Spatio-temporal patterns of herbage availability and livestock movements: A cross-border analysis in the Chinese-Mongolian Altay

摘要: Due to increasing population and the recent implementation of policies intensify use land water resources, transhumant pastoral systems in Chinese-Mongolian Altay-Dzungarian region are rapidly changing, leading modifications herd size, composition spatial distribution livestock grazing. This may have major consequences for supply quality rangeland biomass. Despite similar topographic settings, socio-political framework Chinese Mongolian pastoralists differs significantly, differences utilization. To substantiate these claims, long-distance transhumance routes, frequency pasture changes, daily grazing itineraries size pastures were recorded by means GPS tracking cattle goats on 1,535 (China) 1,396 (Mongolia) observation days. The status quo main seasonal was captured measuring herbage offer its nutritive value 869 sampling spots. In region, small ruminant herds covered up 412 km grazed nine per year (China). Mongolia, herds’ average duration stay at an individual longer than China, particularly spring autumn. Herbage allowance onset a period (kg dry matter sheep unit day) ranged from 34/17 91/95 (China/Mongolia). Comparing crude protein phosphorous concentrations herbage, highest measured summer pastures, whereas determined autumn winter pastures. Based our data, we conclude that regulation animal numbers access seemingly maintained productivity especially high altitudes. However, this policy prohibit flexible adaptation sudden environmental constraints. contrast, stocking densities before flowering herbaceous plants negatively affected