%0 Journal Article %A Cuicui JIAO %A Guirui YU %A Nianpeng HE %A Anna MA %A Jianping GE %A Zhongmin HU %T The spatial pattern of grassland aboveground biomass and its environmental controls in the Eurasian steppe %D 2016 %R 10.11821/dlxb201605007 %J Acta Geographica Sinica %P 781-796 %V 71 %N 5 %X

In this study, we collected aboveground biomass (AGB) data by the harvesting method in the Eurasian steppe. We then discussed the spatial pattern of AGB, and correlations of AGB to its environmental controls by Meta-analysis. Our results mainly indicated that the spatial distribution of AGB had not only complex horizontal but also vertical zonality in the Eurasian steppe. Along a latitudinal gradient and an altitudinal gradient, the spatial variation in AGB was well characterized by an inverted U-shaped quadratic function, while a U-shaped quadratic function along a longitudinal gradient. In addition, the spatial variation in AGB was related to mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual solar radiation (MAR), Gravel content and pH in topsoil (0-30 cm) of the Eurasian steppe. However, mean annual precipitation (MAP) could explain the largest proportion of AGB variation of the Eurasian steppe. Finally, the spatial variation in AGB was well correlated with MAP in a Gaussian function. The main reason was that vegetation and environment held special characteristics in the Tibetan Plateau.

%U https://www.geog.com.cn/EN/10.11821/dlxb201605007