Effect of grazing intensity on clonal morphological plasticity and biomass allocation patterns of Artemisia frigida and Potentilla acaulis in the Inner Mongolia steppe

摘要

Abstract Morphological traits and biomass allocation patterns of Artemisia frigida and Potentilla acaulis under different grazing intensities were studied at the Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (43°26'‐44°08'N, 116°04'‐117°05'E). The internode length, branching intensity and biomass allocation responded significantly to grazing intensities. Artemisia frigida had the longest and the shortest internode length under no grazing and moderate grazing respectively. Potentilla acaulis had the longest internode length under light grazing and its internodes shortened significantly under heavy grazing. Branching intensities of both species rose with increasing grazing intensity. Population total biomass in Artemisia frigida decreased while that in Potentilla acaulis decreased firstly and then increased with increasing grazing intensity. The above‐ground biomass and root/shoot ratio in Artemisia frigida decreased significantly with increasing grazing intensity, w...