Effects of Land Use Changes on the Plant Community Characteristics in the Wetlands of the Semi-Arid Regions

Human disturbance is the main driving factor of wetland vegetation degradation, and plant community changes can directly characterize process degradation. The wetlands in semi-arid region Songnen Plain perform important ecological functions, especially habitat waterbirds. Recently, succession has been accelerated by land use changes. In this study, we investigated variations undergoing (natural, mowing, light grazing + moderate heavy wetlands) western Plain. results showed that communities were significantly affected typical Calamagrostis angustifolia was dominant species natural wetlands, its dominance gradually decreased mowing or where Carex spp. Artemisia selengensis acting as species. height, density, biomass higher than those other whereas diversity richness lower. similarity index to ranged from 17.7–45.1%, being highest mowed lowest heavily grazed wetlands. linear regression further indicated negatively correlated with aboveground grasses positively forbs. Therefore, drove replacement changed characteristics diversity, maintenance linked variability functional strategies. their relationships be used for assessing effects degradation function response