Deer grazing changes seed traits and functions of grazing‐intolerant plants

Abstract

Grazing by ungulates can affect seed production in plants, and consequently seed recruitment into seed banks, which is a plant strategy to increase their resilience. The impact of grazing on seed quantity has been well studied; however, the impact of grazing on seed quality has received less attention, despite its role in determining the longevity of a seed bank. Here, we examined the impact of ungulate grazing on seed quality in plants, using two grazing‐intolerant grassland species (Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta and Geranium yesoense var. nipponicum). We found that grazing reduced seed length and weight, while increasing the germination rate. These changes in seed quality induced by grazing could reduce the persistence of seed banks and would thus seem to be an important mechanism involved in the impact of ungulate grazing on plant population dynamics.

Prediction of plant diversity under different stocking rates based on functional traits of constructive species in a desert steppe, northern China

“…LG would firstly affect the growth of dominant species and thus provide more living space for non-dominant species, which also contributed to the changes in the competitive advantage of S. breviflora. In addition, grazing significantly altered the biotic (community) and abiotic (soil) environment (Jiang et al, 2020;Yin et al, 2020;Zhang et al, 2022), and the alterations caused by long-term grazing would lead to changes in plant diversity (Shinoda et al, 2021).…”