Bioclimatic drivers of forage growth and cover in alpine rangelands
ContextClimate change and human activities have significant impacts on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau; the alpine ecosystem in this region has been degraded. A decline in forage yield reduces the livestock carrying capacity, but an unmitigated increase may lead to overfeeding and damage to vegetation....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.1076005/full |
| _version_ | 1828053852813787136 |
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| author | Li Wang Wenmei Ma Dan Zhou Qi Chen Lu Liu Long Li Long Li |
| author_facet | Li Wang Wenmei Ma Dan Zhou Qi Chen Lu Liu Long Li Long Li |
| author_sort | Li Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ContextClimate change and human activities have significant impacts on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau; the alpine ecosystem in this region has been degraded. A decline in forage yield reduces the livestock carrying capacity, but an unmitigated increase may lead to overfeeding and damage to vegetation. These changes have eventually led to grassland degradation and a series of ecological problems. Therefore, it is essential to examine bioclimatic factors that affect forage growth in grasslands.ObjectiveTo identify bioclimatic factors associated with forage growth and coverage in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.MethodsWe examined how forage growth and coverage are affected by 35 bioclimatic indicators published in a global database (CMCC-BioClimInd).Results and conclusionsWe comprehensively considered the relationship between 35 indicators and forage yield and coverage and found that the combination of temperature and precipitation indicators had a very high correlation with yield and coverage. When we evaluated the relationship between each index and forage yield, forage yield was found to be significantly correlated with 16 bioclimatic indices. Forage yield was positively correlated with yearly positive precipitation (R2 = 0.49, p < 0.05), annual precipitation (R2 = 0.48, p < 0.05), and precipitation of driest quarter (R2 = 0.47, p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with temperature seasonality (R2 = 0.52, p < 0.05), precipitation seasonality (R2 = 0.39, p < 0.05), and simplified continentality index (R2 = 0.48). Forage coverage was significantly correlated with 15 bioclimatic indicators. It showed positive correlations with precipitation of driest quarter (R2 = 0.36, p < 0.05), precipitation of driest month (R2 = 0.33, p < 0.05), and annual precipitation (R2 = 0.31, p < 0.05), and negative correlations with temperature seasonality (R2 = 0.415, p < 0.05), annual temperature range, precipitation seasonality, and simplified continentality index (R2 = 0.37, p < 0.05).SignificanceWe identified bioclimatic indicators that affect forage growth in the northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, and explored the physiological and ecological mechanisms underlying forage growth. Our results provide a scientific basis for future forage management, early determination of livestock carrying capacity, rational management of animal husbandry practices, and ecological protection and restoration efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:13:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0cb69fe1cbb4e3fbd4c248aa1d5b929 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:13:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0cb69fe1cbb4e3fbd4c248aa1d5b9292023-01-26T08:20:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2023-01-011010.3389/fevo.2022.10760051076005Bioclimatic drivers of forage growth and cover in alpine rangelandsLi Wang0Wenmei Ma1Dan Zhou2Qi Chen3Lu Liu4Long Li5Long Li6Meteorological Bureau of Qinghai Province, Institute of Meteorological Science Research of Qinghai Province, Xining, ChinaMeteorological Bureau of Qinghai Province, Meteorological Service Center of Qinghai Province, Xining, ChinaMeteorological Bureau of Qinghai Province, Meteorological Service Center of Qinghai Province, Xining, ChinaMeteorological Bureau of Qinghai Province, Meteorological Service Center of Qinghai Province, Xining, ChinaMeteorological Bureau of Qinghai Province, Meteorological Service Center of Qinghai Province, Xining, ChinaSchool of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, ChinaQingHai Remote Sensing Center for Nature Resources, Xining, ChinaContextClimate change and human activities have significant impacts on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau; the alpine ecosystem in this region has been degraded. A decline in forage yield reduces the livestock carrying capacity, but an unmitigated increase may lead to overfeeding and damage to vegetation. These changes have eventually led to grassland degradation and a series of ecological problems. Therefore, it is essential to examine bioclimatic factors that affect forage growth in grasslands.ObjectiveTo identify bioclimatic factors associated with forage growth and coverage in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.MethodsWe examined how forage growth and coverage are affected by 35 bioclimatic indicators published in a global database (CMCC-BioClimInd).Results and conclusionsWe comprehensively considered the relationship between 35 indicators and forage yield and coverage and found that the combination of temperature and precipitation indicators had a very high correlation with yield and coverage. When we evaluated the relationship between each index and forage yield, forage yield was found to be significantly correlated with 16 bioclimatic indices. Forage yield was positively correlated with yearly positive precipitation (R2 = 0.49, p < 0.05), annual precipitation (R2 = 0.48, p < 0.05), and precipitation of driest quarter (R2 = 0.47, p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with temperature seasonality (R2 = 0.52, p < 0.05), precipitation seasonality (R2 = 0.39, p < 0.05), and simplified continentality index (R2 = 0.48). Forage coverage was significantly correlated with 15 bioclimatic indicators. It showed positive correlations with precipitation of driest quarter (R2 = 0.36, p < 0.05), precipitation of driest month (R2 = 0.33, p < 0.05), and annual precipitation (R2 = 0.31, p < 0.05), and negative correlations with temperature seasonality (R2 = 0.415, p < 0.05), annual temperature range, precipitation seasonality, and simplified continentality index (R2 = 0.37, p < 0.05).SignificanceWe identified bioclimatic indicators that affect forage growth in the northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, and explored the physiological and ecological mechanisms underlying forage growth. Our results provide a scientific basis for future forage management, early determination of livestock carrying capacity, rational management of animal husbandry practices, and ecological protection and restoration efforts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.1076005/fullQinghai–Tibetan plateauForageoutputcoveragebioclimatic index |
| spellingShingle | Li Wang Wenmei Ma Dan Zhou Qi Chen Lu Liu Long Li Long Li Bioclimatic drivers of forage growth and cover in alpine rangelands Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Qinghai–Tibetan plateau Forage output coverage bioclimatic index |
| title | Bioclimatic drivers of forage growth and cover in alpine rangelands |
| title_full | Bioclimatic drivers of forage growth and cover in alpine rangelands |
| title_fullStr | Bioclimatic drivers of forage growth and cover in alpine rangelands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bioclimatic drivers of forage growth and cover in alpine rangelands |
| title_short | Bioclimatic drivers of forage growth and cover in alpine rangelands |
| title_sort | bioclimatic drivers of forage growth and cover in alpine rangelands |
| topic | Qinghai–Tibetan plateau Forage output coverage bioclimatic index |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.1076005/full |
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