Functional diversity outperforms taxonomic diversity in revealing short-term trampling effects.

ABSTRACT: Alpine grasslands harbor diverse groups of flora and fauna, provide important ecosystem functions, and yield essential ecosystem goods and services, especially for the development of nature-based tourism. However, they are experiencing increasing anthropogenic perturbations such as tourist trampling. Although negative effects of tourist trampling on alpine vegetation have been frequently reported, previous studies have focused mainly on changes in taxonomic diversity after trampling, and rarely provide a mechanistic elucidation of trampling effects from a trait-based perspective. The present study evaluates the impacts of simulated trampling on taxonomic and functional diversity of a typical alpine grassland community in Shangri-La, China using a standardized protocol. The results showed t

SUBMITTER: Li W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8460817 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature