Relationship between plant diversity and community stability in alpine mining areas

Plant diversity plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of ecological function. Based on field investigations and experimental analyses, artificial grassland plots with varying sowing times, adjacent natural grassland (CK), and open-pit coal mine dumps in the Muli mining area of Qinghai Province were selected as research subjects for this study. The characteristics of plant diversity and community stability were measured and analyzed, and the relationships between these factors and their influencing variables were evaluated. The results indicated significant differences in the vegetation community characteristics and plant diversity among the various grasslands. Coverage, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, soil total nitrogen, and soil total carbon were the highest when the growth period was three years. Plant diversity and community stability in the natural grassland were significantly greater than that in the artificial grassland and open-pit coal mine dumps. A significant positive correlation was observed between plant diversity and community stability, suggesting that plant diversity can serve as an index of community stability. The order of stability, from highest to lowest, was CK > 11a > 10a > 8a > 9a > 6a > 7a > 3a > 2a > 1a > 0a. Years were identified as the primary factors affecting plant diversity and community stability by altering the soil pH. These results elucidate the relationships and driving mechanisms between plant diversity and community stability in grasslands, providing a scientific basis for maintaining community stability in artificial grassland ecosystems in alpine mining areas.