• Journal of Resources and Ecology
  • Vol. 11, Issue 3, 263 (2020)
Minghua SONG1、*, Meng LI1, Jiajuan HUO2, Liang WU3, and Xianzhou ZHANG1
Author Affiliations
  • 1Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, China
  • 2Department of Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
  • 3Center for World Geography and Resources Research, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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    DOI: 10.5814/j.issn.1674-764X.2020.03.003 Cite this Article
    Minghua SONG, Meng LI, Jiajuan HUO, Liang WU, Xianzhou ZHANG. Multifunctionality and Thresholds of Alpine Grassland on the Tibetan Plateau[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2020, 11(3): 263 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Ecosystems can simultaneously provide multiple functions and services. Knowledge on the combinations of such multi-dimensional functions is critical for accurately assessing the carrying capacity and implementing sustainable management. However, accurately quantify the multifunctionality of ecosystems remains challenging due to the dependence and close association among individual functions. Here, we quantified spatial patterns in the multifunctionality of alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau by integrating four important individual functions based on data collected from a field survey and remote sensing NDVI. After mapping the spatial pattern of multifunctionality, we extracted multifunctionality values across four types of grassland along the northern Tibet Plateau transect. Effects of climate and grazing intensity on the multifunctionality were differentiated. Our results showed that the highest values of multifunctionality occurred in the alpine meadow. Low values of multifunctionality were comparable in different types of grassland. Annual precipitation explained the large variation of multifunctionality across the different types of grassland in the transect, which showed a significantly positive effect on the multifunctionality. Grazing intensity further explained the rest of the variation in the multifunctionality (residuals), which showed a shift from neutral or positive to negative effects on multifunctionality across the different types of grassland. The consistently rapid declines of belowground biomass, SOC, and species richness resulted in the collapse of the multifunctionality as bare ground cover amounted to 75%, which corresponded to a multifunctionality value of 0.233. Our results are the first to show the spatial pattern of grassland multifunctionality. The rapid decline of the multifunctionality suggests that a collapse in the multifunctionality can occur after the vegetation cover decreases to 25%, which is also accompanied by rapid losses of species and other individual functions. Our results are expected to provide evidence and direction for the sustainable development of alpine grassland and restoration management.
    AGB=33.02 × ln (NDVImax) + 81.70 (1)

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    BGBam=430.51 × ln (NDVImax) - 78.08(R2=0.79, P【-逻*辑*与-】lt;0.001; for meadow) (2)

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    BGBas =161.10 × ln (NDVImax) + 15.23(R2=0.67, P【-逻*辑*与-】lt;0.001; for steppe) (3)

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    BGBad =76.83 × ln (NDVImax) + 90.11(R2=0.81, P【-逻*辑*与-】lt;0.001; for desert steppe) (4)

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    MF=0.349 AP - 0.407 GI + 0.679 AP×GI + 0.025(R2=0.793, P【-逻*辑*与-】lt;0.0001) (5)

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    Minghua SONG, Meng LI, Jiajuan HUO, Liang WU, Xianzhou ZHANG. Multifunctionality and Thresholds of Alpine Grassland on the Tibetan Plateau[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2020, 11(3): 263
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