Jiaojiao Huang’s research while affiliated with Inner Mongolia Agricultural University and other places

Plant species diversity has long been a focal point in ecological studies. In order to study the changes in species diversity at different spatial scales (α, β, and γ diversities) in the restoration process of grassland vegetation in fragile desert steps, this study took desert steppe of Inner Mongolia as the research object and employed a two‐factor experimental design that combined exclosure years (the years when an area was isolated to prevent grazing and other disturbances) with years of monitoring (the years when data were collected). It analyzed the plant groups (dominant species, common species, and rare species) and species diversity, and obtained the preliminary conclusions as follows: The optimal exclosure duration for promoting species diversity balance in desert steppe management is between 16 and 18 years. Short‐term exclosure enhances species diversity by promoting recovery in overgrazed systems, while long‐term exclosure may reduce diversity due to dominant species proliferation and inhibited regeneration. Increasing the duration of exclosure (the period from the initial exclosure year to the year of monitoring) can improve plant species diversity. Exclosure years and years of monitoring exhibited a significantly positive influence on α, β, and γ diversities, with a negative interaction effect between exclosure years and years of monitoring. In addition, plant groups played a significant role in diversity at different spatial scales. Contribution to α diversity ranked as follows: rare species > common species > dominant species; contribution to β diversity ranked as rare species > dominant species > common species; contribution to γ diversity ranked as common species > dominant species > rare species. Rare species played a crucial role in maintaining diversity stability within the community and diminishing gradient differences, and common species were instrumental in upholding landscape features.

Background Community species in different grassland types exhibit unique ecological traits and adaptation strategies, influencing the impact of grazing on species diversity at various scales. This study aimed to elucidate the response characteristics and rules of species diversity in different grassland types to grazing intensity by analyzing plant groups and species diversity. Results Grazing intensity, grassland type, and their interaction significantly affected α, β, and γ diversity. In meadow steppes, α and γ diversity conformed to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, exhibiting a unimodal trend with increasing grazing intensity—initially increasing and then decreasing. In typical steppes, α, β and γ diversity showed no clear pattern in response to changes in grazing intensity. In desert steppes, α, β and γ diversity consistently declined with increasing grazing intensity. In meadow steppes, dominant and common species were crucial for sustaining community (α diversity) and landscape (γ diversity) diversity, whereas rare species primarily contributed to increased gradient differences (β diversity). In typical steppes, rare species were pivotal for community (α diversity) and landscape (γ diversity) diversity, while dominant and common species were important in reducing gradient differences (β diversity). In desert steppes, rare species were vital for maintaining community diversity (α diversity), dominant species played a key role in reducing gradient differences (β diversity), and common species were important for maintaining landscape-level diversity (γ diversity). Conclusions The characteristics and patterns of grazing intensity on species diversity at different scales, as well as the dominant plant group influencing plant species diversity at different scales, are controlled by grassland types. These findings highlight the need for tailored management strategies to conserve species diversity in various grassland ecosystems under different grazing pressures.