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Purpose <p>Hydrological connectivity (HC) is crucial for sustaining ecosystem structure and function, especially under conditions of degradation. However, the mechanisms linking HC to degradation have not been fully explored.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a comprehensive ecological assessment across 22 sampling sites (110 plots total) with varying degradation and HC levels in the Yellow River source region during the peak growing season (August 2021), using a multi-method analytical approach including two-way ANOVA, NMDS, and structural equation modeling (SEM).</p> Results <p>HC significantly mediates degradation effects on plant community structure, productivity, and soil nutrients in alpine grasslands. Although degradation reduced most soil nutrients (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) except total potassium (TK), high HC offsets total nitrogen (TN) loss in degraded grasslands (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01); however, it enhanced TK and reduced total phosphorus (TP) in undegraded grasslands (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). High HC increased and decreased aboveground biomass (AGB) in degraded and undegraded grasslands (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), respectively. Moreover, regardless of degradation status, HC mediated soil properties’ effects on plant diversity through elevated water and nutrient exchanges. In degraded grasslands, high HC-induced hydrological disturbance led to a negative biodiversity–productivity relationship. In undegraded grasslands, enhanced HC brought disturbances and shifted the negative biodiversity–productivity relationship to a positive one.</p> Conclusion <p>Our results highlight that HC affects the mechanisms maintaining plant diversity and productivity in degraded alpine grasslands. Therefore, ecosystem restoration strategies in mountainous regions should be tailored to local hydrological conditions.</p>

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Hydrological connectivity modulates grassland degradation effects in the yellow river source region

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月21日

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  • Meng Zhou,
  • Shu Guo,
  • Liyuan Ma,
  • Kening Zhang,
  • Danni Zhou,
  • Qiang Liu,
  • Youqing Yang,
  • Xiuzhu Sun,
  • Yanbin Hao,
  • Xiaoyong Cui,
  • Jianqing Du,
  • Yanfen Wang

摘要

Purpose

Hydrological connectivity (HC) is crucial for sustaining ecosystem structure and function, especially under conditions of degradation. However, the mechanisms linking HC to degradation have not been fully explored.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive ecological assessment across 22 sampling sites (110 plots total) with varying degradation and HC levels in the Yellow River source region during the peak growing season (August 2021), using a multi-method analytical approach including two-way ANOVA, NMDS, and structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results

HC significantly mediates degradation effects on plant community structure, productivity, and soil nutrients in alpine grasslands. Although degradation reduced most soil nutrients (p < 0.001) except total potassium (TK), high HC offsets total nitrogen (TN) loss in degraded grasslands (p < 0.01); however, it enhanced TK and reduced total phosphorus (TP) in undegraded grasslands (p < 0.01). High HC increased and decreased aboveground biomass (AGB) in degraded and undegraded grasslands (p < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, regardless of degradation status, HC mediated soil properties’ effects on plant diversity through elevated water and nutrient exchanges. In degraded grasslands, high HC-induced hydrological disturbance led to a negative biodiversity–productivity relationship. In undegraded grasslands, enhanced HC brought disturbances and shifted the negative biodiversity–productivity relationship to a positive one.

Conclusion

Our results highlight that HC affects the mechanisms maintaining plant diversity and productivity in degraded alpine grasslands. Therefore, ecosystem restoration strategies in mountainous regions should be tailored to local hydrological conditions.