Positive grass diversity-productivity relationships and controlling factors along an elevation gradient in Central Asian alpine grasslands

The productivity-diversity relationship in grasslands is of great interest with regard to species loss in natural ecosystems, where species extinction is not random but directed. We carried out a three-year investigation from 2005 to 2007 along an elevation gradient in alpine grasslands of Central Asia in an area of 70 x 20 km2 at Bayinbuluk, Tianshan Mountains. We selected 9 sites (10 x10 m2) and 117 plots (1 x 1 m2) from 2460 to 3260 m a.s.l. with 100 m intervals of altitude. Species richness, productivity, soil characteristics, air temperature and relative humidity (May.August) were recorded. The relationship between plant diversity and productivity was significant and positive. We used ordination techniques such as Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) to examine the relationship between vegetation and the environmental factors. The results showed that plant species composition, species richness and productivity were significantly affected by air temperature, soil pH and relative humidity across the study area.