Predicting plant species' responses to grazing
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Authors: P. A. Vesk, and M. Westoby
Date: 2001
Journal: Journal of Applied Ecology
Volume: 38
Number: 5
Pages: 897-909
Summary of Methods: The consistency of plant species response to livestock grazing for the purpose of predicting vegetation dynamics and identifying plant functional types and traits was examined. Research and conclusions were formed by analyzing the results from 35 published studies from across Australia that examined data on species composition changes from grazing using a data set of 1,554 grazing responses from 829 species. This study examined two basic questions 1) what shared responses do species exhibit from grazing disturbance and 2) what are the central ranges of among-species variation to grazing disturbance. Grazing gradients across several geographical locations and various range indices were included in the analysis in addition to seasonal distribution and mean annual rainfall data.
Article Summary / Main Points: Analysis determined 324 species occurred on two or more response lists and found that 41% of those responded inconsistently to grazing while the remaining 59% responded consistently. Grazing at lower rainfall showed that vegetation response was more likely to decrease compared with grazing at higher rainfall sites. Grazing at sites where wet seasons temperatures are cooler exhibited an increase in forbs compared to sites were wet season temperatures are hotter. There is very little support that the variations in species responses are due to the differences in alternative forage availability. Vegetation direction of response can be reliably predicted roughly 75% of the time at a continental scale.
Vegetation Types: All Vegetation Types
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Australia Rangelands Grazing intensity
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: australia, consistency, ecological synthesis, grazing intensity, increaser, range condition, vegetation change, vegetation response
Annotation: The results of this study are readily applicable to Australia. These findings do present an interesting question about the differences in how a specific species respond to disturbances (e.g. grazing), in a specific area and how there maybe inconsistencies in our knowledge and understanding.
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