Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2024, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (10): 1385-1392.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2023.0235  cstr: 32100.14.cjpe.2023.0235

• Data Paper • Previous Articles    

Community characteristics of Leymus chinensis steppe in Nei Mongol, China

YAO Zhen-Yu1,2,*, XIN Yue2,*, MU Wen-Kui3, ZHANG Quan-Min4, YANG Liu2,5, ZHAO Li-Qing2,**()   

  1. 1Yinshanbeilu National Field Research Station of Steppe Eco-hydrological System, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Hohhot 010021, China
    2School of Ecology and Environment, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of Mongolian Plateau, Ministry of Education, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
    3Inner Mongolia Hohhot Meteorological Bureau, Hohhot 010051, China
    4Mengcao Ecological Environment (Group) Co., Ltd., Hohhot 010050, China
    5Inner Mongolia Geological Exploration Institute of Sinochem General Administration of Geology and Mining, Hohhot 010021, China
  • Received:2023-08-15 Accepted:2024-06-14 Online:2024-10-20 Published:2024-12-03
  • Contact: ZHAO Li-Qing

Abstract:

Leymus chinensis alliance, one of the most widely distributed communities in China’s temperate steppe, is a grassland vegetation type with the highest utilization value for animal husbandry. Investigating the distribution and community characteristics of Leymus chinensis formations can provide data for the management and restoration of natural grasslands. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of L. chinensis communities of 46 sites in Nei Mongol, including species composition, ecological characteristics, and community classification of L. chinensis alliance. A total of 187 vascular species, belonging to 109 genera and 37 families, were recorded. Asteraceae was the family with the most species, while Artemisia was the genus with the most species. Perennial herbs were the dominant life form, accounting for 71.66% of the total species. Xerophyte dominated the communities, accounting for 67.38% of the total species. The geographic composition of the system was dominated by the Eastern Palearctic species, followed by the Central Asian species. The L. chinensis alliance could be divided into 8 association groups, including Leymus chinensis - tussock, Leymus chinensis - semi-shrubby, Leymus chinensis - rhizome, Leymus chinensis - Carex, Leymus chinensis - annual/biennial, Shrub - Leymus chinensis, Leymus chinensis - bulbiferous herb and Leymus chinensis - forb and 26 associations.

Key words: Leymus chinensis, steppe, community characteristics, Nei Mongol