Use of paired plots and multivariate analysis for the determination of goat grazing preference

Lepš, Jan; Michálek, Jaroslav; Kulíšek, Petr; Uhlík, Petr

doi:10.2307/3236254

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…1). -The above-ground biomass in a similar vegetation at a nearby site was estimated to be 315 g/m 2 (including 100 g/m 2 standing dead; litter not analyzed) (Lep‰ et al 1995).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Establishment of Picea abies seedlings in a central European mountain grassland: an experimental study

Prach

Lepš

Michálek³

1996

J Vegetation Science

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Abstract. Secondary meadows in the Krušné hory mountains, central Europe, are not colonized by woody species, although they have been abandoned for half a century and are surrounded by Picea abies (Norway spruce) forests. The causes of inhibition of establishment of Norway spruce seedlings in the meadows were tested experimentally. The experiment was started in a masting year to ensure sufficient seed input. Four treatments (vegetation cut; vegetation cut and litter removed; all above‐ground biomass and topsoil removed; control) were combined in a factorial design. The effect of browsing, mainly by deer, was assessed by fencing half of the experimental plots. Seedling establishment differed among treatments (all pair‐wise differences were significant) but was independent of fencing. In contrast, seedling survival was influenced both by the treatment and fencing. At the end of the second year, only the plots with all biomass and organic topsoil removed supported viable populations of spruce seedlings. Dense herb cover and a thick layer of slowly decaying litter are considered the main factors inhibiting the establishment of woody species.

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“…1). -The above-ground biomass in a similar vegetation at a nearby site was estimated to be 315 g/m 2 (including 100 g/m 2 standing dead; litter not analyzed) (Lep‰ et al 1995).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Establishment of Picea abies seedlings in a central European mountain grassland: an experimental study

Prach

Lepš

Michálek³

1996

J Vegetation Science

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“…Grazer selectivity was defined as the degree to which grazers remove species biomass in proportions different to the relative abundances of species in the vegetation (Ivins 1952; Leps et al . 1995).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A plant trait analysis of responses to grazing in a long‐term experiment

James

Franklin

Mark

et al. 2001

Journal of Applied Ecology

252

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Summary There are few long‐term experimental studies of plant community responses to changes in grazing intensity. Here we report species’ changes in a mesotrophic grassland after 12 years of a grazing experiment and relate these changes to species’ life‐history traits. The experiment was set up in 1986 on an extensified species‐poor grassland in lowland UK. Treatments comprised sheep grazing vs. no grazing in winter, grazing vs. no grazing in spring, and two grazing intensities in summer, in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with two replicate blocks. Point quadrat surveys in 1998 showed responses to grazing treatments by 17 of the 22 most common species. Species showed different responses, many of which were specific to a grazing season. Community changes were similar under spring and winter grazing, but the heavier summer grazing had different consequences. Species richness was increased by spring grazing, decreased by heavier summer grazing and unaffected by winter grazing. More species responded to treatments in the 1998 survey compared with a survey in 1990. Furthermore, the whole experimental grassland had changed between the surveys, probably as a result of falling soil fertility. The two dominant grasses had declined drastically and most other species had increased in abundance. Five new species were found in 1998. Intensive surveys of dicotyledonous species in 1998 showed five of the 12 most common species had responded to grazing treatments. In most cases dicotyledonous species had increased in abundance under heavier grazing in one or more season, and species richness was increased by spring and winter grazing. Compared with a 1991 survey, the number of species responding to treatments had increased by 1998 and seven new species were found. We tested whether species’ responses to grazing were linked to life‐history traits according to three hypotheses: that heavier grazing would disadvantage (i) species grazed preferentially, (ii) species less able to colonize gaps or (iii) more competitive species. Mechanisms differed among seasonal treatments. Responses to heavier summer grazing were linked strongly to gap colonization ability. Responses to spring and winter grazing were positively related to grazer selectivity, a surprising result that might be explained if selectivity was positively related to plant regrowth ability. This study shows the need for long‐term experimental analyses of community responses to grazing as vegetation responses may develop over a long time. The traits analysis suggests it may be possible to predict changes in species composition under grazing through an understanding of the mechanisms of plant responses. Grassland managers require such information in order to manipulate grazing regimes to achieve, for example, diversification or weed control.

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“…The significance of the influence of (sets 00 explanatory variables on vegetation can be tested by use of a Monte Carlo approach with permutation procedures appropriate for data sets and hypotheses (e.g. Odland et al 1991;Wiertz 1994 andLepS et al 1995). In particular, the significance of minor environmental factors ofparticular interest can be tested (Cramer & Hyttebom 1987).…”

Section: Appropriate Use Of Ordination and Constrained Ordinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are ordination and constrained ordination alternative or complementary strategies in general ecological studies?

Økland

1996

J Vegetation Science

235

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Use of paired plots and multivariate analysis for the determination of goat grazing preference

Cited by 16 publications

References 19 publications

Establishment of Picea abies seedlings in a central European mountain grassland: an experimental study

Establishment of Picea abies seedlings in a central European mountain grassland: an experimental study

A plant trait analysis of responses to grazing in a long‐term experiment

Are ordination and constrained ordination alternative or complementary strategies in general ecological studies?

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