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Effect of Degradation Intensity on Grassland Ecosystem Services in the Alpine Region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

Author

Listed:
  • Lu Wen
  • Shikui Dong
  • Yuanyuan Li
  • Xiaoyan Li
  • Jianjun Shi
  • Yanlong Wang
  • Demei Liu
  • Yushou Ma

Abstract

The deterioration of alpine grassland has great impact on ecosystem services in the alpine region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, the effect of grassland degradation on ecosystem services and the consequence of grassland deterioration on economic loss still remains a mystery. So, in this study, we assessed four types of ecosystem services following the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment classification, along a degradation gradient. Five sites of alpine grassland at different levels of degradation were investigated in Guoluo Prefecture of Qinghai Province, China. The species composition, aboveground biomass, soil total organic carbon (TOC), and soil total nitrogen (TN) were tested to evaluate major ecological services of the alpine grassland. We estimated the value of primary production, carbon storage, nitrogen recycling, and plant diversity. The results show the ecosystem services of alpine grassland varied along the degradation gradient. The ecosystem services of degraded grassland (moderate, heavy and severe) were all significantly lower than non-degraded grassland. Interestingly, the lightly degraded grassland provided more economic benefit from carbon maintenance and nutrient sequestration compared to non-degraded. Due to the destruction of the alpine grassland, the economic loss associated with decrease of biomass in 2008 was $198/ha. Until 2008, the economic loss caused by carbon emissions and nitrogen loss on severely degraded grassland was up to $8 033/ha and $13 315/ha, respectively. Urgent actions are required to maintain or promote the ecosystem services of alpine grassland in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu Wen & Shikui Dong & Yuanyuan Li & Xiaoyan Li & Jianjun Shi & Yanlong Wang & Demei Liu & Yushou Ma, 2013. "Effect of Degradation Intensity on Grassland Ecosystem Services in the Alpine Region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(3), pages 1-8, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0058432
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058432
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ingraham, Molly W. & Foster, Shonda Gilliland, 2008. "The value of ecosystem services provided by the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System in the contiguous U.S," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 608-618, November.
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    1. Das, Amartya & Samanta, G.P., 2021. "Influence of environmental noises on a prey–predator species with predator-dependent carrying capacity in alpine meadow ecosystem," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 1294-1316.
    2. Shaswati Chowdhury & Jaan-Henrik Kain & Marco Adelfio & Yevheniya Volchko & Jenny Norrman, 2020. "Greening the Browns: A Bio-Based Land Use Framework for Analysing the Potential of Urban Brownfields in an Urban Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-30, August.
    3. Raju Rai & Yili Zhang & Basanta Paudel & Bipin Kumar Acharya & Laxmi Basnet, 2018. "Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics and Assessing the Ecosystem Service Values in the Trans-Boundary Gandaki River Basin, Central Himalayas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Mudassar Iqbal & Jun Wen & Muhammad Masood & Muhammad Umer Masood & Muhammad Adnan, 2022. "Impacts of Climate and Land-Use Changes on Hydrological Processes of the Source Region of Yellow River, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    5. Li, Dongqing & Hou, Lingling & Zuo, Alec, 2021. "Informal institutions and grassland protection: Empirical evidence from pastoral regions in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    6. Gang Li & Zhi Zhang & Linlu Shi & Yan Zhou & Meng Yang & Jiaxi Cao & Shuhong Wu & Guangchun Lei, 2018. "Effects of Different Grazing Intensities on Soil C, N, and P in an Alpine Meadow on the Qinghai—Tibetan Plateau, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, November.
    7. Jiang, Wei, 2017. "Ecosystem services research in China: A critical review," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 26(PA), pages 10-16.
    8. Hameeda Sultan & Wajid Rashid & Jianbin Shi & Inam ur Rahim & Mohammad Nafees & Eve Bohnett & Sajid Rashid & Muhammad Tariq Khan & Izaz Ali Shah & Heesup Han & Antonio Ariza-Montes, 2022. "Horizon Scan of Transboundary Concerns Impacting Snow Leopard Landscapes in Asia," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-22, February.
    9. Yin, Yantin & Hou, Yulu & Langford, Colin & Bai, Haihua & Hou, Xianyang, 2019. "Herder stocking rate and household income under the Grassland Ecological Protection Award Policy in northern China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 120-129.

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