Effects of Grazing on the Floristic Composition of Grasslands in Baiyinxile, Xilingole, Inner Mongolia

DOI JASI Web Site 16 Citations 25 References
  • NAKAMURA Toru
    Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba
  • GO Takako
    Master's Program of Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba
  • WU YUNNA
    Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Inner Mongolia University
  • HAYASHI Ichiroku
    Sugadaira Montane Research Center, University of Tsukuba

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 内豪古草原の種組成に与える放牧の影響
  • Effects of Grazing on the Floristic Composition of Grasslands in Baiyinxile,Milingole,Inner Mongolia

Search this article

Description

We recorded 103 species in 24 stands in the grasslands of Baiyinxile National Pasture, Inner Mongolia. Thirty of the species occurred at greater than 50 percent frequency in these stands, but their ranking in the communities varied according to the intensity of grazing pressure. Forty-three species were chosen as indicator species of grazing pressure. Species classed as Type I, which ranked most highly in communities under light grazing pressure, included Aneurolepidium chinense, Stipa grandis and Achnathelum sibiricum. Type II species, which were more important in severely grazed stands, included Carex korshinskyi, Cleistogenes squarrosa and Artemisia frigida. Kochia prostrata, Koeraria cristata and Potentilia bifurca maintained their abundance irrespective of grazing intensity. These species were grouped as type III. The three groups of species indicated intensity of grazing pressure on the grasslands. In order to evaluate the stand quality, a stand quality index (SQI) was devised based on the volume of indicator species in the stand. We gave scores of 4 to type I species, 0.25 to type II and 1 to type III species. The SQI was obtained as follows: SQI=Σ (rI.s), where rI is the relative importance value and s is the score of indicator plants. The SQIs of stands protected from grazing for the previous 16 years were 975 for Aneurolepidium chinense stands and 530 for Stipa grandis stands. The SQIs of the grazed stands varied from 47 to 748. In an experimental field previously investigated, grazing by eight or more sheep per ha caused stands to have SQI values of less than 100, which is indicative of over grazing. In growth form spectra of the stands, the prostrate (p) form increased and branched (b) form decreased with intensified grazing pressure. Species diversity of the stands showed a weak relationship with SQI.

Journal

Citations (16)*help

See more

References(25)*help

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top