Interaction of disturbances in tallgrass prairie: A field experiment
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Authors: S. L. Collins
Date: 1987
Journal: Ecology
Volume: 68
Number: 5
Pages: 1243-1250
Summary of Methods: Collins conducted a field study to address the roles of fire, cattle grazing, and the interaction of these two disturbances on plant species abundance and community structure in a tallgrass prairie. Cover of the matrix-forming species Andropogon gerardii was significantly greater, while cover of the nonmatrix species Bromus tectorum was significantly lower, on the burned treatments than on the unburned treatments. Species richness increased with increasing disturbance intensity. Diversity, however, was lowest on the ungrazed + burned treatment and highest on the grazed + burned treatment. Burning significantly reduced species diversity on ungrazed treatments, and grazing significantly increased diversity on the burned treatment. The results emphasize the important role of interaction among disturbances on plant community structure in grasslands.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: community structure, disturbance regime, diversity, fire, grazing, oklahoma, tallgrass prairie
Annotation: "Moderate to heavy" grazing level is described as 1.4 ha/animal (on two 18.2 ha pastures).
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