Ecological responses of Stipa steppe in Inner Mongolia to experimentally increased temperature and precipitation. 2: Plant species diversity and sward characteristics
Zhiqiang Wan A B , Yulong Yan A B , Yali Chen A B , Rui Gu A C , Qingzhu Gao B D and Jie Yang A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010021, China.
B Key Laboratory for Agro-Environment & Climate Change of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
C College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010020, China.
D Corresponding authors. Email: gaoqingzhu@caas.cn; yangjie@mail.imu.edu.cn
The Rangeland Journal 40(2) 147-152 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ16082
Submitted: 21 August 2016 Accepted: 11 January 2018 Published: 13 March 2018
Abstract
The responses of plant community diversity and sward characteristics to temperature and moisture changes on the Stipa steppe in Inner Mongolia were investigated in the growing season from 2013 to 2015. Warming significantly (P < 0.05) increased biomass and density. Highest biomass and density were achieved with warming and precipitation combined, whereas increased precipitation alone had no significant effect. Warming increased the Shannon–Weiner diversity index, which was significantly correlated with both air temperature (R2 = 0.45, P < 0.05) and soil temperature (R2 = 0.255 P < 0.05), and it was further increased by the combination of warming and increased precipitation. The Simpson index, an alternative measure of diversity that is not as sensitive to species richness, was less responsive to either warming or increased precipitation. Overall, warming had a more substantial effect than increased precipitation on the characteristics of the Stipa steppe community. However, its impact was complex, with significant variance among the 3 years of the study. The impacts of future changes in precipitation are also likely to be complex and warrant further research.
Additional keywords: climate change, density, ecosystem, productivity, species numbers, typical steppe.
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