Primary Production and the Disappearance of Dead Vegetation on an Old Field in Southeastern Michigan

Wiegert, Richard G.; Evans, Francis C.

doi:10.2307/1937106

Cited by 278 publications

(151 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Differences in disappearance rates of litter from the undisturbed site, Agua Leche, the moderately grazed and burned site, Loma Alta and the heavily grazed and burned site, Loma Baja, were estimated with a litterbag experiment (Wiegert and Evans, 1964). The results of this experiment provided extra information on decomposition.…”

Section: Litter Disappearancementioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of grazing and burning on soil and plant nutrient concentrations in Colombian p�ramo grasslands

Hofstede

1995

Plant Soil

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The impact of extensive livestock farming on the physical and chemical characteristics of the volcanic soils and on the nutrient status of green plant tissues of neotropical alpine grasslands (p~amo) is studied. Soil and plant samples were taken over a one-year period at five sites with different agricultural (grazing and burning) management. In the undisturbed pAramo ecosystem, soil moisture (50-250%) and organic matter content are high (7-27%) and decomposition (11-35% yr -1) and element concentrations are low. Low temperatures (max < 10°C) and phosphorus fixation by the soil (5 mg P g-1 soil) determine the low mineralization and turn-over rates.Multivariate analysis of laboratory results indicates that the season of sampling and the agricultural practice are the most important explanatory factors for variation of soil characteristics. After long-term heavy grazing, soils have a higher bulk density and a lower moisture content. The outcome of a litterbag experiment confirms the hypothesis of higher decomposition rates at grazed sites. In the intermediate (wet-dry) season, conditions were somewhat better for plant growth but the system remained nutrient limited. Surprisingly, no relation between soil density, moisture or carbon content and concentrations of available nutrients in the soil is found. This is supported by the rather uniform nutrient concentrations in green plant tissue among the sites. It is concluded therefore that the effect of burning and grazing on p~amo soils is principally restricted to physical characteristics, and that differences in chemical characteristics of the soil do not cause differences in vegetation structure between grazed, burned and undisturbed sites.

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Section: Litter Disappearancementioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of grazing and burning on soil and plant nutrient concentrations in Colombian p�ramo grasslands

Hofstede

1995

Plant Soil

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“…the change are similar to those reported in other studies (Bocock, 1964;Bocock and Gilbert, 1957;Falconer, Wright and Beall, 1933;Olson, 1963;Shanks and Olson, 1961;Wiegert and Evans, 1964).…”

Section: Mass and Energy Considerationssupporting

confidence: 92%

“…This accumu lation of mass, thus energy, on the forest floor has never been reported to have any detrimental effect on the total productivity of the deciduous forest system. The rate of litter decay in old fields and forests has been extensively discussed (Bocock, 1964;Bocock and Gilbert, 1957;Falconer, Wright and Beall, 1933;Olson, 1963, Shanks andOlson, 1961;Wiegert and Evans, 1964).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest-prairie boundary energetics and secondary succession

Stoneburner

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“…The feeding range was determined by observing the area of significant grazing pressure. The dry weight of primary production within it was determined according to the methods described by Weigert & Evans (1964), and converted to the calorific equivalent by multiplying the ash-free dry weight by 4.5. The digestibility coefficient of the diet has been assumed to average 50% on the basis of determinations by Drożdż et al (1971) of the degree of assimilation achieved by water voles fed on grass and other plant material.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual and population energy budgets of the water vole

Ashby¹,

Vincent²

1976

Acta Theriol.

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., 1976: Individual and population energy budgets of the water vole. Acta theriol., 21,.Energy budges of individuals of the water vole Arvícola terrestris ctmphibius (Linnaeus, 1758) were computed from records of activity patterns and temperature experience in enclosures in the field and from measurements of the oxygen usage at differing temperatures, seasons and levels of activity in the laboratory. The proportion of the diel period spent outside the nest was constant at 25 8 /o from September to April, then increased to reach a peak of 38®/o in July and subsequently returned to the overwintering level. Strenuous activities occupied 15% of the time spent outside the nest. The ADMR of overwintering individuals of 180 g averaged 0.23 kcal/g/day. There was a slight net increase of ADMR in summer. Live trapping, microscopical study of faeces and sampling of the vegetation along 400 m of stream provided analyses of population dynamics, diet, and primary productivity within the feeding range. This extended no more than 1 m from the water's edge. It is estimated that energy assimilated was about 2000 Mcal/ha/ year of feeding range and in the order of 20% of its primary productivity. Secondary production was about 4®/e of the energy assimilated.[Univ. Durham, Dept. Zool., South Rd, Durham DH1 3LE, England],

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Primary Production and the Disappearance of Dead Vegetation on an Old Field in Southeastern Michigan

Cited by 278 publications

References 7 publications

The effects of grazing and burning on soil and plant nutrient concentrations in Colombian p�ramo grasslands

The effects of grazing and burning on soil and plant nutrient concentrations in Colombian p�ramo grasslands

Forest-prairie boundary energetics and secondary succession

Individual and population energy budgets of the water vole

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