Silvopastoralism in the Alps: Native plant species selection under different grazing pressure

Mayer, A.; Huovinen, Christine

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2006.09.015

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Only a reduced community of small-to-medium-sized free-living herbivores has survived modern man in most temperate zones of Europe. Large grazers subsist only as livestock (Mayer and Huovinen, 2007). Populations of the few remaining browser species in large parts of North America and Europe, particularly roe deer Capreolus capreolus L. in Europe and White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus L. in the United States, have increased over the last century and are still increasing (Milner et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large-scale reduction of ungulate browsing by managed sport hunting

Hothorn

Müller

2010

Forest Ecology and Management

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large-scale reduction of ungulate browsing by managed sport hunting

Hothorn

Müller

2010

Forest Ecology and Management

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“…Consistent with other studies (Hirata et al . 2008a, 2008b; Mayer & Huovinen 2007), cattle tended to select mainly grasses when available. In a study conducted in a young conifer plantation in Japan the cattle were found to forage in total on 118 species or species groups, while only 10 species or species groups received the majority of the bites, and a grass species was the most-selected plant species (Hirata et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant species selection by free-ranging cattle in southern Bolivian tropical montane forests

et al. 2010

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Abstract:The frequency of selection of functional groups and plant species by free-ranging cattle foraging in a diverse environment and its changes during the dry and the following prehumid seasons were investigated using direct observations and bite counting. The study was conducted at two sites in the Bolivian-Tucuman montane forests in southern Bolivia, by including datasets of a total of 16 animals. Across both study sites and the entire observation period (May to October/November), the cattle were found to select a broad spectrum of plant species from different functional groups. However, just a limited number of species made up a considerable contribution to overall plant selection. The functional group of the graminoids was selected most frequently, but their contribution to plant selection decreased significantly from 63.5% of total bites in May to 15.9% in September/October, in accordance with a decrease in availability. Selection of woody plants (shrubs and tree parts, the latter mainly in the form of leaf litter and fruits) increased with time, reaching its peak at the beginning of the prehumid season, while the herbs showed a curvilinear pattern of selection which was highest in August. Plant species belonging to the functional groups of ferns, climbers and epiphytes were also selected by the cattle, but generally at low relative proportions. Plant selection might be influenced by temporal differences in nutritional quality and availability of the preferred plant species and functional groups. Sampling behaviour seems to be the most likely reason for the inclusion of a broad range of plant species with overall low contribution to plant selection.

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“…Other studies also revealed cattle preferences for grass species (Mayer & Huovinen, 2007;Pordomingo & Rucci, 2000). This is one explanation for the selection of habitats with high abundances of Poaceae.…”

Section: Role Of Foraging Behaviour and Diet Selectionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Apart from forage quality, resource selection by large herbivores also relates to other factors like forage quantity, topography, physical constraints, stocking density, distribution of dung and sites attractive to cattle as well as rumen condition, individual experiences and the degree of adaptation of a certain breed to habitat conditions (Bao et al, 1998;Distel et al, 1995;Ganskopp et al, 2000;Mayer & Huovinen, 2007;Provenza, 2008). Since all animals involved in our field trial stem from pastures on which they have been exposed to habitat conditions comparable to the study area, we assume our results reliably represent cattle habitat selection characteristic for grazing floodplain pastures.…”

Section: Patterns Of Habitat Usementioning

confidence: 99%