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Three-Dimensional Framework of Vigor, Organization, and Resilience (VOR) for Assessing Rangeland Health: A Case Study from the Alpine Meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

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Abstract

Rangeland health assessments play an important role in providing qualitative and quantitative data about ecosystem attributes and rangeland management. The objective of this study is to test the feasible of a modified model and visualize the health in a three-dimensional model. A modified Costanza model was employed, and eight indicators, including the biomass, biodiversity, and carrying capacity [associated with the vigor, organization, and resilience (VOR)] were applied. An entropy method was also developed to calculate the weight of each indicator, and a three-dimensional framework was applied to visualize the indicators and health index. The conceptual model was demonstrated using data from a case study on the alpine rangeland of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, one of the globally important grassland biomes being severely degraded by natural and human factors. The health indices of four grassland plots at different levels of degradation were calculated using a modified approach to measuring their VOR. The results indicated that the least disturbed plot was relatively healthy compared to the other plots. In addition, the health indices presented in the three-dimensional VOR framework decreased in a consistent manner across the four plots along the disturbance gradients. Such rangeland health assessments should be integrated with management efforts to insure their long-term sustainable use.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2012BAC01B02) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China (201209033).The authors wish to express their gratitude to the reviewers and editors for their time and effort. We also wish to express our gratitude to Qinghai University for providing the experimental site.

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekou Wai Street, Beijing, 100875, China

    Yuan-yuan Li, Shi-kui Dong, Lu Wen, Xue-xia Wang & Yu Wu

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  1. Yuan-yuan Li
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  2. Shi-kui Dong
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  3. Lu Wen
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  4. Xue-xia Wang
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  5. Yu Wu
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Correspondence to Shi-kui Dong.

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Li, Yy., Dong, Sk., Wen, L. et al. Three-Dimensional Framework of Vigor, Organization, and Resilience (VOR) for Assessing Rangeland Health: A Case Study from the Alpine Meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. EcoHealth 10, 423–433 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-013-0877-8

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