Abstract: Plant individual miniaturization resulting from over-grazing can be characterized by a suite of morphlogical traits: stunted height, shortened and narrowed leaf blades, shortened internodes, hardness in stems and leaves and roots shallower in the soil profile. In terms of ecological attributes, plant miniaturization belongs to a specific type that lays between an ecotype and a form of environmental modification, and is defined here as a type of disturbance response. Individual miniaturization is the basic cause of decreasing community productivity resulting from over-grazing. It is a negative feed back mechanism and an important link in degradation succession mechanisms in grassland communities.

Key words: Grassland degradation, Restoration succession, Individual miniaturization, Individual normalization