Extended Data Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of the sampling design.
From: Grassland degradation alters plant and soil biodiversity–multifunctionality relationships
At a specific site, three blocks were selected, and within each block a 30 × 30 m plot was established in both non-degraded and degraded grasslands. Within each plot, three 1 × 1 m quadrats were randomly chosen to conduct vegetation surveys and collect plant and soil samples (9 soil cores at 0-10 cm depth). Altitude map derived from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)-Digital Elevation Model (DEML)95. Drone images of contrasting non-degraded and degraded grasslands show that plant productivity and the proportion of grasses and sedges (for example, S. purpurea and K. humilis) decreases while the proportion of forbs (for example, L. nanum and S. chamaejasme) increases upon degradation. Photos were captured by Qinlu Li in Babao Town (37.86°N, 100.44°E, altitude 3663 m), July 2021. ND, non-degraded grasslands; DG, degraded grasslands.
