Application of a grazing model to predict heather moorland utilization and implications for nature conservation

Simpson, Ian A.; Kirkpatrick, Alex; Scott, Louis; Gill, JenniferA; Hanley, Nicholas; Macdonald, Angus

doi:10.1006/jema.1998.0211

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Bakker and Berendse, 1999;De Graaf et al, 1998;Hutchings and Booth, 1996), together with the application of additional models where appropriate (e.g. Simpson et al, 1998) to forecast implications for attributes of the system other than just biodiversity change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prediction of plant diversity response to land-use change on Scottish agricultural land

Wilson

Abernethy

Murphy

et al. 2003

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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Surveys of 87 sites within nine locations on Scottish agricultural land, during 1995-1997, recorded 335 species of vascular plants and 95 bryophyte species, within 31 recognisable plant communities. Multivariate analysis placed the vegetation into five main vegetation types, with differing plant species richness (S: number of species per 100 m 2 ). These were upland grassland (mean S = 37); mesotrophic semi-improved grassland (mean S = 25); mire/heath vegetation (mean S = 22); intensive grassland (mean S = 12); and arable land and weed communities, including set-aside (mean S = 9).Management intensity was a good predictor (R 2 = 0.729) of vegetation type, with low intensity being typical of upland grassland, and high intensity typical of arable vegetation. The data were used to develop and test a set of minimal linear models of plant diversity response to land-use changes, operating at field scale, under the agro-geo-climatic conditions of mainland Scotland. The models utilised predictor variables drawn from a suite of functional vegetation attributes, environmental data, and management information. All-plant-species S was well predicted at quadrat level (i.e. within field, excluding margins) by three models with high R 2 values (0.82-0.93) utilising management variables such as crop-type, livestock density, time since last cultivation; vegetation state variables such as bryophyte cover, sward height, litter cover; and environmental variables such as soil P content. Bryophyte S was well predicted by four models with high R 2 values (0.83-0.92). Bryophyte percentage cover was the most important predictor variable in these models. Vascular plant species S was less well predicted than either all-plant-species or bryophytes-only models. The models can be used to assess the implications of land-use change scenarios, and to aid management decisions to help to maintain plant diversity within the Scottish agricultural landscape.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prediction of plant diversity response to land-use change on Scottish agricultural land

Wilson

Abernethy

Murphy

et al. 2003

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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“…The use of outlying rangelands for domestic herbivore grazing is a controversial agricultural practice in many areas (Oesterheld et al 1992, Simpson et al 1998. Defining sustainable levels of grazing is complex, as livestock regimes (i.e.…”

Section: Future Outlook -A Management-driven Research Agendamentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the ecological impacts of extensive sheep grazing in Iceland

Marteinsdóttir¹,

Barrio²,

Jónsdóttir³

2017

IAS

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The sustainability of sheep grazing in Iceland has been repeatedly questioned as in some areas high stocking rates have been associated with extensive soil erosion and ecosystem degradation. We synthesized all available information on the effects of sheep grazing on vegetation, soil properties and other organisms in the rangelands of Iceland, with special focus on the grey literature. We compiled 347 documents, but only 44 contained extractable data, reporting on 16 studies. The scarcity of studies prevented us from drawing general conclusions for most ecological variables across environmental conditions, but some consistent trends were found. The extent of bare ground was significantly higher in grazed areas and grazing affected plant community structure. The potential for increased soil erosion in grazed areas remains a problem in Icelandic rangelands. A better understanding of the ecological impacts of sheep grazing is required to inform sustainable grazing practices adapted to the local conditions of this region.Keywords: extensive grazing, rangeland, soil erosion, sustainable management, tundra YFIRLIT Áhrif sauðfjárbeitar á íslensk vistkerfiSjálfbaerni sauðfjárbeitar á Íslandi hefur oft verið dregin í efa enda tengja margir beit við mikla jarðvegseyðingu og hnignun vistkerfa. Hér tökum við saman þaer rannsóknir sem birtar hafa verið um áhrif sauðfjárbeitar á vistkerfi íslenskra úthaga. Alls fundust 16 rannsóknir, birtar í 44 skjölum, flest á skýrsluformi. Fyrir flestar vistfraeðibreytur voru rannsóknirnar of fáar til að draga maetti almennar ályktanir útfrá þeim. Safngreining (e. meta analysis) sýndi þó að beit hefur áhrif á uppbyggingu plöntusamfélaga og eykur rof í gróðurþekjunni. Úthaginn verður þar af leiðandi viðkvaemari fyrir jarðvegsrofi. Ljóst er að afla þarf betri þekkingar á áhrifum beitar á vistkerfi íslenskra úthaga svo tryggja megi sjálfbaera sauðfjárbeit sem haefa aðstaeðum á hverju svaeði fyrir sig.

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“…Poorly formulated policy instruments and incentives may distort the allocation of resources unintentionally. Simpson et al [1998] suggest that high stocking rates are caused by incentives to graze moorland to achieve profit maximisation, encouraged by support from the CAP. They indicate that increases in the ewe flock across the Northern Isles (in Orkney from 37 000 in 1983 to nearly 55 000 in 1992, and in Shetland from 116 000 in 1982 to 156 000 in 1993) was in response to the EU's sheep meat regime introduced in the early 1980's.…”

Section: Insert Figure 5 About Herementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The model developed by Simpson et al [1998] crucially relates heather productivity and survival to varying intensities of the management variable (in this case stocking rate). Reductions in stocking rate can then be used to target farmers who are able to manage heather sustainably under, say, a management agreement.…”

Section: Economic Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This then enables the specific costs to the producer to be calculated based on opportunity cost pricing procedures. In the example described above Simpson et al [1998] suggest that in order to meet conservation guidelines for heather conservation ewe stocking rates will have to be reduced to between 13 and 91% on Orkney and between 5 and 89% on Shetland. They report that such a reduction would in most cases result in major financial losses to farmers who would need to be compensated if they were to comply with their recommendations.…”

Section: Economic Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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