Within-species diversity in natural populations of Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens from four different-aged pastures
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Authors: L. W. Aarssen, and R. Turkington
Date: 1985
Journal: Journal of Ecology
Volume: 73
Number: 3
Pages: 869-886
Summary of Methods: Aarssen and Turkington studied the effects of four pasture ages, seeded in 1914, 1939, 1958, and 1977, on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of three plant species (Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens), under similar grazing management. Two of the three species studied (Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens) decreased in size with increasing pasture age, possibly as a response to grazing pressure, as larger plants tend to be grazed before smaller plants. Plants from older pastures generally flowered before plants from younger pastures, which may be a response to plant community competition; plants that seed sooner may be able to occupy seedling sites first. In general, the growth and development of plants tended to be more variable in younger pastures and less variable in older pastures, and the reduced variation may be due to selection of more grazing and competition resistant plants over time.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types: Other (includes Forest and Eastern)
MLRA Ecoregions: 10 Central Rocky and Blue Mountain Foothills
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: holcus lanatus, lolium perenne, trifolium repens, pasture age, grazing, genetic selection
Annotation: Plants from the different aged pastures were transplanted to individual pots at an outdoor field station near the original pastures in May. Transplanting to individual pots, in one location, allowed researchers easier access to all target plants and eliminated the variation in environmental characteristics between pastures. No grazing intensity was listed. The authors note that grazing management for pastures has been similar in all years since their seeding. Fifteen vegetative and floral characteristics were measured on each sampled clone during one growing season.
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