Heavy grazing causes plant cluster fragmentation of sparse grasses.

ABSTRACT: Cleistogenes songorica, as a clustered grass, is the main grassland flora of the Stipa breviflora desert grassland. Some studies have shown that the constructive species of S. breviflora (sparse cluster type) is prone to cluster fragmentation; however, research on C. songorica is relatively rare. Then will the C. songorica plant population (dense cluster type) also have cluster fragmentation under the influence of intense grazing? To answer this question, we used variance analysis and geo-statistical methods. The spatial distribution of C. songorica in S. breviflora desert steppe in Inner Mongolia was measured under four grazing intensities (no grazing, CK, 0 sheep·ha^-1·half year^-1; light grazing, LG, 0.93 sheep·ha

SUBMITTER: Wang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10551740 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature