Impact of climate change on primary production of Inner Mongolian grasslands

Abstract

Climate change has dramatic impacts on the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of grassland ecosystems. Understanding the impacts of interannual climate change on grassland ecosystems allows strategies to be developed for their sustainable management and protection. However, climate change coupled with overgrazing contribute to the degradation of grassland ecosystems worldwide, affecting the ANPP. In this study, we quantified the effects of temperature, precipitation, and richness of the ANPP across the meadow, typical, and desert steppes on the Inner Mongolian Plateau between 2011 and 2013. Our results indicated that the ANPP of the three grassland types increased significantly as the national ecological program of “Returning Grazing Land to Grassland” implemented by the Chinese government” progressed. There was a significant positive correlation between precipitation and the ANPP of the three types of grasslands. While, temperature had a significant impact on the desert steppes of ANPP. It also implied interaction models between climate factors and richness of three different grassland types. These results have important implications for predicting grassland productivity and developing a grassland restoration plan under climate change in the Inner Mongolian Plateau and beyond.