Grazing response in the vegetation communities of the Kamiesberg, South Africa: Adopting a plant functional type approach

Anderson, Pippin; Hoffman, Margaret

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.10.012

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Arid systems are thought to be generally tolerant to grazing (Milchunas et al, ). Our results support the notion that heavy grazing can have a significant impact on these communities (Anderson & Hoffman, ; Haarmeyer, Schmiedel, Dengler, & Bösing, ). The strong impact of goat grazing on this arid ecosystem may be due to a relatively short evolutionary history of heavy grazing, especially from introduced grazers (Cingolani et al, ; Milchunas et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Goat grazing reduces diversity and leads to functional, taxonomic, and phylogenetic homogenization in an arid shrubland

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Livestock production is an important activity in drylands. However, lack of adequate regulation of ranching activities can lead to the degradation of plant communities, which in turn can impact ecosystem functioning. In the arid ecosystems of north‐central Chile, unregulated goat grazing is widespread. Because the vegetation has a relatively short evolutionary history of grazing, it is expected to be highly susceptible to this activity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of goat grazing on plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic community structure by comparing 39‐year‐old grazing exclusion plots and unprotected plots in an arid shrubland in north‐central Chile. By integrating analyses of the impact of goat grazing on functional and phylogenetic diversity and dispersion, we studied the mechanisms behind goat impact and the potential consequences. Loss of functional and/or phylogenetic diversity can result in important losses in ecosystem function. As a measure of functional diversity, we recorded plant growth form, life span, and life form. We also reconstructed a phylogeny of all plant species found at the study site and determined the phylogenetic structure of the plant community in ungrazed and grazed areas. We found that goat grazing affected diversity and community composition, leading to taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic biotic homogenization and causing overall community impoverishment. Goats acted as a habitat filter, increasing functional convergence and promoting the establishment of exotics plants, which can lead to further losses of biodiversity, decreased ecosystem function and overall lower ecosystem stability. Our results indicate that sustainable management strategies are necessary to prevent the further degradation of these ecosystems.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Goat grazing reduces diversity and leads to functional, taxonomic, and phylogenetic homogenization in an arid shrubland

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The plant functional type refers to a vegetation group that consists of plants with similar functional traits that respond in a similar pattern to an environmental disturbance (Navarro et al, 2006). Relying on plant functional types is an effective means of studying plant diversity and soil erosion from the plot (Anderson and Hoffman, 2011) to the landscape scale (Navarro et al, 2006); however, certain details are lost in studies that focus on plant functional traits. Generally, plant functional traits increase with plant diversity in a community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of plant diversity on soil erosion for different vegetation patterns

Hou

Wang²,

et al. 2016

CATENA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Vegetation effectively prevents soil erosion. However the relationship between plant diversity and soil erosion remains ambiguous under various environmental conditions. To explore the role that plant diversity plays in soil erosion, this study was conducted in the Three-River-Source region, located in the hinterlands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. After examining 99 plots within the study area, and analyzing the soil 137 Cs inventory within the plots, we found that with a greater number of plants distributed within an aggregation pattern, there was greater interception of the soil particles by the vegetation patch. This phenomenon results in a more developed vegetation patch that can support greater vegetation coverage and higher plant diversity than it previously could. Although a positive correlation exists between plant diversity and vegetation coverage, the relationship between the extent of soil erosion and plant diversity is modulated by the vegetation pattern. When plants are distributed in a relatively homogeneous pattern, vegetation coverage decreases with increasing plant diversity, which leads to increased soil erosion. When plants are distributed between a homogenous and a heterogeneous pattern, no relationship is found between plant diversity and soil erosion. With a heterogeneous plant distribution, vegetation coverage increases with plant diversity, and soil erosion is inhibited under such conditions.

show abstract

“…Furthermore, for establishing new fences an evaluation system must be implemented. In this regard, a plant functional type approach can be adopted 29 , compiling all the existing experiences, the scant literature, grey literature, and technical reports. Also, bearing in mind that fencing is only an emergency solution, and comprehensive measures, such as herbivore control (both wild and domestic) are always preferable despite controversial.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing effectiveness of exclusion fences in protecting threatened plants

Lorite

Salazar-Mendías

Pawlak

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Overgrazing stands out as threat factors on biodiversity, being especially harmful in the Mediterranean, due to strong human pressure and an accelerated climate change acting synergistically. Fencing is a common tool used in conservation biology to tackle this problem. Advantages of fences are usually fast, intuitive, and easy to evaluate. However, disadvantages could also arise (increasing interspecific competition, disturbing habitat structure, limiting pollination, reducing dispersion). Together with management issues (maintenance, conflicts with stakeholders, and pulling effect). Effectiveness of fencing for conservation has been frequently assessed for animals, while it is almost a neglected topic in plants. We evaluated the outcome of fencing three threatened and narrow-endemic plants. Selected 5 populations were only partly fenced, which allowed comparing different variables inside and outside the fence. For evaluating the fencing effects, we sampled several habitats (vegetation cover, composition, density of target species), and target-species features (individual size, neighbouring species, and fruit-set). Fencing had strong effects on the habitat and on target-species individuals, showing contrasting responses at species and population level. Particularly, for Erodium cazorlanum, fence had a positive effect in one case, and negative in another. In Hormathophylla baetica effect was positive in all populations. Finally, fencing negatively affected Solenanthus reverchonii by increasing competition and limiting seed-dispersal. Fencing outcome was different in assessed species, highlighting the need to a case-by-case evaluation to determine the net balance (pros vs. cons), also its suitability and most favourable option (i.e. permanent vs. temporary fences).

show abstract

Grazing response in the vegetation communities of the Kamiesberg, South Africa: Adopting a plant functional type approach

Cited by 10 publications

References 41 publications

Goat grazing reduces diversity and leads to functional, taxonomic, and phylogenetic homogenization in an arid shrubland

Goat grazing reduces diversity and leads to functional, taxonomic, and phylogenetic homogenization in an arid shrubland

Effects of plant diversity on soil erosion for different vegetation patterns

Assessing effectiveness of exclusion fences in protecting threatened plants

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About