Changes in 12 dominant and sub-dominant species (relative biomass, %) with time, controlling for Jan–Aug precipitation (partial correlation, two-tailed test).

†Abbreviations for plant species: LC, Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel; SG, Stipa grandis P. Smirn.; AC, Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.; CS, Cleistogenes squarrosa (Trin.) Keng; KC, Koeleria cristata (L.) Pers; AS, Achnatherum sibiricum (L.) Keng; CK, Carex korshinskyi Kom.; AF, Artemisia frigida Willd.; AS2, Artemisia scoparia Waldst et Kit; AP, Artemisia pubescens Ledeb.; HA, Heteropappus altaicus (Willd.) Novopokr.; PP, Poa pratensis L.‡NS, P>0.05;*, P**, P¶Partial correlation analysis was not conducted because the species was not present in the plot.