Comprehensive Grassland Degradation Monitoring by Remote Sensing in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract

Grassland degradation is a complex process and cannot be thoroughly measured by a single indicator, such as fractional vegetation cover (FVC), aboveground biomass (AGB), or net primary production (NPP), or by a simple combination of these indicators. In this research, we combined measured data with vegetation and soil characteristics to establish a set of standards applicable to the monitoring of regional grassland degradation by remote sensing. We selected indicators and set their thresholds with full consideration given to vegetation structure and function. We optimized the indicator simulation, based on which grassland degradation in the study area during 2014–2018 was comprehensively evaluated. We used the feeding intensity of herbivores to represent the grazing intensity. We analyzed the effects of climate and grazing activities on grassland degradation using the constraint line method. The results showed degradation in approximately 69% of the grassland in the study area and an overall continued recovery of the degraded grassland from 2014 to 2018. We did not identify any significant correlation between temperature and grassland degradation. The increase in precipitation promoted the recovery of degraded grassland, whereas increased grazing may have aggravated degradation. Our findings can not only improve the scientific quality and accuracy of grassland degradation monitoring by remote sensing but also provide clear spatial information and decision-making help in sustainable management of grassland regions.

Patterns and determinants of woody encroachment in the eastern Eurasian steppe

“…Woody plant encroachment exhibited varied effects on dryland ecosystems at the global scale (Eldridge et al, 2011), but the decreasing FHVC and the increasing exposed soil fraction could change the spatial arrangement of vegetation into a more clumped and patchy distribution (Chopping et al, 2008;Schlesinger et al, 1990). In the eastern Eurasian steppe, the FVC changes derived from remote sensing observation, field observation as well as soil indices have reflected the recovery of herbaceous vegetation since 2000, but the recovery degree and recovery rates showed highspatial heterogeneity in local and regional scales (Lyu et al, 2020;Mu et al, 2012;Wittmer, Auerswald, Bai, Schufele, & Schnyder, 2010). Eckert, Hüsler, Liniger, and Hodel (2015) also revealed the conversion of herbs into tree cover in the forest and steppe ecotones with satellite observation in Mongolia from 2001 to 2009.…”

Quantitative Analysis of the Research Trends and Areas in Grassland Remote Sensing: A Scientometrics Analysis of Web of Science from 1980 to 2020

“…It provides ecological parameters for ecology studies because it utilizes multi-platform, multi-sensor, and multi-temporal satellite remote sensing data sources and ground observation data, through remote sensing inversion and data assimilation. Meanwhile, scale conversion is also important to obtain temporally continuous spatial ecological parameters of the same scale [6][7][8][9]. Furthermore, based on these ecological parameters, guided by ecological theories and combined with ecological models, many new ecosystem monitoring, evaluation, and management methods have been developed [10][11][12][13].…”

“…Through comprehensive analysis of high spatiotemporal resolution remote sensing data and ground survey data, the macro surveying speed of grassland resources has been significantly accelerated [14], and the accuracy and timeliness of grassland dynamic change monitoring have been improved [15]. The advantages of remote sensing technology are not only reflected in the active monitoring of grassland resources at a sizeable regional scale [6,8,9,[16][17][18][19], but also play an essential role in the adequate description of ecosystem structure [9], function [20], process [21], and dynamic cascade relationships [12,22]. Therefore, they facilitate revealing the mutual feedback relationship between ecosystem functions and services, achieving the optimization of ecosystem services and promoting sustainable development management of grassland ecosystem [3,16,23].…”

Effect of grassland degradation on soil quality and soil biotic community in a semi-arid temperate steppe

“…Grasslands are the largest terrestrial ecosystems on earth and it covers about 40% of the earth's surface, providing a large number of ecosystem services to human society (Hu et al 2016;Lyu et al 2020). Grasslands in China account for 11.8% of the global grassland area and play important roles in livestock production and environmental conservation (Dong et al 2012;Ren et al 2008).…”

“…Although numerous measures have been taken to restore the degraded grasslands (Guo et al 2018;Zhang et al 2019), one of the major issues is how to accurately assess the influence of grassland degradation (Zhang et al 2019). Grassland degradation causes the loss of biodiversity and leads to ecosystem function degradation (Gang et al 2014;Lyu et al 2020;Raiesi and Salek-Gilani 2020). Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms that influence grassland degradation on the changes in soil quality and biotic communities is important so as to develop effective solutions to restore the degraded grassland ecosystems (Lal 2015; Raiesi and Salek-Gilani 2020).…”