Spatial heterogeneity of regetation and productivity in semi-natural grassland

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1. At the semi-natural grasslands different in grazing intensity, which are located in Nishinasuno, Tochigi, Japan, vegetation surveys were carried out. Surveys to determine the succession after artificial disturbances such as fire, cutting and different grazing intensities have been carried out during the past six years. Data obtained during the seven years were analyzed based on beta-bimomial distribution. The analyse clarified that a strong intensity of grazing made grassland vegetation more heterogeneous because in the grassland with a strong grazing intensity, clonal plants which widely dispersed dominated. Clonal plants makes vegetation more heterogeneous compared with seed-dispersal plants. This result was submitted to GRASSLAND SCIENCE for publication. (3) Based on the surveys mentioned above, a lattice model describing the spatial pattern of the plant community was tried. (4) Soil carbon/nitrogen in the grassland were analysed to determine the spatial pattern using a C/N analyser purchased in this research project.2. A series of grassland survey has been carried out at the Tohoku National Agricultural Research Center. Results obtained during these four years were analyzed and documented. Dings on grazing pasture made vegetation more heterogeneous, changed species composition, and made species diversity high.