Abstract: Understanding the spatial distribution of species in plant communities is important for explaining community succession under different use modes. Here, we investigated the spatial distribution of species and communities under three different use modes (grazing, mowing, and fence) in Hulun Buir meadow grassland in Inner Mongolia by using exponential function based on field survey data. The results showed that the patterns of species distribution well fitted the law of exponential function under all modes. Compared with control, grazing increased and mowing reduced community spatial heterogeneity. The number of species with higher species heterogeneity index than the community heterogeneity index increased under mowing and grazing. Mowing and grazing increased or decreased species frequency. For example, the frequency of Cleistogenes squarrosa was 0.010 in exclosure, 0.151 in mowing and 0.521 in grazing. The frequency of Artemisia dacunculu was 0.755 in exclosure, 0.132 in mowing and 0.028 in grazing.

Key words: overwintering ground, climate change, community pattern, diversity.