Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on richness-dependent stability in Napahai plateau wetland

Abstract

Unique plateau wetlands in China provide essential ecosystem functions and services and influence the health, environment and security of the downstream regions. In recent years, these plateau wetlands have experienced significant anthropogenic disturbance, but studies that evaluate the effects of such disturbance on ecological stability are rare. Our study tested how three typical types of human-related activities affect plant richness and ecological stability in Napahai plateau wetland, Shangri-La, China. The results showed that the anthropogenic disturbance had a direct effect on richness, and an indirect effect on stability mediated by richness. Anthropogenic disturbance did not alter the positive relationship between plant richness and community stability, and the stabilizing effect of richness could be explained by statistical averaging, overyielding effect, and component population stability. Our study complements previous studies that tested the richness-stability relationships in synthesized assemblages with richness specifically manipulated and studies that introduced mowing treatment to mimic real anthropogenic disturbance. The results further suggest that necessary steps, such as anthropogenic disturbance mitigation and plant richness conservation, are urgently required for maintaining healthy plateau wetlands and for sustaining their ecosystem functions and services.Napahai plateau wetland, community stability, anthropogenic disturbance, richness-stability relationship, stabilizing mechanisms Citation:Li W, Tan R, Wang J, et al. Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on richness-dependent stability in Napahai plateau wetland. Chin Sci Bull, 2013, 58: 41204125,

Spatio-temporal Analysis of Anthropogenic Disturbances on Landscape Pattern of Tourist Destinations: a case study in the Li River Basin, China

“…at sites or patches, anthropogenic disturbances could become the crucial driving forces of soil erosion and vegetation degradation 10 . In recent years, due to the universality of and variability in human activities 11 , the intensity of anthropogenic disturbance, which includes resource destruction, ecological fragmentation and landscape degradation, is constantly increasing and exceeds the capacity of landscapes 12,13 . Therefore, recognizing the mode and intensity of anthropogenic disturbances and analysing the corresponding ecosystem fragmentation processes could make a large difference in the maintenance of ecosystem sustainability and integrity.…”

Land-use/land cover changes and their driving forces around wetlands in Shangri-La County, Yunnan Province, China

“…These data are essential for the success of efforts to determine effective ways to balance the relationship between human activities and preservation of land resources (Sairinen 2004;Hudson et al 2006;Dai et al 2012;de Freitas et al 2013;Gao et al 2013;Lin et al 2013). Wetlands provide essential habitat for wildlife, improve water quality and regulate biogeochemical cycles (Howard-Williams 1985;Gren et al 1994;Woodward & Wui 2001;Brander et al 2006;Mitsch & Gosselink 2007;Muangthong et al 2012;Xie et al 2012;Kaffashi et al 2013;Li et al 2013). Plateau wetlands are of particular importance (Li et al 2013).…”

“…Wetlands provide essential habitat for wildlife, improve water quality and regulate biogeochemical cycles (Howard-Williams 1985;Gren et al 1994;Woodward & Wui 2001;Brander et al 2006;Mitsch & Gosselink 2007;Muangthong et al 2012;Xie et al 2012;Kaffashi et al 2013;Li et al 2013). Plateau wetlands are of particular importance (Li et al 2013). In China, most plateau wetlands are located in the upstream regions of major rivers, including the Yangtze, Yellow and the Mekong.…”

“…In China, most plateau wetlands are located in the upstream regions of major rivers, including the Yangtze, Yellow and the Mekong. These wetlands directly or indirectly affect the health and environment of the downstream regions (Li et al 2013). As such, the wetlands in Shangri-La County are very valuable for ecological and scientific research.…”

“…Much attention has focused on the diversity of wild edible plants or their dynamics within such wetlands (Liu et al 2009;Liu & Constable 2010;Li et al 2011Li et al , 2013Ju et al 2013), but land-use changes, both inside and outside these areas, have received relatively little attention. Converting wetland into other land uses is common in forested or wetland areas and doing so has consequences beyond degradation.…”