Grazing regime alters plant community structure via patch‐scale diversity in semiarid grasslands

Selective grazing of livestock creates lightly and heavily grazed vegetation patches, which together contribute to the whole community in grasslands. The intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) predicts moderate intensity can increase species diversity. However, patchiness complicates predicted responses from ecological theory may influence how various management regimes affect biodiversity at scale. We examined effects regime on plant diversity, composition, aboveground net primary production (ANPP), soil compaction. Two (season-long continuous mowing alternated annually) seven levels were applied over past 10 yr. assessed α diversity within patches β across contributed plot these relationships responded both regime. further divided into nestedness replacement components plots. mixed grazing–mowing differed that former had a higher number palatable species, evenness, Shannon-Wiener plots, especially high intensities. did not differ total component was dominant In contrast, richness ANPP significantly between two regimes, though hardness under than Loss rare even low intensities, suggests selective patch formation conform with IDH. Our study indicates is more sustainable for long-term grassland by controlling creation patches. These findings, integrating α-β-γ patch-scale approaches, provide thorough evaluation terms sustainability conservation semiarid regions.