Distribution of Stipa purpurea steppe in the Northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (China)

The aims of this study were to examine the spatial distribution pattern of Stipa purpurea steppe and to elucidate their possible correlation with environmental factors, by means of multivariate quantitative analysis. Two data sets were subjected to the Two-way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN), the community similarity analysis and the Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). The distribution pattern of Stipa purpurea steppe showed obvious geographical heterogeneity in different regions and some homogeneity in the same region. And the altitude, longitude and latitude were the three major environmental factors affecting Stipa purpurea steppe's distribution.