A review of research on the relationship between grasslands and human activities

Abstract

Due to their ecological sensitivity and limited resource availability, grasslands are exceptionally vulnerable to environmental changes and human activities. However, comprehensive and in-depth analyses of the interplay between grasslands and human activities remain scarce. This study employed bibliometrics and critical paper analysis to scrutinize 4738 publications from 2000 to 2023. The findings reveal that: (1) Since 2000, research on grassland-human activity interactions has evolved and intensified, spanning diverse disciplines including environmental ecology, plant science, agricultural science, and biodiversity conservation. A notable trend is the relative clustering of scholars and research institutions within Eastern and Western countries and within national boundaries. China leads in publication volume, whereas the United States exerts greater influence in the international collaborative network. (2) Approximately 80% of the highly co-citation literature concentrates on elucidating scientific knowledge, particularly the impact of human activities on vegetation characteristics, grassland communities, and ecosystems. Research hotspots predominantly encompass European grasslands, North America’s Great Plains, and the Tibetan Plateau grasslands in China. The remaining 20% focuses on methodological advancements and tools, with frequent utilization of R language, PC-ORD, and Google Earth Engine (GEE). (3) Initial studies (2000–2005) primarily investigated the effects of specific anthropogenic activities on grassland biomes at a community level through experimental observations. Subsequent research (2006–2013) shifted towards exploring the overarching characteristics and transformations of grassland rangelands at regional scales, heavily relying on remote sensing technologies. More recent studies (2014–2023) have emphasized a comprehensive, quantitative appraisal of the multifaceted impacts of internal and external stressors on grassland ecosystems. This study enhances the understanding of the historical trajectory of grassland-anthropogenic relationship research, highlighting pivotal knowledge and collaborative tools.