Effects of land use changes on the soil-vegetation ecosystem in winter in the Huangshui River Basin, China

Abstract

As one of the critical factors affecting the ecological systems, the effects of land use change should be concerned. However, few studies revealed the ecological effects especially the resilience under different land us changes, especially in alpine areas and in winter. To response the above question, this study conducted the field experiments in the Huangshui River Basin in winter, to compare the different ecological indicators for land use conversion under natural succession (perennial grassland, perennial forest, grassland transformed into forest) and land use conversion influenced by anthropogenic activities (returning farmland to forest, anthropogenic using land transformed into grassland anthropogenic activity zones). The results reveal that land use changed by human activities reduced the stability of ecosystems compared with natural succession. The concentrations or contents of most physicochemical properties in topsoil and grass decreased as well. While the relative abundance of NFB and PSB was slightly higher in the ecosystems with land use conversion influenced by anthropogenic activities. The results could provide references for evaluating the effects of land use changes from the ecological perspective, which could further guide the adaptation facing to climate change.