Alpine steppe degradation weakens ecosystem multifunctionality through the decline in climax dominant species on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The diversity and dominant species of plant communities are vital for maintaining grassland ecosystem multifunctionality. However, grassland degradation can disrupt plant community diversity, dominant species, and their linkages with ecosystem multifunctionality.

Methods

We studied the alpine steppe in the Qinghai Lake Basin, conducting plant community surveys and sampling at 15 sites across four degradation gradients (non-degraded, lightly degraded, moderately degraded, and severely degraded). This study investigated the relationships among plant community diversity, dominance of dominant species, and ecosystem multifunctionality (derived via factor analysis from 11 indicators: aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, plant height, coverage, TN, TP, AN, AP, SO

SUBMITTER: Wang XY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12535974 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature