Effects of Different Degrees of Disturbance by Plateau Pika on Plant Diversity,Soil Bulk Density,and Water Content
[Objective]This study aim to investigate the effects of different disturbance degrees of plateau pika on plant communities and soil physical traits in alpine meadow in Ruoergai,providing a reference for the analysis of ecological thresholds of plateau pika damage and its prevention and control.[Method]Three field sites in Ruoergai County with varying degrees of damage(light,moderate,and heavy)were selected as the research objects.Surveys of plateau pika burrow density,plant community composition,and soil environment were carried out in August 2023.[Result]With the increasing in disturbance de-grees,the vegetation diversity index,soil bulk density,aboveground biomass,and species richness in-dex generally showed a downward trend,while the underground biomass and soil water content generally showed an upward trend.When the disturbance degree of plateau pikas was light(average active burrow density:351 burrows/hm2),the vegetation coverage,richness index,diversity index,aboveground bio-mass,and soil bulk density reached their highest values.In heavy disturbed field sites(average active burrow density:1 532 burrows/hm2),the richness index,Shannon-Wiener index,Simpson index,aboveground biomass,and soil bulk density were significantly lower than in light and moderate distur-bance field sites(P＜0.05),but at this time,the soil water content,underground biomass,and total bio-mass were at their highest.[Conclusion]Light disturbance by plateau pikas(average active burrow den-sity:351 burrows/hm2)can increase species diversity in the alpine meadow and improve soil bulk density,having a positive effect;whereas heavy disturbance(average active burrow density:1 532 burrows/hm2)will reduce the average height and coverage of vegetation,vegetation diversity,richness index,aboveg-round biomass,and soil bulk density,having a negative effect.
万方数据
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