Restoration of Species Richness in Abandoned Mediterranean Grasslands: Seeds in Cattle Dung

Abstract

Endozoochory has proven to be a highly effective mechanism in the dispersal of viable seeds in Mediterranean grasslands. We studied the effect of cattle dung application on species richness, particularly on the reintroduction of species lost after abandonment. Sown and control plots were monitored for 3 years after dung sowing. We found a significant increase in small‐scale richness, which may be attributed to the treatment, with the inclusion of species detected in the dung and in the grazed pasture. The differences in richness and floristic composition diminished over time. This experiment proves the potential utility of this treatment for the restoration of species richness in abandoned pastures, although supplementary steps are necessary, including further sowing and/or shrub cutting in subsequent years.

Efficiency of endozoochorous seed dispersal in six dry-fruited species (Cistaceae): from seed ingestion to early seedling establishment

“…The highest values were reached for crumbled pellets, perhaps due to their higher waterretention capacity (Traveset et al 2001; see also Malo and Sua´rez (1998) for similar results with Cistus laurifolius). In addition, seedling growth was not blocked by the presence of faecal material (see also Nchanji and Plumptre (2003) and Traba et al (2003) for other species). Faecal material may in fact confer greater vigour to seedlings due to the release of nutrients (Traveset et al 2001;Traveset and Verdu´2002), and we may have failed to detect differences because 20 days were insufficient time to decompose the manure into available nutrients for plants.…”

Do ungulates facilitate native and exotic plant spread?

“…Other researchers have investigated the potential for cattle to disperse seeds (Carpinelli et al, 2005;Cosyns et al, 2005a, b;Doucette et al, 2001;Gardener et al, 1993;Ocumpaugh et al, 1996;Radford et al, 2001; Traba et al, 2003); however, few studies have investigated the ability of native ungulates (elk and deer) to disperse viable seeds (Malo and Sua´rez, 1998;Malo et al, 2000;Milton and Dean, 2001;Myers et al, 2004;Vellend, 2002). We projected that native ungulates are also capable of dispersing large quantities of seeds (Fig.…”

“…Since that time, most research on the topic of seed dispersal has concentrated on fruit and their frugivore consumers and seed dispersers; however, some investigators have pursued this hypothesis. Of the few ecological studies that have studied seed dispersal by ungulates, most have occurred in the old world (Cosyns et al, 2005a, b;Couvreur et al, 2005;Gardener et al, 1993;Malo et al, 2000;Milton and Dean, 2001;Radford et al, 2001;Ramos et al, 2006;Traba et al, 2003).…”

Effects of ecological restoration on Orthoptera assemblages in a Mediterranean steppe rangeland

“…This led to a large number of ecological restoration projects, especially in aquatic environments: lakes (Beklioglu and Tan 2008;Papastergiadou et al 2010;Prato et al 2014), lagoons (Camacho et al 2012;Rodrigo et al 2013;Trabelsi et al 2013) and rivers (Hughes et al 2010;Trabucchi et al 2012;Ontiveros et al 2013). The numerous ecological restoration projects undertaken in terrestrial environments include forests (Pausas et al 2004;Puértolas et al 2010;Rey-Benayas et al 2010;Schirone et al 2011), wetlands (Mauchamp et al 2002), grasslands (Traba et al 2003), semiarid and arid ecosystems (Bonet 2004;Maestre and Cortina 2004;Le Houérou 2000;Josa et al 2012), and steppes (Maestre et al 2006).…”