A new approach for the classification of grassland utilization in Inner Mongolia -- based on ecological sites and state-and-transition models

Peng Han; Xuancheng Zhao; Ziyan Dong; Yongzhi Yan; Jianming Niu; Qing Zhang

Ecological Indicators (Apr 2022)

A new approach for the classification of grassland utilization in Inner Mongolia -- based on ecological sites and state-and-transition models

Peng Han,
Xuancheng Zhao,
Ziyan Dong,
Yongzhi Yan,
Jianming Niu,
Qing Zhang

Affiliations

Peng Han: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
Xuancheng Zhao: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
Ziyan Dong: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
Yongzhi Yan: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
Jianming Niu: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security (Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region), Hohhot 010021, China
Qing Zhang: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security (Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region), Hohhot 010021, China; Corresponding author at: Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security (Jointly Supported by the Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region), Hohhot 010021, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 137
p. 108733

Abstract

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Rational utilization of grassland is crucial to regional sustainable development, in which the classification of grassland utilization is the foundation. Traditional classification mainly focuses on a single attribute of grassland, and it is necessary to develop a new index to comprehensively classify grassland. Based on ecological site (ES) and state-and-transition model (STM) theory, 164 sample points of Inner Mongolia grassland were divided into four ecological sites and eight grassland utilization units by cluster analysis. We found that (1) the classification of grassland utilization based on ES and STM has a strict nested hierarchical structure; (2) soil texture is the main driving factor of grassland utilization units; and (3) the new grassland utilization unit integrates ecological and economic attributes, which is more suitable for grassland management. This new method, combined with remote sensing technology, will show great potential in regional grassland management.

Published in Ecological Indicators

ISSN: 1470-160X (Print); 1872-7034 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Ecology
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/ecological-indicators

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