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Background and aims <p>Grazing is a major driver of temperate grassland dynamics, influencing plant species composition and soil properties. However, the relative importance of direct grazing effects versus indirect, soil-mediated impacts remain unclear, especially over long&#xa0;time scales.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a 9-year grazing experiment in the eastern Eurasian Steppe, Inner Mongolia, China, with four grazing intensities (non-grazing, light, moderate, and heavy grazing). Vegetation and soil were sampled using quadrat, belt, and line&#xa0;transect methods, assessing 51 species across 20 families and 41 genera.</p> Results <p>Two-way cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis identified 4 distinct plant communities. Indicator species analysis showed significant shifts in&#xa0;indicator species composition (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.005). The important value index (IVI) of <i>Leymus chinensis</i> decreased with increasing grazing intensity. Species richness decreased by 59% (non-grazing: 32% → heavy grazing: 13%), and soil organic carbon dropped by 42% (non-grazing: 31% → heavy grazing: 18%). Structure equation modeling showed grazing directly reduced vegetation cover (β = -0.61, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and soil total nitrogen (β =  − 0.11, <i>p</i> = 0.002), whereas soil properties did not mediate vegetation dynamics. Indicator species such as <i>Artemisia frigida</i> increased under grazing, consistently signaling degradation.</p> Conclusion <p>Grazing impacts on vegetation composition are primarily direct, with soil-mediated effects playing a secondary role. Effective grassland management should focus on regulating grazing intensity to conserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem function.</p>

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Grazing directly drives shifts in species composition with minimal mediation by edaphic properties in a temperate grassland

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月10日

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  • Majid Iqbal,
  • Yuqiang Tian,
  • Yong Zhang,
  • Min Liu,
  • Minghua Song,
  • Jing Zhou,
  • Peng Jin,
  • Di Ma,
  • Chengling Yu,
  • Xingliang Xu

摘要

Background and aims

Grazing is a major driver of temperate grassland dynamics, influencing plant species composition and soil properties. However, the relative importance of direct grazing effects versus indirect, soil-mediated impacts remain unclear, especially over long time scales.

Methods

We conducted a 9-year grazing experiment in the eastern Eurasian Steppe, Inner Mongolia, China, with four grazing intensities (non-grazing, light, moderate, and heavy grazing). Vegetation and soil were sampled using quadrat, belt, and line transect methods, assessing 51 species across 20 families and 41 genera.

Results

Two-way cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis identified 4 distinct plant communities. Indicator species analysis showed significant shifts in indicator species composition (p ≤ 0.005). The important value index (IVI) of Leymus chinensis decreased with increasing grazing intensity. Species richness decreased by 59% (non-grazing: 32% → heavy grazing: 13%), and soil organic carbon dropped by 42% (non-grazing: 31% → heavy grazing: 18%). Structure equation modeling showed grazing directly reduced vegetation cover (β = -0.61, p < 0.001) and soil total nitrogen (β =  − 0.11, p = 0.002), whereas soil properties did not mediate vegetation dynamics. Indicator species such as Artemisia frigida increased under grazing, consistently signaling degradation.

Conclusion

Grazing impacts on vegetation composition are primarily direct, with soil-mediated effects playing a secondary role. Effective grassland management should focus on regulating grazing intensity to conserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem function.