Asymmetric response of different functional insect groups to low-grazing pressure in Eurasian steppe in Ningxia.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, the continued loss and fragmentation of steppe has caused decreased ecosystem functions and species losses in insect diversity. In the 2000s, the Chinese government developed a series of national projects, such as the construction of enclosures, to conserve natural ecosystems, including steppe. However, the effects of these enclosures on steppe arthropod community are largely unknown. In the present study, we selected enclosed and low-grazing regions at eight National Grassland Fixed Monitoring Stations to examine the compositional differences in four insect functional groups and their associated ecological functions. The results showed that diversity significantly differed between the enclosed and low-grazing regions, with the number of insect families being significantly

SUBMITTER: Zhao Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6303718 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature