Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2026, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (预发表): 0-.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2026.0092

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New Records of Herbaceous Vegetation Alliance Types and Their Characteristics on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

韩 蓓蕾   

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  • Received:2026-03-18 Revised:2026-05-22 Accepted:2026-06-08 Online:2026-08-28
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the Second Comprehensive Scientific Investigation and Research on the Tibetan Plateau(2019QZKK0301); and the “Strategic Priority Research Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA19050402)

Abstract: The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is an important ecological security barrier in China. Its herbaceous vegetation is widely distributed, exhibits diverse alliance types, and provides essential ecological functions. Owing to the complexity of its physical geographic environment, previous vegetation surveys still left many gaps; moreover, in recent years, human activities and climate change have also caused substantial changes in the vegetation of this region. Therefore, the baseline data on herbaceous vegetation across the Plateau require urgent updating. Based on vegetation survey data from the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program, and through comparison with existing vegetation monographs and related literature, this study systematically identified 75 newly recorded alliance types of herbaceous vegetation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Their habitat characteristics and community features are described, together with representative plot data and community photographs. These newly recorded alliance types belong to five vegetation formations and 17 vegetation subformations. Forb grasslands were the most abundant (50), most of which are concentrated in the alpine forb meadow subformation (33). This study supplements and improves the classification system of herbaceous vegetation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, fills gaps in alliance-level surveys for local areas and special habitats, and provides fundamental data for research on grassland ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.

Key words: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Herbaceous vegetation, alliance, new records, vegetation classification