Biomass and Climate Data from Inner Mongolia Grassland, 1980-1989

Bi-weekly above-ground live biomass measurements and monthly climate data were recorded from 1980 to 1989 at the Inner Mongolia Grassland Research Station within the Xilingol Biosphere Reserve. The dataset focuses on the Leymus chinense steppe, providing peak biomass averages and calculated above-ground net primary production (ANPP). These time-series data document ecological dynamics on a cold desert steppe used for grazing.

Use Cases

• Modeling grassland net primary production based on bi-weekly biomass measurements.
• Analyzing climate-vegetation interactions using paired monthly climate records from 1978-1989.
• Benchmarking ecological models for cold desert steppe ecosystems against historical biomass data.
• Studying temporal biomass dynamics of Leymus chinense during the growing season.

Strengths

• Provides a decade-long time series (1980-1989) of bi-weekly biomass measurements.
• Includes calculated mean ANPP (248.63 g/m2/yr) for Leymus chinense steppe.
• Pairs ecological data with long-term monthly and annual climate records (1978-1989).
• Data files have been checked for accuracy and match the original 1996 publication.

Limitations

• Dataset provides data only for Leymus chinense steppe; Stipa grandis steppe data is described but not included.
• Column names and exact row counts are not specified in the available metadata.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist across platforms (1989 vs. 2026), indicating metadata inconsistency.

Provenance

Source

Inner Mongolia Grassland Research Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Collection Method

Field measurements recorded bi-weekly during growing seasons.

Time Range

1978-1989

Freshness

2026-04-09 23:40:26.279478

Geography

Xilingol Biosphere Reserve, Inner Mongolia, China