Impacts on Herbaceous Plant Communities of the Tourism Exploitation in the Yellow River Wetland of Zhengzhou City, China

Abstract

Because of the rapidly development of the tourism, the wetland has become the key resource for exploitation, which would result in variation of the factors and the wetland ecosystem. Among many ecological factors, herbaceous plant communities seem to be sensitive. Field investigation is an effective way to research the problems of the wetland. We analyzed the impacts on the herbaceous plant communities of the tourism exploitation in the Yellow River Wetland of Zhengzhou City based on the sample survey. It turns out: (1) Tourism activities affect the height of the herbaceous plant communities. The greater impact, the nearer the tourist route; (2) Tourism influence the coverage of the herbaceous plants; (3) It also effects the types and compositions of the herbaceous plant communities; (4) Tourism could promote the diversity of the herbaceous plant communities.