The interactions among herbaceous diversity, edaphic factors, and topography under typical afforestation in the transition zone between the qinghai–Tibet Plateau and Loess Plateau

Altitude plays a crucial role in shaping the diversity and distribution of species in forest landscapes in mountainous regions. However, existing studies often lack comprehensive analysis of the intricate relationships among environmental factors, disturbances, and species diversity. This study aims to address this gap by thoroughly analyzing major species’ diversity, distribution, and regeneration status, along with their influencing factors, across different altitudinal gradients (1850 to 2350 m). Field surveys were conducted to examine the major species in different vegetation layers of the secondary Picea forest in Guandi Mountain. The key findings from the study include the following: (1) the study area recorded a total of nine species of adult trees, belonging to eight genera in five families, fourteen species of shrubs from eight genera in five families, and fifty-two herb species representing forty-eight genera in twenty-six families. Dominant species varied across layers, with Picea asperata Mast. and Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr. dominating the arborous layer, Lonicera ferdinandii Franch. and Cotoneaster acutifolius Turcz. in the shrub layer, and Poa pratensis L. and Duchesnea indica (Andrews.) Focke in the herb layer. (2) Altitude significantly influenced species diversity, with the most pronounced effects observed in the shrub and herb layers. (3) Tree species regeneration varied with altitude, with Picea asperata exhibiting the highest regeneration performance, particularly in the high-altitude zone (2250–2350 m). Regeneration parameters were significantly correlated with species diversity indices in both tree and shrub layers. (4) Redundancy analysis revealed that, apart from altitude, cutting (p = 0.015) influenced the species diversity of the tree layer, while annual precipitation (p = 0.006) and temperature (p = 0.01) determined the diversity of the shrub layer. Grazing (p = 0.042) was identified as a determining factor for species diversity in the herb layer. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the sustainable management of forest ecosystems in the study area and offer practical guidance for forest management in similar mountainous landscapes worldwide.

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Land-Use/Land-Cover Change and Ecosystem Service Provision in Qinghai Province, China: From the Perspective of Five Ecological Function Zones

Zhang

2023

Land

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Qinghai Province is an important part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and has special importance in the construction of ecological civilisation in China, which is related to the ecological security of the country and long-term development. The land is the basis of terrestrial ecosystem services. Land use/cover change (LUCC) can alter the structure, distribution and processes of terrestrial ecosystems, thereby affecting ecosystem services. Ecological Function Zone (EFZ) is the special zone designated by the government to protect ecosystems more effectively. Studying the response of ecosystem services value (ESV) to LUCC within EFZ is of great significance to the construction of ecological civilization in Qinghai Province. This study uses five periods of land use data from 1980 to 2020 and selects the equivalent factor method, correction method and elasticity model to analyse the characteristics of land use change and its impact on the value of ecosystem services. The conclusions are as follows. (1) The results showed that the ESV of Qinghai Province decreased from 822.559 billion yuan in 1980 to 819.903 billion yuan in 2000, and then increased rapidly to 905.775 billion yuan in 2020, showing a total increase of 83.216 billion yuan (1 RMB equates to 0.144129 USD). The restoration of grassland and the expansion of water bodies are the main reasons for the growth of ESV. (2) The ESV of Sanjiangyuan EFZ was the highest, followed by Qaidam EFZ, Qinghai Lake EFZ and Qilian Mountains EFZ, while Hehuang EFZ was the lowest. (3) The elasticity of the ESV to LUCC generally declined in all EFZs. Every 1% change in the LUCC in the Qaidam EFZ will result in a 4.78% change in ESV, followed by the Sanjiangyuan EFZ (2.56%), Qilian Mountains EFZ (2.1%), Qinghai Lake EFZ (1.01%), and the Hehuang EFZ with the lowest elasticity index (0.53%). (4) The distribution of the high values of the ESV elasticity gradually expands, with a clear spatial distribution characteristic of high west and low east. (5) The most suitable area for urban construction in Qinghai Province is the Hehuang EFZ, and urban construction in the Qaidam EFZ should avoid encroaching on water bodies or polluting water sources. The conclusions can provide a reference for optimising the land use structure and harmonising conservation and development in Qinghai Province.

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The interactions among herbaceous diversity, edaphic factors, and topography under typical afforestation in the transition zone between the qinghai–Tibet Plateau and Loess Plateau

Cited by 4 publications

References 66 publications

Organic Fertilization and its Effects on Storage of Carbon and Nitrogen in Apple Orchard soil: A meta-analysis

Organic Fertilization and its Effects on Storage of Carbon and Nitrogen in Apple Orchard soil: A meta-analysis

Altitudinal Variation in Species Diversity, Distribution, and Regeneration Status of a Secondary Picea Forest in Guandi Mountain, Northern China

Land-Use/Land-Cover Change and Ecosystem Service Provision in Qinghai Province, China: From the Perspective of Five Ecological Function Zones

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