Alpine steppe vegetation communities are more sensitive to plateau pika disturbance than alpine meadows
IntroductionSmall herbivores are important biological factors affecting plant productivity and species richness in the grassland ecosystem of the Tibetan Plateau. However, the response of different grassland types to the disturbance of the “endemic species” plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) remains...
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| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1546828/full |
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| author | Rui Hua Peng Zhang Liqing Wang Miaomiao Huang Limin Hua Jianwei Zhou |
| author_facet | Rui Hua Peng Zhang Liqing Wang Miaomiao Huang Limin Hua Jianwei Zhou |
| author_sort | Rui Hua |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionSmall herbivores are important biological factors affecting plant productivity and species richness in the grassland ecosystem of the Tibetan Plateau. However, the response of different grassland types to the disturbance of the “endemic species” plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) remains unclear.MethodsIn this study, two representative grassland types, alpine meadow and alpine steppe, were taken as research objects to compare the effects of pika disturbance on vegetation structure and function indicators, and to explore the disturbance response threshold of these ecosystems.ResultsThe results showed that the alpine steppe was more sensitive to pika disturbance, with significant decreases in biomass, vegetation height, and coverage even at low disturbance levels. In contrast, alpine meadows exhibited greater resilience, maintaining higher productivity and species diversity under moderate disturbance conditions. Notably, the functional index of alpine meadow peaked under moderate disturbance, while alpine steppe rapidly transitioned to a degraded state. These differences highlight the varying disturbance thresholds between the two grassland types.DiscussionThis study highlights the vulnerability of alpine grassland ecosystems to pika disturbance and provides a strong scientific basis for designing effective grassland management and ecological restoration strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-697989e4f7204af1b4efe182dca67a55 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-697989e4f7204af1b4efe182dca67a552025-08-20T03:05:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-05-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15468281546828Alpine steppe vegetation communities are more sensitive to plateau pika disturbance than alpine meadowsRui Hua0Peng Zhang1Liqing Wang2Miaomiao Huang3Limin Hua4Jianwei Zhou5Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Conservation Ecology, Hohhot, ChinaMonitoring and Planning Institute of Inner Mongolia Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecological Restoration Section, Hohhot, ChinaInstitute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Conservation Ecology, Hohhot, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Engineering and Technology Research Center for Alpine Rodent Pest Control of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Lanzhou, ChinaInstitute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Conservation Ecology, Hohhot, ChinaInstitute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Conservation Ecology, Hohhot, ChinaIntroductionSmall herbivores are important biological factors affecting plant productivity and species richness in the grassland ecosystem of the Tibetan Plateau. However, the response of different grassland types to the disturbance of the “endemic species” plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) remains unclear.MethodsIn this study, two representative grassland types, alpine meadow and alpine steppe, were taken as research objects to compare the effects of pika disturbance on vegetation structure and function indicators, and to explore the disturbance response threshold of these ecosystems.ResultsThe results showed that the alpine steppe was more sensitive to pika disturbance, with significant decreases in biomass, vegetation height, and coverage even at low disturbance levels. In contrast, alpine meadows exhibited greater resilience, maintaining higher productivity and species diversity under moderate disturbance conditions. Notably, the functional index of alpine meadow peaked under moderate disturbance, while alpine steppe rapidly transitioned to a degraded state. These differences highlight the varying disturbance thresholds between the two grassland types.DiscussionThis study highlights the vulnerability of alpine grassland ecosystems to pika disturbance and provides a strong scientific basis for designing effective grassland management and ecological restoration strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1546828/fullalpine steppealpine meadowplateau pikavegetation community responseinterference threshold |
| spellingShingle | Rui Hua Peng Zhang Liqing Wang Miaomiao Huang Limin Hua Jianwei Zhou Alpine steppe vegetation communities are more sensitive to plateau pika disturbance than alpine meadows Frontiers in Plant Science alpine steppe alpine meadow plateau pika vegetation community response interference threshold |
| title | Alpine steppe vegetation communities are more sensitive to plateau pika disturbance than alpine meadows |
| title_full | Alpine steppe vegetation communities are more sensitive to plateau pika disturbance than alpine meadows |
| title_fullStr | Alpine steppe vegetation communities are more sensitive to plateau pika disturbance than alpine meadows |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alpine steppe vegetation communities are more sensitive to plateau pika disturbance than alpine meadows |
| title_short | Alpine steppe vegetation communities are more sensitive to plateau pika disturbance than alpine meadows |
| title_sort | alpine steppe vegetation communities are more sensitive to plateau pika disturbance than alpine meadows |
| topic | alpine steppe alpine meadow plateau pika vegetation community response interference threshold |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1546828/full |
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