Effects of grazing intensity, soil variables, and topography on vegetation diversity in the subalpine meadows of the Zhongtiao Mountains, China
Jin-Tun Zhang A C and Yiru Dong BA College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Xinwai Dajie 19, Beijing 100875, P.R. China.
B Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Wucheng Road 36, Taiyuan 030006, P.R. China.
C Corresponding author. Email: Zhangjt@bnu.edu.cn
The Rangeland Journal 31(3) 353-360 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ08051
Submitted: 19 September 2008 Accepted: 24 April 2009 Published: 28 August 2009
Abstract
Montane meadows in the Zhongtiao Mountains (located at 111°15′–112°37′E, 34°36′–35°53′N) of North China are important for local animal husbandry and the provision of ecosystem services. However, owing to poor management, serious degradation has occurred on these subalpine meadows. The aim of this paper is to present a quantitative analysis of effects of stocking rate, grazing intensity, soil and topography on the status and diversity of montane meadow communities and to provide direction for improved management. Three regions in the Zhongtiao Mountain meadows were selected for monitoring the impacts of stocking rates and different grazing intensities on the meadow plant communities. Forty-one plots of 10 × 10 m and quadrats of 1 × 1 m in each plot were set up to collect data on site characteristics and vegetation status in the three regions. The relationships between community composition and structure, species diversity, and grazing intensity, soil and topographic variables were analysed by multivariate methods (TWINSPAN, DCA and CCA). The results showed that nine meadow communities were identified by TWINSPAN. The first DCA and CCA axis identified a grazing intensity gradient, which illustrated that grazing intensity was an important factor influencing meadow types, composition and structure. Soil and topographic variables were also important to meadow vegetation, although most soil variables were sensitive to grazing intensity. Species richness, diversity and evenness were closely related to grazing intensity. It is concluded that grazing intensity and grazing method must be changed from the current heavy continuous grazing to rotational grazing to enable grassland rehabilitation to occur in the meadows of the Zhongtiao Mountains.
Additional keywords: classification, grazing, montane meadow, ordination, soil nutrient, topographic variable.
Acknowledgments
We thank Professor D. Michalk, Professor R. D. B. (Wal) Whalley and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments and suggestions on our manuscript. Professor David Michalk also gave us great help with improving the English. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (No. 30870399) and the Teachers’ Foundation of the Education Ministry of China.
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