AUTHOR=Ma Kaikai , Hou Qingqing , Xu Changlin , Chen Yanzhu , Yang Hang , Xu Jingjing , Yu Xiaojun 

TITLE=Initiation of rest-grazing during soil thawing improves interspecific relationships and stability of plant communities on alpine grassland

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1426626

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1426626

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Grazing management is essential to maintain the stability of grassland ecosystems.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>To determine the optimal rest-grazing period of alpine meadow, five rest-grazing periods were set based on soil thawing and plant re-greening in this study. The niche, interspecific relationships, and stability of plant communities at different rest-grazing periods were investigated.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Rest-grazing during soil thawing resulted in a small niche width and niche overlap of plants, overall positive interspecific associations, and a high stability of plant communities. Delayed rest-grazing time to plant re-greening resulted in a large niche width and niche overlap of plants, overall negative interspecific associations, and a low stability of plant communities.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>Rest-grazing in alpine meadows should begin as soon as possible to promote healthy and sustainable utilization of grasslands.</p></sec>