The impact of livestock grazing on the spatial pattern of vegetation in north-eastern Patagonia, Argentina

Funk, Flavia Alejandra; Peter, Guadalupe; Leder, Cintia Vanesa; Loydi, Alejandro; Kröpfl, Alicia; Distel, Roberto Alejandro

doi:10.1080/17550874.2018.1473519

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The negative effects of cattle on perennial grasses and mosses were greatly studied in similar systems (Peter et al, 2013;Funk et al, 2018), and also its positive effects on annual plants development (Beever et al, 2006) agree with our findings. Even though the bare soil surface in patches was similar between grazing treatments, the functional group that 'covered' the rest of the surface was singularly different.…”

Section: Grazing Effects On Patch Vegetation Coversupporting

confidence: 89%

Seed rain and soil seed bank compensatory roles on Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth seedling recruitment in ungrazed and grazed sites

2022

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In semi-arid lands, vegetation is distributed in shrub patches immersed in a less vegetated interpatch matrix. Grazing affects perennial grass seed bank through a decrease in seed rain and an increase in seed predation and soil compaction. Nevertheless, some species with anchorage mechanisms in their seeds might overcome this, such as Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth. This is an important species in grazing paddocks because it has an intermediate palatability and its relatively tolerant to grazing. These characteristics allow N. tenuis to increase its abundance in grazed sites. Our objective was to assess how grazing affects the key palatable species from seeds to seedlings: i.e., seed rain, soil seed bank, and seedling recruitment in different microsites along a windward-leeward transect across shrub canopy. We hypothesized that: (1) the negative effects of grazing on N. tenuis fructification are reflected in its seed rain, soil seed bank, and seedling recruitment, especially in interpatches; (2) Nassella tenuis seed rain reduction, soil compaction by cattle in grazed sites, and removal of seeds by wind decrease its soil seed bank, especially in microsites exposed to the predominant wind; and (3) the decrease in N. tenuis soil seed bank and cover increase in annual species in grazed sites have negative effects on its seedling recruitment, especially in microsites exposed to predominant wind. We placed seed traps, collected soil samples, and monitored seedling recruitment in different locations around shrub canopy to address our hypotheses. Also, we established a manipulative experiment in which we sow N. tenuis seeds and followed its recruitment in different microsites. We compared the seed rain, soil seed bank, natural seedling recruitment, and sown seeds recruitment of N. tenuis between grazed and ungrazed sites. We analyzed differences between microsites along a windward-leeward transect across shrubs patches. Seed rain and soil seed bank had the same density in patches and interpatches both in ungrazed and grazed sites. But seed rain was higher, and soil seed bank was lower in ungrazed sites than in grazed sites. Almost all under-canopy microsites showed greater soil seed bank abundance and natural seedling recruitment in ungrazed sites. Sown seeds recruitment was the same between grazed and ungrazed sites, but it showed protective effects of shrubs in leeward microsites under grazed sites. As a conclusion, seed rain and soil seed bank are complementary under grazed sites.

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Section: Grazing Effects On Patch Vegetation Coversupporting

confidence: 89%

Seed rain and soil seed bank compensatory roles on Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth seedling recruitment in ungrazed and grazed sites

2022

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“…The ability of seeds to persist in a state of diapause during long periods gives them the ability to survive persistent periods of unfavorable climate conditions (Venable, 2007). Changes in above-ground plant species composition can be accelerated or decelerated by dry years (Kimball et al, 2010;Loydi et al, 2012;Funk et al, 2018). At the same time the soil seed bank may determine resilience of the community once drought ends.…”

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confidence: 99%

Extreme drought has limited effects on soil seed bank composition in desert grasslands

Loydi

Collins

2021

J Vegetation Science

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At a global scale, all ecosystems are, and will continue to be, impacted by global change, including alterations in temperature and precipitation, and more frequent and severe periods of climatic extremes (Min et al., 2011;Smith, 2011). The magnitude of climate change, and alterations in precipitation and temperature at a regional scale, are reasonably well constrained (Solomon et al., 2007;Schoof et al., 2010). However, local ecosystems vary dramatically in their response and sensitivity to changes in climate (Smith et al.,

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“…Within this area of influence, summer EC rs values were more than seven times higher compared to the rest of the unit (Figure 7). Considering that the study area is used for cattle raising, this radial pattern matches with the presence of a piosphere (Lange, 1969), created by the high livestock circulation commonly occurring around the watering points, especially in dry environments (Andrew, 1988; D'Odorico et al, 2013; Funk et al, 2018; Heshmatti et al, 2002). Piospheres result from the impact of a disturbance (e.g., livestock grazing) that is highest at the center of an impacted patch and attenuates radially with increasing distance from the center (Todd, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Spatial and temporal patterns of soil salinization in shallow groundwater environments of the Bahía Blanca estuary: Influence of topography and land use

2022

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Soil salinization is considered an environmental threat as high salt content hinders plant growth. Soil salinity is usually associated with climate aridity at a regional scale, while topography, subsurface hydrology, and land use combine with climate to produce salinization patterns at landscape scale. In this study, the first such assessment for the study area, we investigated the relationship between climate, groundwater level (GWL) changes, and soil salinity. For comparison, two adjacent vegetation units used as marginal grazing lands were selected: thickets of Allenrolfea patagonica (Ap thicket), located at the base of a scarp, and bushes of Cyclolepis genistoides (Cg bush), located away from the topographic discontinuity. Electrical conductivity (ECrs) maps derived from LANDSAT‐8/OLI were used to analyze salinity patterns. The results showed that GWL rose in coincidence with precipitation events and fell during dryer and warmer periods. GWL was always closer to the surface in the Ap thicket, and level changes were more likely to occur there. ECrs showed a seasonal pattern with significantly higher (p < 0.05) values in the Ap thicket during summer. Within the Cg bush, relatively higher ECrs appeared around a permanent water trough. Within this zone, ECrs values during summer were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Coupled evaluation of GWL dynamics and soil salinization patterns showed that GWL changes interact with land use practices to produce local‐scale patterns of salinization. Topography played an important role in controlling soil surface properties through its influence on groundwater dynamics and small topographic changes produced largely different conditions for vegetation growth.

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The impact of livestock grazing on the spatial pattern of vegetation in north-eastern Patagonia, Argentina

Cited by 11 publications

References 37 publications

Seed rain and soil seed bank compensatory roles on Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth seedling recruitment in ungrazed and grazed sites

Seed rain and soil seed bank compensatory roles on Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth seedling recruitment in ungrazed and grazed sites

Extreme drought has limited effects on soil seed bank composition in desert grasslands

Spatial and temporal patterns of soil salinization in shallow groundwater environments of the Bahía Blanca estuary: Influence of topography and land use

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