DOI: 10.5061/dryad.jsxksn0k3
title: Response of species diversity and stability of typical steppe plant communities on the Mongolian Plateau to different grazing patterns

description: Grasslands represent a major biome on Earth and play a vital role in
 ecosystem functioning and dynamics. However, owing to the variations among
 grassland types, the impact of grazing on plant community diversity and
 stability remains unclear. This study is based on the typical steppe of
 the Mongolian Plateau. Field sampling and data analysis were combined to
 qualitatively and quantitatively investigate the structural
 characteristics, species diversity, and stability of plant communities
 under varying grazing intensities, i.e., four-season nomadic, two-season
 rotational, and sedentary grazing (FSNG, TSRG, and SG, respectively). The
 results indicated that FSNG pastures exhibited the largest number of plant
 species while FSNG and TSRG pastures exhibited relatively high importance
 values for the primary dominant species. Carex duriuscula, Chenopodium
 glaucum, and Cleistogenes squarrosa were
 prominent in SG pastures, with C. duriuscula having the largest
 importance value. The mean height, cover, and aboveground biomass of plant
 communities in FSNG were significantly higher than those in SG (P &lt;
 0.05), with no significant difference observed between FSNG and TSRG. FSNG
 also demonstrated the highest Shannon–Wiener, Simpson, and Pielou indexes.
 The Shannon–Wiener and Simpson indexes between the FSNG, TSRG, and SG
 pastures showed significant differences (P &lt; 0.05). Nomadic plant
 communities displayed positive loosely interspecific traits, suggesting
 independence and positive succession. Conversely, communities in TSRG and
 SG exhibited negative correlations and higher instability. The stability
 analysis ranked community stability as FSNG &gt; TSRG &gt; SG,
 suggesting that judicious grazing practices could enhance grassland
 stability. The findings reveal that grazing patterns influence
 plant community composition and function and that FSNG pastures promote
 higher species diversity, perennial dominance, and overall stability
 compared to TSRG and SG pastures.
description: # Response of species diversity and stability of typical steppe plant
 communities on the Mongolian Plateau to different grazing patterns
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jsxksn0k3](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jsxksn0k3) ## Description of the data and file structure Provenance for this README \* File name: README_file_NLIAdata_v1.0.txt \* Authors: Suriguga Gao \* Other contributors: Yu Hong , Wulan Tuya , Weiqing Zhang, Chang An, Si Qinchaoketu , Xu Sha , Bu He, and Wu Yinga \* Date created: 2024-08-06 \* Date modified: 2024-08-20 Dataset Version and Release History \* Current Version: \* Number: 1.0 \* Date: 2024-08-20 \* Persistent identifier: DOI: 10.5061/dryad.jsxksn0k3 \* Summary of changes: n/a \* Embargo Provenance: n/a \* Scope of embargo: n/a \* Embargo period: n/a Dataset Attribution and Usage \* Dataset Title: Data for: Response of species diversity and stability of typical steppe plant communities on the Mongolian Plateau to different grazing patterns \* Persistent Identifier: [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jsxksn0k3](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jsxksn0k3) \* Dataset Contributors: \* Creators: Yu Hong , Wulan Tuya , Weiqing Zhang, Chang An, Si Qinchaoketu , Xu Sha , Bu He, and Wu Yinga \* Date of Issue: 2024-08-20 \* Publisher: Inner Mongolia Normal University \* License: Use of these data is covered by the following license: \* Title: Gao.Thesis date2024.820 \* the authors respectfully request to be contacted by researchers interested in the re-use of these data so that the possibility of collaboration can be discussed. \* Suggested Citations: \* Dataset citation: ``` Suriguga Gao, et al. (2024), Data for: Response of species diversity and stability of typical steppe plant communities on the Mongolian Plateau to different grazing patterns, Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jsxksn0k3 ``` Contact Information \* Name: Suriguga Gao \* Affiliations: 1College of Geographic Sciences, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 010022, China 2Key Laboratory of Mongolian Plateau Disaster and Ecological Safety, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010022, China 3Key Laboratory of Climate Change and Regional Response on the Mongolian Plateau, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 010022, China 4College of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 010022, China \* ORCID ID: [https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7085-3030](https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7085-3030) \* Email: [1102529891@qq.com](mailto:1102529891@qq.com) \* Address: e-mail preferred Additional Dataset Metadata Acknowledgements \* Funding sources: This research was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 41861024, No. 42161023, and No. 42061031), Natural Nature Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia (No. 2024MS04014), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology Program (No. 2020GG0039), and Inner Mongolia Normal University Basic Research Operating Expenses Special Project (No. 2022JBZD017,and 2022JBTD010), and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Key R&D and Achievement Transformation Programme Project (No. 2023KJHZ0027). **Dates and Locations** \* Dates of data collection: During July and August of 2016 and 2017, we surveyed plant communities in the study area, specifically in the herdsmen's pastures, and established a total of 24 sampling points, with eight points randomly selected within each of the three grazing types. \* Geographic locations of data collection: The sample encompasses four control points: (111°8′51.25″E, 47°56′20.13″N) (northwest), (119°13′25.31″E, 45°13′9.35″N) (northeast), (118°14′32.64″E, 44°32′30.80″N) (southeast), (110°13′34.08″E, 47°13′58.02″N) (southwest). **Methodological Information** \* Methods of data collection/generation: see manuscript for details **Data and File Overview** Summary Metrics \* File count: 5 \* Total file size: 113 KB \* Range of individual file sizes: 21 KB - 24 KB \* File formats: .XLS **Table of Contents** \* Date_S1_Composition and importance values of typical grassland communities in China and Mongolia.xls \* Date_S2_Quantitative characteristics of plant communities in each sample area.xls \* Date_S3_Comparison of the quantitative characteristics of typical grassland communities in China and Mongolia.xls \* Date_S4_Species diversity in typical grassland communities in China and Mongolia.xls \* Date_S5_Godron stability index plots for typical grassland plant communities in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia.xls Setup \* Recommended software/tools:Excel (2007) and SPSS (22.0) Origin 9.1 File/Folder Details Details for: Date_S1_Composition and importance values of typical grassland communities in China and Mongolia.xls \* Description: The choice of grazing method influences the composition of plant communities, as evidenced by the total numbers of species observed in the FSNG, TSRG, and SG areas, at 37, 27, and 23, respectively . \* Format(s): .xls \* Size(s): 24KB \* Dimensions: 39 rows x 5 columns \* Variables: *Importance value %:he "Importance Value %" is an ecological metric that measures the relative significance of a species within a community. It is calculated as the average of three components, each expressed as a percentage: Relative Density: The percentage of a species' individuals relative to the total number of individuals in the community. Relative Coverage: The percentage of a species' area coverage relative to the total coverage in the community. Relative Frequency: The percentage of the occurrences of a species relative to the total occurrences of all species. The formula is: \text{Importance Value %} = \frac{\text{Relative Density} + \text{Relative Coverage} + \text{Relative Frequency}}{3} Details for: Date_S2_Quantitative characteristics of plant communities in each sample area.xls \* Description: In terms of functional groups of species, FSNG, TSRG, and SG pastures were dominated by perennial grasses and perennial forbs.Among them, the average percentage of perennial grasses in FSNG, TSRG, and SG areas were 54.7%, 44.68%, and 38.43%, respectively. \* Format(s): .xls \* Size(s): 23 KB \* Dimensions: 27rows x9 columns \* Variables: *Perennial Grasses:Perennial grasses are grass species that live for more than two years. These plants typically regrow every growing season, while their roots or underground parts survive through winter or dry periods. They play a significant role in grassland and prairie ecosystems, examples include fescue and needlegrass. *Perennial Forbs:Perennial forbs are non-woody flowering plants that live for multiple years. Like perennial grasses, their roots or other underground parts persist over time, allowing them to regrow each season. Common examples are daylilies and yarrow. Annual and Biennial Plants: *Annual plants complete their life cycle in a single growing season, from germination to flowering, seed production, and death. Biennial plants take two growing seasons to complete their life cycle, with the first year typically focused on vegetative growth and the second year on flowering and seeding. Examples include annuals like wheat and biennials like carrots. *Shrubs and Semi-Shrubs:Shrubs are woody plants with multiple stems that branch out above ground, generally shorter than trees. Semi-shrubs have a woody base, but their upper branches are often herbaceous and may die back each year. Examples include roses (shrubs) and sagebrush (semi-shrubs). Details for:Date_S3_Comparison of the quantitative characteristics of typical grassland communities in China and Mongolia.xls \* Description:Community characterization is the basis for ecological restoration and reestablishment and the integration of vegetation adaptations to ecosystems (Chang et al., 2020). Different grazing methods affect the quantitative characteristics of plant communities (Cumming et al., 2016). \* Format(s): .xls \* Size(s): 21 KB \* Dimensions: 20 rows x 6columns \* Variables: *Aboveground Biomass:Aboveground biomass refers to the total mass of living plant material (leaves, stems, flowers, etc.) above the soil surface in a given area. It is an important measure for understanding the productivity and carbon storage of an ecosystem. *Plant Community Height:Plant community height is the average height of the vegetation in a specific plant community. It gives an indication of the vertical structure of the community, which can affect light availability, microclimate, and habitat for various species. *Plant Community Cover:Plant community cover is the proportion of ground area covered by the vegetation of a particular plant community. It is often expressed as a percentage and is used to assess the density and extent of vegetation in an area. *Plant Community Densities:Plant community densities refer to the number of individual plants or plant stems per unit area within a plant community. This metric is used to evaluate the population density of plants in an ecosystem, which can influence competition and species interactions. Details for: Date_S4_Species diversity in typical grassland communities in China and Mongolia.xls \* Description: Thus, the Shannon–Wiener, Margalef, Pielou, and Simpson indexes and the dominance of species in a plant community were determined based on the importance value (pi) (Jian et al., 2018). \* Format(s): .xls \* Size(s): 22 KB \* Dimensions: 25 rows x 6 columns \* Variables: The associated formulae are provided below. *Shannon–Wiener index: H^'=∑_(i=1)^s▒pilnpi (1),The Shannon–Wiener Index (or Shannon Index) measures the diversity of a community by considering both the number of species (richness) and the evenness of species' abundances. A higher value indicates greater diversity. *Margalef index: MA = (S − 1)/lnN (2),The Margalef Index is a measure of species richness, taking into account the total number of species and the total number of individuals in a community. It is often used to compare the species richness of different communities. *Pielou index: E = H/lnS (3),The Pielou Index, also known as Pielou's Evenness Index, quantifies the evenness of species distribution in a community. It ranges from 0 to 1, where 1 indicates complete evenness (all species are equally abundant). *Simpson index: The Simpson Index measures the probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to the same species. It is a measure of dominance; lower values indicate higher diversity. Details for: Date_S5_Godron stability index plots for typical grassland plant communities in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia.xls \* Description: We employed the Godron contribution law method to rank plant species surveyed under different grazing practices by frequency and convert them to relative frequency for stepwise accumulation. This involved calculating the cumulative sum of the plant species in their sorted order and expressing it as percentages. Subsequently, we generated a fuzzy scatter smoothing curve, plotting the cumulative inverse percentage of plant species on the x-axis against the cumulative relative frequency on the y-axis. This visualization method effectively illustrates the relationship between grazing practices and the distribution of plant species across the study area. Finally, coordinates of the intersection point with the x + y = 100 line were found, which represent the stabilization point of the desired plant community. The closer the cumulative inverse percentage of plant species and the cumulative relative frequency percentage of the plant community is to 20/80, the more stable the plant community will be (Huang et al., 2015; Linders et al., 2019). \* Format(s): .xls \* Size(s): 24 KB \* Dimensions: 45 rows x 9 columns \* Variables: *Smooth curve and linear models: y = ax2 + bx + c, y = 100 - x (8). *Solution formula: ax2 - (b + 1)x + 100 - c = 0 (9) The coordinates of the intersection point (x, y) were derived from Equation (9) and compared with 20/80 to determine the degree of stabilization of the plant community for different grazing practices. ## Code/software Excel (2007) and SPSS (22.0) were used for data processing and statistical analyses, respectively. The *t*-test was used for identifying significant differences between the two variables (α = 0.05), and Origin 9.1 software was used for plotting.