Grazing livestock species composition influences community assembly and determines scale-dependent plant diversity

Grazing by domestic herbivores such as cattle and sheep is a major driver of grassland biodiversity. However, it remains unclear how livestock composition influences community dynamics and consequently shapes plant diversity across scales. Here, we conducted a five-year livestock grazing experiment with continuous in situ vegetation monitoring by manipulating the grazing ratio of cattle and sheep in a meadow steppe of northern China. We found that all mixed grazing of cattle and sheep can continuously improve the α and β diversity of plants. Analysis of species dynamics within permanent quadrats showed that the number of newly colonizing species gradually increased as the proportion of grazing cattle increased, leading to higher plant α diversity under cattle dominated grazing (CCS). By contrast, β diversity was higher under sheep-dominated grazing (CSS). Grazing effects on α diversity were mainly driven by shifts in community dominance, whereas β diversity responded to both community d..., , # Grazing livestock species composition influences community assembly and determines scale-dependent plant diversity

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.j3tx95xvk](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.j3tx95xvk)

## Description of the data and file structure (column and explanation)

### File: data.xlsx

**Description:** We have submitted the raw data. The data were obtained from four different livestock species composition treatments： CK (no grazing); CCS (cattle grazing intensity is twice that of sheep); CS (the grazing intensity of cattle and sheep is the same); CSS (sheep grazing intensity is twice that of cattle). Plant measurements include Richness, β diversity, community dominance, number of species colonization, number of species extinction, and community assembly process. Soil measurements include soil nitrogen, the quantity, and heterogeneity of soil-available nitrogen.

#### Key Variables

* Richness：number of species in quadrat
* β diversity：The average pairwise dissimilarity between quad..., ,

# 家畜物种组成调控群落组装并决定尺度依赖性植物多样性
牛羊等家养草食动物的放牧是驱动草原生物多样性的核心驱动因子之一。然而，当前仍不清楚家畜组成如何影响群落动态，并进而在不同空间尺度上塑造植物多样性。本研究在中国北方草甸草原开展了为期五年的家畜放牧控制实验，通过调控牛羊的放牧比例，结合连续原位植被监测开展相关研究。研究发现，各类牛羊混合放牧模式均可持续提升植物的α多样性（α diversity）与β多样性（β diversity）。对永久样方内物种动态的分析显示，随着放牧牛比例的提升，新定植物种的数量逐渐增加，进而在牛主导放牧处理（CCS）下实现更高的植物α多样性。与之相反，绵羊主导放牧处理（CSS）下的β多样性更高。放牧对α多样性的调控主要由群落优势度的转变所驱动，而β多样性则同时响应群落……

数据集DOI：[10.5061/dryad.j3tx95xvk](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.j3tx95xvk)

## 数据与文件结构说明（变量及释义）

### 文件：data.xlsx

**说明：** 本研究已提交原始数据。实验设置了4种不同的家畜组成处理梯度：CK（无放牧）、CCS（牛放牧强度为绵羊的2倍）、CS（牛羊放牧强度一致）、CSS（绵羊放牧强度为牛的2倍）。植物指标测定包含物种丰富度（Richness）、β多样性（β diversity）、群落优势度、物种定植数、物种灭绝数以及群落组装过程；土壤指标测定包含土壤全氮、土壤有效氮含量及其异质性。

#### 核心变量
* 物种丰富度（Richness）：样方内的物种总数
* β多样性（β diversity）：样方间的平均成对相异度……