Effects of Prosopis flexuosa on soil properties and the spatial pattern of understorey species in arid Argentina

Rossi, Bertilde E.; Villagra, Pablo E.

doi:10.1658/1100-9233(2003)014[0543:eopfos]2.0.co;2

Cited by 52 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…As we supposed in our hypothesis, results show that natural regeneration of columnar cacti beneath isolated shrubs of thorny legume species is higher in relation to open areas. This suggests that common underlying mechanisms may be operating, including seed dispersal by animals under canopies, post-germination mortality of seedlings in open areas restricting them to areas under shrubs canopies; and amelioration of physical conditions and modification of soil nutrient levels beneath plant canopies (McAuliffe 1988;Rossi and Villagra 2003). Although columnar cacti apparently could depend on nurse plants for natural regeneration, their distribution beneath potential nurse plants is highly nonrandom.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial Associations, Size–Distance Relationships and Population Structure of Two Dominant Life Forms in a Semiarid Enclave of the Venezuelan Andes

Larrea-Alcázar

Soriano

2006

Plant Ecol

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The role of three thorny legume species as nurse plants and competitive relationships with columnar cacti were evaluated in a semiarid enclave of the Venezuelan Andes. Abundance and size of three columnar cacti species (Stenocereus griseus, Cereus repandus and Pilosocereus tillianus) under isolated shrubs of three thorny legumes species (Prosopis juliflora, Acacia farnesiana and A. macracantha) were recorded and compared with open areas. Using size -distance data we inferred the intensity of intra-and interspecific competition between both life forms in a ''cardonal'' (xeric zone) and ''espinar'' (mesic zone) of the enclave. Sixty-one columnar cacti were found beneath the three thorny legume species (92%), while only 5 cactus individuals were found in open areas (8%). Comparison of observed and expected number of cactus individuals shows that S. griseus and C. repandus are significantly associated with isolated shrubs of A. farnesiana and A. macracantha. Although P. juliflora contributed more than 40% of the total legume plant cover, the number of columnar cacti under its isolated shrubs was significantly lower than would be expected by chance. In all, 19 of 21 possible plant -plant combinations between and within columnar cacti and legume shrubs were recorded (espinar: 18, cardonal: 13, common combinations: 12). In both zones, intra-and interspecific combinations among columnar cacti species were relatively high (positive correlation between the sum of neighbour plant sizes and the distances separating them). Our results strongly suggest, at least for case of S. griseus and C. repandus, that these columnar cacti species require nurse plants for their establishment. The results on interference need still support from further research. We discuss the effects of plant -plant positive interactions on natural regeneration of these columnar cacti.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have analyzed the establishment of succulents under potential nurse plants (Valiente-Banuet and Ezcurra 1991;Flores-Martı´nez et al 1994;Rossi and Villagra 2003). Few of them have reported a lower number of beneficiaries than expected by chance .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Associations, Size–Distance Relationships and Population Structure of Two Dominant Life Forms in a Semiarid Enclave of the Venezuelan Andes

Larrea-Alcázar

Soriano

2006

Plant Ecol

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“…Prosopis acts as an environmental stabilizer and yields a variety of useful products for rural populations. This genus maintains ecosystem complexity by creating microhabitats and is a valuable food resource for both humans and animals Mares et al, 1977;Or and Ward, 2003;Rossi and Villagra, 2003). Domestic and wild herbivores can play a role in the endozoochorous dispersal of Prosopis seeds (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endozoochory by native and exotic herbivores in dry areas: consequences for germination and survival ofProsopisseeds

et al. 2008

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Mammalian herbivores can play a role in the endozoochorous dispersal of Prosopis seeds in the arid zones of Argentina, and the introduction of exotic mammals can change relevant parameters of the plant's reproductive ecology. Our specific goals were to quantify the seeds of Prosopis flexuosa, P. chilensis and P. torquata contained in the faeces of native [mara (Dolichotis patagonum), guanaco (Lama guanicoe)] and exotic [donkey (Equus asinus) and hare (Lepus europaeus)] mammals, and to determine the mortality, germination percentage and germination speed of seeds borne in faeces, compared with those collected from trees. In 2006, seeds were collected directly from trees or removed from mammal faeces. Seeds were counted and classified as apparently healthy or damaged. P. torquata and P. flexuosa seeds were found in the dung of guanaco, hare and mara, whereas only P. flexuosa seeds appeared in donkey faeces. P. chilensis seeds were only found in guanaco faeces. There was a notable relative abundance of seeds contained in small herbivore faeces in comparison to the large herbivores. The passage through the digestive tract of animals modified seed germination capacity and speed, with great variability between animal species. Guanacos had greater effects than donkeys on mortality, germination percentage and germination speed. Differences between the effects of both smaller-sized herbivores on seeds were much smaller.

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“…Silvopastoral or agroforestry using the combination of leguminous woody plants and tropical grasses has been mainly carried out in tropical and subtropical regions, where heat and lack of moisture is severe and application of chemical fertilizers is difficult and extensive research concerning these systems has revealed that leguminous tree species have positive effects on the yield and nutritional value of grasses under the canopies (Larbi et al 1996;Jordan 2004;Animut et al 2007;Pitman 2008;Jalonen et al 2013;Casals et al 2014) and also revealed the factors affecting them, such as soil nutrients (Palm and Sanchez 1991;Rossi and Villagra 2003;Ludwig et al 2004;Sitters et al 2013;Casals et al 2014;Dubeux et al 2014;Gea-Izquierdo et al 2014), microclimate (Miller et al 1998;Ludwig et al 2004;Fukuda et al 2009) and light environments (Cruz et al 1999;Ludwig et al 2004). In natural grasslands, such as savanna in Africa, interaction between grasses and woody plants, especially leguminous trees (Rossi and Villagra 2003;Treydte et al 2007;Treydte 2008) and the interaction among these plants and wild large herbivores or grazing livestock (Riginos and Grace 2008;Arnaud et al 2011;Treydte et al 2011) have also been systematically studied from an ecological point of view.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In natural grasslands, such as savanna in Africa, interaction between grasses and woody plants, especially leguminous trees (Rossi and Villagra 2003;Treydte et al 2007;Treydte 2008) and the interaction among these plants and wild large herbivores or grazing livestock (Riginos and Grace 2008;Arnaud et al 2011;Treydte et al 2011) have also been systematically studied from an ecological point of view. From this research, many useful findings were obtained for silvopastoral management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influences of leguminous tree species, Albizia julibrissin Durazz. on growth and feed component characteristics of cool‐season grass, Dactylis glomerata L. beneath the canopy in Japan's temperate zone

Fukuda

2017

Grassland Science

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To evaluate the capacity of the deciduous leguminous tree, Albizia julibrissin Durazz. as a fertilizing or shading tree for cool‐season grasses, I investigated its effects on the quantitative and qualitative growth performance of Dactylis glomerata L. from germinated seedlings to adult plants, and on the changes in vegetation under no fertilization conditions in Japan's temperate zone. Height, yield and nutritional contents of D. glomerata beneath and beyond the canopies were compared over 4 years. The plant height and dry matter yield were higher beneath the canopy than beyond the canopy for both the first and the second crops. The nutrient differences between the two locations were larger for the second crop than the first crop. Total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crude protein (CP) were higher beneath the canopy and fibrous components were conversely higher beyond the canopy for the second crop. The TDN yield and CP yield were higher beneath the canopy for both the crops. Weed invasion was suppressed beneath the canopy. These results suggest that the growth of D. glomerata was promoted beneath the canopy of A. julibrissin and that the environment beneath the canopy was more suitable for the cool‐season grass D. glomerata in Japan's hot summers. This is the first demonstration showing the possibility of sustainable grassland production using the deciduous leguminous tree, A. julibrissin and D. glomerata in the cool temperate zone.

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Effects of Prosopis flexuosa on soil properties and the spatial pattern of understorey species in arid Argentina

Cited by 52 publications

References 24 publications

Spatial Associations, Size–Distance Relationships and Population Structure of Two Dominant Life Forms in a Semiarid Enclave of the Venezuelan Andes

Spatial Associations, Size–Distance Relationships and Population Structure of Two Dominant Life Forms in a Semiarid Enclave of the Venezuelan Andes

Endozoochory by native and exotic herbivores in dry areas: consequences for germination and survival ofProsopisseeds

Influences of leguminous tree species, Albizia julibrissin Durazz. on growth and feed component characteristics of cool‐season grass, Dactylis glomerata L. beneath the canopy in Japan's temperate zone

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