Integrated Monitoring of Alpine Vegetation Types and its Primary Production
高寒植被类型及其植物生产力的监测

In this paper, species composition, biomass change pattern and differences of 2 types of alpine vegetations in the northeastern part of Qinghai were analyzed. Monitoring results showed that there were significant differences in soil humidity moisture and evaporation between Kobresia humilismeadow and Potentilla fruticosashrub which grew in the same regions with similar altitudes and precipitation but different topography. The species constitute 2 types of alpine vegetations which are different due to limitations of environmental factors, especially soil temperature and moisture. With respect to the general biogeography of the region, the Potentilla fruticosashrubs, dominated by Potentilla fruticosaand accompanied with Kobresia capillifolia, Kobresia pygmaes, Festuca ovinaand some forbs, are found on the northern slopes. The Kobresia humilismeadows, typical alpine meadow dominated by Kobresia humilisand accompanied with Elymus mutans, are widely distributed along the valley floor. The above-ground biomass of Kobresia humilismeadow is greater than that of Potentilla fruticosashrub. As for underground biomass (0-40 cm), both types of vegetations maintained relatively great values during the period from May to September, but the occurrence time of its peak value and the lowest value differs from each other for the 2 types of vegetations. The annual net underground production of Potentilla fruticosashrub is greater than that of Kobresia humilismeadow, whereas, the turnover value of underground production of Kobresia humilismeadow is greater than that of Potentilla fruticosashrub.