Abstract: Based on the TM images of typical grassland in Xilinhaote and the field investigations there, a classification system for the degraded grassland was established, and the yearly degradation of the grassland from 2002 to 2011 was predicted by using Markov process model. The prediction indicated that the areas of light and moderately degraded grasslands would be decreased, while that of heavily degraded grassland would be increased. By the end of 2011, the area of heavily degraded grassland would be 6861% of the total, and the proportion of light, moderately and heavily degraded grasslands would be 2∶2.6∶10, suggesting that the grassland degradation in Xilinhote would be quite serious, and countermeasures should be taken to lighten the degradation.

Key words: Natural product antifoulants, Marine natural product, Antifouling, Chemical ecology, Fouling organisms