicate that it is similar to Crepis sancta subsp.bifida but differs from the latter taxon in having glandular hairs on the stem,a flat receptacle and dimorphic achenes.Chromosome features and pollen and achene ultrastructure also are described for the new species.

An Examination of the Function of Male Flowers in an Andromonoecious Shrub Capparis spinosa

The pollen donor and pollinator attractor hypotheses are explanations for the functions of the male flowers of andromonoecious plants. We tested these two hypotheses in the andromonoecious shrub Capparis spinosa L. （Capparaceae） and confirmed that pollen production and cumulative volume and sugar concentration of nectar do not differ between male and perfect flowers. However, male flowers produced larger anthers, larger pollen grains and smaller ovaries than perfect flowers. Observations on pollinators indicated that two major pollinators （Xylocopa valga Gerst and Proxylocopa sinensis Wu） did not discriminate between flower morphs and that they transferred pollen grains a similar distance. However, there were more seeds per fruit following hand pollination with pollen from male flowers than from perfect flowers. Individuals of C. spinosa with a larger floral display （i.e. bearing more flowers） received more pollen grains on the stigma of perfect flowers. Female reproductive success probably is not limited by pollen. These results indicate that male flowers of C. spinosa save resources for female function and that they primarily serve to attract pollinators as pollen donors.

Cattle manure biochar and earthworm interactively affected CO_(2)and N_(2)O emissions in agricultural and forest soils:Observation of a distinct difference

The application of manure-derived biochar offers an alternative to avoid the direct application of manure to soil causing greenhouse gas emission.Soil fauna,especially earthworms,can markedly stimulate carbon dioxide(CO_(2))and nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)emissions from soil.This study therefore investigated the effect of cattle manure biochar(added at rates of 0,2%,or 10%,coded as BC0,BC2 and BC10,respectively)application,with or without earthworm Aporrectodea turgida,on emissions of CO_(2) and N_(2)O and changes of physic-chemical properties of agricultural and forest soils in a laboratory incubation experiment.The BC10 treatment significantly enhanced cumulative CO_(2) emissions by 27.9%relative to the untreated control in the agricultural soil.On the contrary,the BC2 and BC10 treatments significantly reduced cumulative CO_(2) emissions by 16.3%–61.1%and N_(2)O emissions by 92.9%–95.1%compared to the untreated control in the forest soil.The addition of earthworm alone significantly enhanced the cumulative CO_(2) and N_(2)O fluxes in agricultural and forest soils.Cumulative CO_(2) and N_(2)O fluxes were significantly increased when BC2 and BC10 were applied with earthworm in the agricultural soil,but were significantly reduced when BC10 was applied with earthworm in the forest soil.Our study demonstrated that biochar application interacted with earthworm to affect CO_(2) and N_(2)O emissions,which were also dependent on the soil type involved.Our study suggests that manure biochar application rate and use of earthworm need to be carefully studied for specific soil types to maximize the climate change mitigation potential of such management practices.

Comparison of analytical procedures for measuring phosphorus content of animal manures in China

The concentration and components of manure phosphorus(P)are key factors determining potential P bioavailability and runoff.The distribution of P forms in swine,poultry and cattle manures collected from intensive and extensive production systems in several areas of China was investigated with sequential fractionation and a simplified two-step(NaHCO3-NaOH/EDTA)procedures.The mean total P concentration,determined by the sequential fractionation procedure of intensive swine,poultry and cattle manure,expressed as g·kg–1,was 14.9,13.4 and 5.8 g·kg–1,respectively,and 4.4 g·kg–1 in extensive cattle manure.In intensive swine,poultry and cattle manure about 73%,74%and 79%of total P,respectively,was bioavailable(i.e.,P extracted by H2O and NaHCO3)and 78%in extensive cattle manure.The results indicated the relative environmental risk,from high to low,of swine,poultry and cattle manure.There is considerable regional variation in animal manure P across China,which needs to be considered when developing manure management strategies.

A conceptual framework and an empirical test of complementarity and facilitation with respect to phosphorus uptake by plant species mixtures

Plant species have different traits for mobilizing sparingly soluble phosphorus (P) resources,which could potentially lead to overyielding in P uptake by plant species mixtures compared to monocultures due to higher P uptake as a result of resource (P) partitioning and facilitation.However,there is circumstantial evidence at best for overyielding as a result of these mechanisms.Overyielding (the outcome) is easily confused with underlying mechanisms because of unclear definitions.We aimed to define a conceptual framework to separate outcome from underlying mechanisms and test it for facilitation and complementarity with respect to P acquisition by three plant species combinations grown on four soils.Our conceptual framework describes both mechanisms of complementarity and facilitation and outcomes (overyielding of mixtures or no overyielding) depending on the competitive ability of the species to uptake the mobilized P.Millet/chickpea mixtures were grown in pots on two calcareous soils mixed with calcium-bound P (CaP) and phytate P (PhyP).Cabbage/faba bean mixtures were grown on both acid and neutral soils mixed with P-coated iron (hydr)oxide (FeP) and PhyP.Wheat/maize mixtures were grown on all four soils.Rhizosphere carboxylate concentration and acid phosphatase activity (mechanisms) as well as plant P uptake and biomass (outcome) were determined for monocultures rhizosphere and species mixtures.Facilitation of P uptake occurred in millet/chickpea mixtures on one calcareous soil.We found no indications for P acquisition from different P sources,neither in millet/chickpea,nor in cabbage/faba bean mixtures.Cabbage and faba bean on the neutral soil differed in rhizosphere acid phosphatase activity and carboxylate concentration,but showed no overyielding.Wheat and maize,with similar root exudates,showed overyielding (the observed P uptake being 22%higher than the expected P uptake) on one calcareous soil.We concluded that although differences in plant physiological traits (root exudates) provide necessary conditions for complementarity and facilitation with respect to P uptake from different P sources,they do not necessarily result in increased P uptake by species mixtures,because of the relative competitive ability of the mixed species.

Toward a sustainable grassland ecosystem worldwide

Globally,grasslands,covering about 40%of the Earth’s land area,are vital for supporting important ecosystem functions,services,and livelihoods of millions of humans.Currently,grassland degradation is a major threat to the maintenance of ecological services,1 food security,and sustainable development,and directly hinders the global efforts with meeting goals and targets such as the The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).Remote sensing approaches have the advantages of spanning large geographical areas withmultiple spatial,spectral,and temporal resolutions.In global scale,remote sensing methods used normalized difference vegetation index to determine net primary productivity(NPP),which still is the effectivemethod to indicate grassland conditions.To master the general situation of grassland,we analyzed the global spatial-temporal variation of NPP from 2001 to 2019 at the pixel level across the globe.As presented in Figure 1A,the NPP values of global grasslands showed an obvious variation trend,which indicated a considerable distribution pattern of spatial heterogeneity.The decreasing and increasing trend in grassland NPP covered approximately 25.3%and 74.5%of the total grassland area,respectively.

重新认知青藏高原围栏禁牧的作用

围栏禁牧是中国政府为恢复青藏高原等地退化草地而采取的一项重要政策.然而,关于围栏对高寒草地生态系统功能和服务及其对牧民生计的影响,人们的认识还很有限.本研究荟萃分析和基于问卷的调查显示,围栏禁牧时间长达4年和8年的时间里可以有效地促进高寒草甸以及草原的地上植被生长,更长时间的围栏并没有带来任何生态和经济效益.研究还发现,围栏限制了野生动物的活动范围,增加了非围栏地区的放牧压力,降低了牧民的满意度,且给地区和国家政府带来了巨大的财政成本.因此,建议在适当的情况下,应鼓励传统的游牧方式来利用草地,在严重退化的草地上应采用短期围栏(4~8年),在重要的野生动物栖息地应避免使用围栏,特别是受保护的大型哺乳动物分布的区域.研究结果可为青藏高原草地可持续管理提供一定的参考.

Mass loss and nutrient dynamics during litter decomposition in response to warming and nitrogen addition in a desert steppe

Plant litter decomposition has been studied extensively in the context of both warming and increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition. However, the temporal patterns of mass loss and nutrient release in response to warming and nitrogen addition remain unclear. A 2-year decomposition experiment aimed to examine the effects of warming and nitrogen addition on decomposition rate, and nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics. The effects of warming and nitrogen addition on decomposition of litter of Stipa breviflora, a dominant species in a desert steppe of northern China, were studied. Warming and nitrogen addition significantly enhanced litter mass loss by 10% and 16%, respectively, and moreover promoted nitrogen and phosphorus release from the litter in the first year of decomposition, followed by an immobilization period. The interactive effects of warming and nitrogen addition on mass loss, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of litter were also found during the decomposition. This study indicates that warming and nitrogen addition increased litter mass loss through altering litter quality. These findings highlight that interactions between climate change and other global change factors could be highly important in driving decomposition responses.

植物功能群在调控气候和土壤因子对蒙古高原草原群落物种丰富度和生物量影响中的作用

植物功能群组成主要受环境因素驱动,同时植物功能群组成也是影响草地生物多样性和生产力的主要因素之一。因此,理解植物功能群在调控环境因素对生态系统功能和生物多样性影响中可能发挥的作用至关重要。通过对蒙古高原草原65个样点的植物生物量和物种丰富度的调查,将157种多年生草本植物分为两种植物功能群(即禾草和杂类草)。通过随机森林模型和普通最小二乘回归,确定与植物功能群物种丰富度和地上生物量显著相关的环境因素(即干燥度、土壤总氮和pH),并利用结构方程模型探讨筛选出的环境因素与群落物种丰富度和生物量间的关系,以及植物功能群在驱动这种关系中发挥的作用。干燥度与禾草、杂类草以及整个群落的地上生物量和物种丰富度均呈显著的单峰关系。所有的物种丰富度和生物量指标均与土壤总氮和pH值显著相关。禾草在维持蒙古高原草原生态系统群落生物量中起着关键作用,并受气候因素的直接影响。而杂类草物种丰富度决定了群落总丰富度,并受到土壤因素直接的调控。因此,群落组成在调控环境因素对群落生物量和植物多样性的影响中起着关键作用。