Species composition of an Arundinella hirta community under mowing conditions in the steppe region of Northeastern China

Abstract

To clarify the vegetation characteristics of Stipa baicalensis communities used for mowing, we investigated the composition of the vegetation and calculated phytoecological indexes for a S. baicalensis-shrub community under mowing conditions in the steppe region of Northeastern China. The community was comprised of 37 plant species, including a shrub, Prunus sibirica, and 36 perennial species, but no annual species. The dominant species was Arundinella hirta, followed by Cleistogenes squarrosa, Artemisia scoparia, Carex duriuscula, Potentitta chinensis, Prunus sibirica, Leymus chinensis and Stipa baicalensis in the order of dominance. Vegetation coverage, Shannon-Weaver's diversity index (H') and degree of succession (DS) were 91%, 3.7 bit and 209.4 DS, respectively. The summed dominance ratio of each species (y) can be described as an exponential function of its order of dominance (x) as follows : y = 64.8 exp (-0.11 x). The mown community under consideration differed from grazed communities in containing more species, in containing some erect form and branched form species and in lacking annual and trampling-tolerant species.