Xilingol Grassland Research Articles

Satellite-Based Monitoring on Green-Up Date for Optimizing the Rest-Grazing Period in Xilin Gol Grassland

Ecological degradation has occurred in global grasslands and has impaired their ecosystem services severely, so ecological conservation of grasslands should be focused more on the effectiveness of management measures. The green-up process decides the year-round forage yield and ecological conditions of grasslands. Adopting rest-grazing during the green-up process can guarantee a successful green-up, thus realizing more economic benefits without grassland degradation. Therefore, studies should pay more attention to whether the green-up process is really covered by the rest-grazing period or not. We analyze the spatiotemporal variations and the stability of the annual green-up date in Xilin Gol Grassland from 2000 to 2018 based on MODIS time series images and compare the green-up date with the rest-grazing period to assess the effectiveness of the rest-grazing policy. The results show that the green-up date of Xilin Gol Grassland had advanced 15 days on average because of the increasing trend of both temperature and precipitation during 2000~2018. The green-up date is mostly 120~130 d in the east, about 10 days earlier than the west (130~140 d) and 20 days earlier than in the central areas (140~150 d), also because of the spatial variations of temperature and precipitation. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the green-up date showed a significant negative correlation with precipitation, so the green-up date is more unstable in the arid areas. The rest-grazing period started more than 45 days earlier than the green-up date and failed to cover it in several years, which occurred more frequently in southern counties. The average green-up date appeared after rest-grazing started in over 98% of areas, and the time gap is 15~45 days in 88% of areas, which not only could not avoid grassland degradation effectively but also increased herdsmen’s life burden. This study aims to accurately grasp the temporal and spatial variations of the green-up date in order to provide references for adjusting a more proper rest-grazing period, thus promoting ecological conservation and sustainable development of animal husbandry.

Mapping Shrub Coverage in Xilin Gol Grassland with Multi-Temporal Sentinel-2 Imagery

In recent decades, shrubs dominated by the genus Caragana have expanded in a large area in Xilin Gol grassland, Inner Mongolia, China. This study comprehensively evaluated the performances of multiple factors for mapping shrub coverage across the Xilin Gol grassland based on the spectral and temporal signatures of Sentinel-2 imagery, and for the first time produced a large-scale shrub coverage mapping result in this region. Considering the regional differences and gradients in the types and sizes of shrub in the study area, the study area was divided into three subregions based on precipitation data, i.e., west, middle and east regions. The shrub coverage estimation accuracy from dry- and wet-year data, different types of vegetation indices (VIs) and multiple regression methods were compared in each subregion, and the key phenological periods were selected. We also compared the accuracy of four mapping strategies, which were pairwise combinations of zoning (i.e., subregions divided by precipitation) and non-zoning, and full time series of VIs and key phenological period. Results show that the mapping accuracy in a dry year (2017) is higher than that in a wet year (2018). The optimal VIs and key phenological periods show high spatial variability. In terms of mapping strategies, the accuracy of zoning is higher than that of non-zoning. The root mean square error (RMSE), overall accuracy (OA) and recall for ‘zoning + full time series (or + key phenological period)’ strategy were 0.052 (0.055), 76.4% (79.7%) and 91.7% (94.6%), respectively, while for ‘non-zoning + full time series (or + key phenological period)’ strategy were 0.057 (0.060), 75.5% (74.6%) and 91.7% (88.6%), respectively. The mapping using VIs in key phenological periods is better than that of using full time series in the low-value prediction of shrub cover. Based on the strategy of ‘zoning + key phenological period’, the shrub coverage map of the whole region was generated with a RMSE of 0.055, OA of 80% and recall of 95%. This study not only provides the first large-scale mapping data of shrub coverage, but also provides reference for shrub dynamic monitoring in this area.

Remote Sensing Monitoring of the Spatial Pattern of Greening and Browning in Xilin Gol Grassland and Its Response to Climate and Human Activities

As a unique ecosystem with multiple ecological functions but high fragility, grassland in arid areas is very vulnerable to changes in the natural environment or human activities, resulting in various ecological and environmental problems. In order to study the degree and spatial extent of the influence of climatic conditions and human activities, especially mining activities, on grasslands in arid regions, we used remote sensing data to monitor the vegetation of the Xilin Gol grassland over a long period. The significant greening and browning areas of Xilin Gol grassland vegetation from 2000 to 2020 were extracted by a time series analysis. At the same time, the correlation analysis method was used to obtain the response of the Xilin Gol grassland vegetation to climatic factors and social and economic factors. In addition, we propose a new method based on buffer analysis and correlation analysis to calculate the influence range of vegetation degradation due to mining. We used this method to determine the influence range of vegetation degradation in the main mining area of the Xilin Gol grassland. The results showed that the vegetation condition of the Xilin Gol grassland were slightly improved from 2000 to 2020. Its vegetation was significantly affected by precipitation, and more than 50% of the area’s vegetation changes were highly correlated with precipitation changes. However, the area with the most serious vegetation degradation was mainly affected by human factors, and this part accounted for about 0.13% of the total area. In the form of direct damage and indirect effects (pulling population and economic growth to expand built-up areas), coal mining has become the main driving factor in the most significant areas of vegetation damage in the study area. Vegetation coverage in areas with significant greening and significant browning was highly correlated with economic factors, indicating that the vegetation changes were significantly affected by economic development. This study can reflect the vegetation changes and main driving factors in the overall and key areas of the Xilin Gol League and is a meaningful reference for the local balance of economic development and environmental protection.

Nature-Based Solutions Benefit the Economic–Ecological Coordination of Pastoral Areas: An Outstanding Herdsman’s Experience in Xilin Gol, China

Grassland has always had a difficult economic–ecological relationship, as coordination between its ecological conservation and the sustainable development of animal husbandry is required. Nature-based Solutions (NbS), who make full use of the natural ecosystem services, have successfully solved some economic–ecological issues, but still have unclear implementation prospects for grassland management. The Xilin Gol grassland is one of the most typical pastoral areas in China; there is a village chief named Bateer, who has already used NbS for grassland management. To confirm whether the solutions employed by Bateer have been effective for both increasing economic profits and protecting grassland ecosystem, we interviewed him, and many other herdsmen, using questionnaires about their livelihood. Based on these questionnaires, we calculated and compared their income–cost ratios. Meanwhile, we analyzed the NDVI variations inside their rangelands through high-resolution remote sensing images. The results showed that the herdsmen in Bateer’s village had a much higher disposable income and income–cost ratio than others, and their rangelands also had a higher value and a more obvious increasing trend of NDVI. Bateer’s success proves that the NbS can also play a positive role in grassland management, which can provide a valuable guidance for economic–ecological coordination in pastoral areas.

Quantitative analysis of relative impacts of climate change and human activities on Xilingol grassland in recent 40 years

Previous studies have shown that climate changes and human activities are the main external factors affecting grassland. Therefore, quantitative assessment of their dominant role is of great significance for grassland management. This study selected Net primary productivity (NPP) as an indicator and quantitatively analyzed the relative impacts of climate change and human activities on Xilingol grassland during 1982–2018 by establishing different analysis scenarios. The results showed that the annual average grassland NPP was 251.13 g·C·m-2·a-1 from 1982 to 2018 and showed an increasing distribution pattern from west to east. During 1982–2018, the grassland NPP showed a slightly decreasing trend, with annual average decreases of 0.42 g·C·m-2·a-1 and changed significantly in 1998. The changing trend of grassland NPP was a significant difference during the two periods around 1998. Approximately 94.95% of the grassland showed a restoration trend in 1982–1998, and 76.47% of the grassland showed a degradation trend in 1998–2018. The climate-dominated grassland accounted for 87.76%, 75.4%, and 73.68% of the total grassland area in 1982–1998, 1998–2018, and 1982–2018, respectively. In comparison, the human-dominated grassland was 12.24%, 24.6%, and 26.32%, indicating that climate change is the main factor leading to the grassland NPP change, and human activities affect the change of NPP in local areas. Further analysis identified precipitation as the dominant climate factor affecting grassland, and mining and reclamation became the main form of human activities accelerating grassland degradation.

Perceptive Factors That Affect Household Food Consumption Among Different Grassland Areas: A Case Study Based on Fuzzy Cognitive Map

Food consumption acts as an intermediary between ecosystems and human systems in grassland areas. In this study, we generated a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) to obtain a semi-quantitative assessment of impact factors on food consumption in the Xilin Gol Grassland, China, from the perception of local rural households. Based on it, the food consumption impact factors networks of households in Xilin Gol Grassland were created. Results showed that household recognition of food consumption impact factors differed among grassland transects in both amount and category, and the results of principal component analysis (PCA) ascertain such differences and transitions. Livestock breeding, income, local economic development, consumption habit, age, food price, and cost were the most important impact factors mentioned by both farmers and herdsmen. From south to north in the grassland transects, households' cognition of ecological and economic factors increased, and the cognition of personal and social factors decreased. Differences in supply, culture, customs, and socioeconomic characteristics affected the cognition of households and their livelihoods, which influenced impact factors as well as associated connections. The role of livestock breeding also validated the connection between human actives and the grassland ecosystem. Results from this study can be used as a reference for policymakers during decision-making processes respective of regional sustainable development.

Epidemiological survey of allergic rhinitis in steppe area of Xilingol League, Inner Mongolian of China

Objective:To investigate the epidemiologic feature of allergic rhinitis （AR） in the grassland area of Xilin Gol League, in Inner Mongolia, including prevalence rate, clinical characteristics and main allergens, so as to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of AR. Methods:From May to August of 2015, in strict accordance with the requirements of epidemiological investigation, A multi-stage, stratified， random and cluster sampling method was adopted to investigate the population in three areas of Xilingol Grassland in Inner Mongolia （Xilinhot, Erlianhot and Duolun）, with a face to face questionnaire used to investigate the general situation, the main clinical symptoms and related symptoms of AR and the combined. Simultaneously, the skin prick test （SPT） of 10 common grassland allergens was carried out, and the gravity sedimentation method was used to monitor the daily pollen types and quantity in the area.SAS 9.4 software was used for data analysis． Results:A total of 2878 subjects in the cluster sample completed the questionnaire survey and allergen detection. The positive rate of SPT was 41.10% （1179/2787）, the self-reported prevalence rate of AR was 39.96%（1150/2878） and confirmed prevalence rate of AR was 22.72%（654/2878）. The most obvious clinical symptoms of AR were sneezing （91.13%, 1048/1150） and itchy nose （85.65%, 985/1150）. The most obvious clinical symptoms of ocular were itchy （55.13%, 634/1150） and tearing（42.96%，494/1150）. Fatigue and somnolence were prominent among other symptoms associated with AR. Among comorbidities, AR combined with conjunctivitis accounted for 60.52% （696/1150）, AR combined with asthma accounted for 13.57% （156/1150）. The major allergens of AR from high to low were Artemisia pollen, Chenopodium pollen, and Humulus pollen. The peak of AR symptoms mostly occuredin August.， and the peak period of allergic rhinitis symptoms coincided with the peak period of pollen quantity. Conclusion:The prevalence rate of AR in is extremely high due to the high seasonal pollen exposure in steppe area of Xilingol League in Inner Mongolian. Artemisia pollen is the main sensitized allergen.

Grassland ecology system: A critical reservoir and dissemination medium of antibiotic resistance in Xilingol Pasture, Inner Mongolia

Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to human health. It is necessary to explore all the potential sources and comprehend the pathways that antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are transmitted. In this study, by applying high-throughput quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing, ARGs and microbial community structure were determined, to understand the reservoirs and spread of ARGs in the Xilingol grassland system. A total of 151,140 and 138 different ARGs were observed in manure, soil, and water samples, respectively. Only 12 ARGs were shared in all environmental and animal manure samples. Multidrug defense system, such as efflux pump, was the most dominant factor in manure and soil samples, followed by antibiotic deactivation processes. These genes coffering resistance to major classes of antibiotics including β_Lactamase (blaSFO, fox5, blaCTX-M-04, blaOXY), vancomycin (vanC-03, vanXD), MLSB (vatE-01, mphA-01), aminoglycoside (aadA2-01), Multidrug (oprJ) and others (oprD, qacEdelta1-02), except sulfonamide and tetracycline. The 12 ARGs were significantly enriched in water samples compared to manure and soil samples (p < 0.01) and demonstrated that the water environment was an important transmission source of ARGs in the grassland. The highest enrichment was up to 324.5-fold. Moreover, the 12 shared ARGs were positively correlated with the mobile genetic elements (p < 0.01). The nonrandom co-occurrence network patterns between ARGs and microbial community suggested that a total of three bacterial phyla were viewed as the potential ARGs hosts. These findings indicate that ARGs were highly enriched in water samples, demonstrating that the water environment was a critical source and sink of ARGs in the grassland system. It may illuminate the mechanism stressing the effects of human activity on the occurrence and transmission of ARGs in the grassland system.

Impacts of Underlying Surface on the Dusty Weather in Central Inner Mongolian Steppe, China

AbstractDust storms are common in northern China and can adversely affect the environment and human health. The Xilingol grassland is the main source of dust storms in China. However, the impacts of different surface features on dusty weather in the Xilingol League remain unclear. This study analyzed the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of surface features and the corresponding effects on dusty weather using data from 13 meteorological stations, MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data, and soil moisture data collected in Xilingol League from 2005 to 2018. Spatially, the dust outbreak frequency (DOF) of Xilingol League decreased gradually from the western desert steppe to the eastern typical steppe. Temporally, the dust outbreak ratio (DOR) and DOF were highest in spring (March–May), with the highest in April. Dusty weather mostly occur in spring but gradually decreased in this season over the 14‐year period. On the contrary, NDVI and soil moisture increased gradually from the west with less precipitation to the east with more precipitation. And showed fluctuating increasing trends over time. The DOR in Xilingol League was negatively correlated with the NDVI and soil moisture, and with the increase of NDVI and soil moisture from the western desert steppe to the eastern typical steppe and the southern cultivated land, the dust emission threshold also increased. The DOR predicted by Xilingol league in spring was significantly correlated with the actual DOR. Our research can provide specific suggestions for different regions of Xilingol League.

Comparative Analysis of Fecal Microbiota of Grazing Mongolian Cattle from Different Regions in Inner Mongolia, China.

Simple SummaryRecently, there has been increasing attention focused on the intestinal microflorae of animals due to their critical role in maintaining health and preventing disease. With the improvement of the Chinese national economy and the people’s material standard of living, the beef cattle industry is growing rapidly to meet the growing market demand for beef. Mongolian cattle is a precious genetic resource in China and an excellent cattle breed in Inner Mongolia. However, updated research on topics concerning the gut microbiota of Mongolian cattle are absent. Therefore, this study focused on the differences in the gut microbiota composition of Mongolian cattle in different geographical environments. The gut microbiota composition of the Mongolian cattle from the grasslands was relatively similar, while that from the desert areas was different. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of the influence of geographical factors on the composition of gut microbiota in Mongolian cattle.Mongolian cattle from China have strong adaptability and disease resistance. We aimed to compare the gut microbiota community structure and diversity in grazing Mongolian cattle from different regions in Inner Mongolia and to elucidate the influence of geographical factors on the intestinal microbial community structure. We used high throughput 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze the fecal microbial community and diversity in samples from 60 grazing Mongolian cattle from Hulunbuir Grassland, Xilingol Grassland, and Alxa Desert. A total of 2,720,545 high-quality reads and sequences that were 1,117,505,301 bp long were obtained. Alpha diversity among the three groups showed that the gut microbial diversity in Mongolian cattle in the grasslands was significantly higher than that in the desert. The dominant phyla were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, whereas Verrucomicrobia presented the highest abundance in the gut of cattle in the Alxa Desert. The gut bacterial communities in cattle from the grasslands versus the Alxa Desert were distinctive, and those from the grasslands were closely clustered. Community composition analysis revealed significant differences in species diversity and richness. Overall, the composition of the gut microbiota in Mongolian cattle is affected by geographical factors. Gut microbiota may play important roles in the geographical adaptations of Mongolian cattle.

Satellite estimates and subpixel variability of rainfall in a semi-arid grassland

Uncertainties in satellite rainfall estimation may derive from both the local rainfall characteristics and its subpixel variability. To study this issue, Micro Rain Radars and a rain gauge network were deployed within a 9-km satellite pixel in the semi-arid Xilingol grassland of China in summer 2009. The authors characterized the subpixel variability with the coefficient of variation (CV) and evaluated the satellite rainfall estimation for this semi-arid area. The results showed that rainfall events with a high CV were mostly convective with a small amount of rainfall. Spatially inhomogeneous rainfall was most likely to occur at the edges of small clouds producing rain. The performance of the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) 3B42V7 product for daily rainfall was better than that of the CMORPH (Climate Prediction Center morphing technique) and PERSIANN (Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks) products, although the TRMM product tended to overestimate rainfall in a lake area of the semi-arid grassland.摘要卫星估雨精度的不确定性受到当地降雨类型和像元内降雨非均匀性影响, 而结合这两个关键因素开展半干旱草原卫星估雨的研究有限. 2009年夏, 我们在中国锡林郭勒半干旱草原用多部微雨雷达和雨量计构建了9 km卫星像元降雨观测网, 观测了像元内降雨非均匀性(空间变异系数CV), 并评估了卫星估雨精度. 结果表明: (1) CV值受像元内平均降雨量, 降雨类型, 降雨云面积及移向等影响, 如高CV值的降雨过程大多为平均降雨量小, 对流性降雨过程, 降雨云边缘像元CV值较高; (2) TRMM 3B42V7 卫星估雨产品适用性较好, CMORPH和PERSIANN次之, 但TRMM 3B42V7易在半干旱草原湖泊处高估降雨.

Spatial distribution and environmental significance of phytoliths in the surface soil of the Xilingol Grassland in Inner Mongolia, China

Reconstruction of grassland ecosystems and their vegetation succession is an important issue in palaeoenvironmental research. Phytoliths and pollen are two common proxies for palaeovegetation reconstruction, and their importance can be evaluated based on investigations of the relationships between modern vegetation and phytolith/pollen assemblages in surface-soil samples. The correlations between phytolith assemblages and environmental variables were analysed based on 34 surface-soil samples from the Xilingol Grassland, Inner Mongolia, North China, and a palynological analysis was carried out on the same samples, enabling a comparison between their sensitivity to vegetation and climate change. The results show that the phytolith assemblages mainly consist of blocky and rondel phytoliths, while other short-cell phytolith types, such as saddle and bilobate types, are scarce. The pollen assemblages were characterised by a high abundance of Artemisia and Amaranthaceae. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that the most important environmental factors affecting the distribution of phytoliths are altitude and latitude, while the mean warmest monthly temperature (MWMT) and altitude were the most significant environmental factors affecting the distribution of the pollen assemblages. CCA of the phytoliths and pollen assemblages separated both samples into two groups: broadleaf forest/scrub and steppe/meadow groups, but it appeared that phytoliths were more sensitive in arid grasslands. This case study could be used as a baseline for interpreting fossil phytolith/pollen assemblages from the grasslands of Inner Mongolia and indicates that multiproxy analysis of the same samples can provide reliable information on palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate reconstruction.

Integrating constraint effects among ecosystem services and drivers on seasonal scales into management practices

A better understanding of ecosystem service relationships and drivers facilitates scientific decision-making and improves ecosystem-based management practices. In contrast to previous studies that analyzed the relationship between ecosystem services associated with a specific time scale (i.e., annual scale), ecosystem services supply and their relationships were quantified in different seasons in the study. Three ecosystem services (NPP, net primary productivity; SLwater, soil water erosion; SLwind, soil wind erosion) were evaluated in the Xilingol grassland of China from 2000 to 2017. We extracted the upper boundary lines of the scatter plots of paired ecosystem services to define the types of constraint effects between them. We identified the constraint effects of ten drivers on ecosystem services. The results showed that the supply of ecosystem services shows substantial seasonal variation. The exponential constraint effects between NPP and SLwind, and the logarithmic constraint effects between SLwater and SLwind both changed inversely and monotonously, which were similar to trade-offs. The direction of the hump-shaped constraint effects between NPP and SLwater was changed. In this case, the trade-offs or synergies may not effectively characterize their relationship. Based on the constraint effects among ecosystem services, the constraint relationship of the drivers on ecosystem services, and the thresholds, optimized management measures can be taken. When vegetation cover was lower than 9%, vegetation did little to reduce SLwind; when vegetation cover was 55% or above, the effect of vegetation on reducing SLwind basically reached the maximum. Thresholds of key factors should be monitored seasonally, which can help us issue an early warning of SLwater. Our study suggests that policy-makers should pay more attention to the intra-annual variations in ecosystem service interactions and take constraint effects among ecosystem services and drivers into consideration when making decisions so as to achieve grassland ecological sustainability with less ecosystem service degradation.

Household perceptions of factors that affect food consumption in grassland areas: a case study in the Xilin Gol Grassland, China

Food consumption acts as an intermediary that connects ecosystems with human systems in grassland areas. In this study, we used fuzzy cognitive mapping to quantitatively assess the factors that affect food consumption in the Xilin Gol Grassland, China, from the perspective of local rural households. We found that household perceptions of the factors that affect food consumption differed among parts of the grassland transects in both the number and the strength of these factors. Livestock numbers, household income, regional economic development, consumption habits, age, and infrastructure were the most important factors mentioned by the farmers and herders, but herders were more sensitive to ecological and economic factors, whereas farmers focused more on personal and social factors. The differences in the main factors between study areas revealed the key economic, social, and ecological dimensions. Our results provide a reference for policymakers to develop improved policies to encourage regional sustainable development.

Mapping the fractional cover of non-photosynthetic vegetation and its spatiotemporal variations in the Xilingol grassland using MODIS imagery (2000−2019)

Obtaining accurate information on the fractional cover of non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) (f NPV) on grasslands is essential for monitoring soil erosion risk, assessing grassland productivity and managing grassland ecosystems. However, few studies have monitored f NPV in the Xilingol grassland region (XGR) and its spatiotemporal variations based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images. In this study, we determined the upper dead fuel index (DFI) threshold for NPV in the XGR. Then, a remote-sensing inversion model for f NPV was established based on the ground-measured f NPV and the DFI derived from MODIS images. Based on the inversion model, we obtained the spatial distribution and spatiotemporal variations in f NPV from 2000 to 2019. The results indicated that the DFI can reflect the NPV in the XGR with an upper threshold of 27.2. The DFI-f NPV linear regression model showed a good performance, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.60 and a root mean square error of leave-one-out cross-validation (RMSECV) of 0.1574. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of f NPV exhibited significant heterogeneity, and f NPV decreased from the northeastern XGR to the southwestern XGR. The overall trend of the interannual f NPV in the XGR increased in a fluctuating manner during 2000–2019. The f NPV increased in 66.92% of the XGR and decreased in a relatively small proportion (18.21%) of the XGR.

Impacts of land conversion and management measures on net primary productivity in semi-arid grassland

ABSTRACT Ecological restoration measures implemented in China have profoundly impacted vegetation NPP. This study aimed to estimate the effects of the land conversion and management measures on the grassland ecosystem in semi-arid regions. Land use data were employed from 2000 to 2015 to compare land conversion and coverage changes in Xilingol grassland. Then, the contributions of land conversion and management policies were quantified by assessing the difference between actual NPP and climate-induced NPP changes. The results indicated that the grassland area had a net loss of 534.42 km2, and the net area of increased vegetation coverage was 74,683.05 km2. Furthermore, the total NPP increased by 8,010.73 Gg C·yr−1 (1 Gg = 109 g), of which the human activities, including grazing management measures (+6,809.40 Gg C·yr−1) and land conversion (45.72 Gg C·yr−1) contributed to 85.58% of the increase in NPP. Transformation from desert and farmland dominated grassland expansion and NPP increase, while urbanization and desertification caused large grassland reduction and NPP loss. The grazing management increased vegetation NPP in most regions except for some regions in the desert steppe and the farming-pastoral zone. Related policies should be further adjusted to strengthen the management of the desert steppe and farming-pastoral regions.

Evaluation of Climatic and Anthropogenic Impacts on Dust Erodibility: A Case Study in Xilingol Grassland, China

Aeolian dust is dependent on erosivity (i.e., wind speed) and erodibility (i.e., land surface conditions). The effect of erodibility on dust occurrence remains poorly understood. In this study, we proposed a composite erodibility index (dust occurrence ratio, DOR) and examined its interannual variation at a typical steppe site (Abaga-Qi) in Xilingol Grassland, China, during spring of 1974–2018. Variation in DOR is mainly responsible for dust occurrence (R2 = 0.80, p-value &lt; 0.001). During 2001–2018, DOR values were notably higher than those during 1974–2000. There was also a general declining trend with fluctuations. This indicates that the land surface conditions became vulnerable to wind erosion but was gradually reversed with the implementation of projects to combat desertification in recent years. To understand the relative climatic and anthropogenic impacts on erodibility, multiple regression was conducted between DOR and influencing factors for the period of 2001–2018. Precipitation (spring, summer, and winter) and temperature (summer, autumn, and winter), together with livestock population (June) explained 82% of the variation in DOR. Sheep and goat population made the greatest contribution. Therefore, reducing the number of sheep and goat could be an effective measure to prevent dust occurrence in Xilingol Grassland.

The influence of ecological restoration projects on cultural ecosystem services in the Xilin Gol Grassland

The influence of ecological restoration projects on cultural ecosystem services in the Xilin Gol Grassland

Land Resource Carrying Capacity in Xilin Gol Grassland Transects: A Perspective on Food Nutritional Demand

Food safety is an important issue for the development of the national economy and society. Studying regional food supply and demand from the perspective of land resource carrying capacity can provide new references for regional resource sustainability. This study uses the data from farmer and herdsmen household questionnaires, statistical data, land use data, and other sources to construct a land resource carrying capacity (LCC) assessment framework, targeting the food supply and demand of residents in representative areas, specifically the typical grassland pastoral areas, sandy pastoral areas and agro-pastoral areas on the Xilin Gol grassland transects. The three food nutritional indicators of calories, protein and fat were selected for analyzing the balance of land resource carrying capacity. We found that: 1) Along the Xilin Gol grassland, the main local food supply showed a shift from meat and milk to grains, vegetables and fruits. 2) From north to south along the grassland transects, the calorie intake increased gradually, while the intake of protein and fat was highest in pastoral areas and lowest in agricultural areas. 3) The overall land resource carrying capacity of the Xilin Gol grassland transects was in a surplus state, but the land carrying capacity of typical grassland pastoral area was higher than the two other types of areas. This study provides an empirical reference for the sustainable development of regional food nutrition.

Habitat filtering shapes the differential structure of microbial communities in the Xilingol grassland

The spatial variability of microorganisms in grasslands can provide important insights regarding the biogeographic patterns of microbial communities. However, information regarding the degree of overlap and partitions of microbial communities across different habitats in grasslands is limited. This study investigated the microbial communities in three distinct habitats from Xilingol steppe grassland, i.e. animal excrement, phyllosphere, and soil samples, by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. All microbial community structures, i.e. for bacteria, archaea, and fungi, were significantly distinguished according to habitat. A high number of unique microorganisms but few coexisting microorganisms were detected, suggesting that the structure of microbial communities was mainly regulated by species selection and niche differentiation. However, the sequences of those limited coexisting microorganisms among the three different habitats accounted for over 60% of the total sequences, indicating their ability to adapt to variable environments. In addition, the biotic interactions among microorganisms based on a co-occurrence network analysis highlighted the importance of Microvirga, Blastococcus, RB41, Nitrospira, and four norank members of bacteria in connecting the different microbiomes. Collectively, the microbial communities in the Xilingol steppe grassland presented strong habitat preferences with a certain degree of dispersal and colonization potential to new habitats along the animal excrement- phyllosphere-soil gradient. This study provides the first detailed comparison of microbial communities in different habitats in a single grassland, and offers new insights into the biogeographic patterns of the microbial assemblages in grasslands.