Developmental Instability and Fitness in Periploca laevigata Experiencing Grazing Disturbance

Changes in plant functional types in response to goat and sheep grazing in two semi-arid shrublands of SE Spain

“…had a higher relative frequency at intermediate levels of grazing. That finding is similar to those in previous studies, which examined the effect of grazing on the stress of Periploca, and reported lower levels of stress under moderate grazing than under low or heavy grazing (Alados et al, 2002).…”

Developmental instability of vascular plants in contrasting microclimates at ‘Evolution Canyon’

“…The effect of grazing, however, is complicated. Alados et al . (2002) found that plants from moderately grazed populations are developmentally more stable, as estimated by translational and floral asymmetry, than those from either heavily or lightly grazed populations.…”

Stress assessment of argan (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) in response to land uses across an aridity gradient: Translational asymmetry and branch fractal dimension

“…In several arid and semi-arid species, that stem growth strategy of grazed plants occurs as a defense against herbivory. Plants complete phenological phases at the beginning of the spring, when livestock grazing is concentrated on herbaceous plants, consequently they are better able to resist further herbivory (Esco´s et al, 1997;Alados et al, 2002Alados et al, , 2006. In heavily grazed Periploca laevigata, photosynthesis increases at the beginning of the spring more than it does in lightly grazed plants (Castro et al, 2003).…”