Agricultural land use change in the Brazilian Pampa Biome: The reduction of natural grasslands

Oliveira, Tamara Esteves de; Freitas, David Santos de; Gianezini, Miguelangelo; Ruviaro, Clândio Favarini; Zago, Daniele; Mercio, Thomaz Zara; Dias, Eduardo; Lampert, V. do N.; Barcellos, Júlio Otávio Jardim

doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.02.010

Cited by 126 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Our data, e.g., the consistently high cover of P. notatum and other prostrate species, alongside with the invasion of, e.g., E. plana , is an indicator of the high grazing pressure, which is a problem not only for biodiversity, but for productivity as well (Mysterud, ). Inappropriate management practices, the low protection levels of grasslands, and a forest‐biased conservation policy (Brandão, Trevisan, & Both, ; Overbeck et al., ), together with rapid land‐use changes (Oliveira, Freitas, & Gianezini, ), certainly put South Brazilian grasslands under threat, with some regional differences (see Andrade et al., ). Further, our classification of South Brazilian grassland types should be useful for evaluating the efficiency of protected‐area networks and for devising conservation strategies and policies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Classification of South Brazilian grasslands: Implications for conservation

Andrade

Bonilha

Overbeck

et al. 2019

Applied Vegetation Science

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Aims We offer a first classification of South Brazilian grasslands (Campos Sulinos) based on quantitative vegetation data and describing grassland types in terms of dominant and indicator species. Location South Brazilian grasslands (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul states). Methods We described vegetation plots in 167 sampling units throughout the region using a stratified nested design, totalizing 1,502 1 m² quadrats. We classified vegetation using cluster analysis based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarities, establishing three vegetation types and ten subtypes. We conducted indicator species analysis within the resulting subtypes, and for all possible combinations of subtypes. Results In the cluster analyses, a clear separation of poorly drained grasslands from the drier sites appeared. Further, a clear distinction between grasslands in the South Brazilian highland region, situated in the Atlantic Forest biome, and the grasslands of the Pampa biome, to the south, emerged, reflecting climatic and management differences. Highland grasslands showed lower species cover dominance, while in the Pampa, Paspalum notatum clearly was the most important species and the abundance of exotic species was higher. Conclusions Our study provides the first classification of South Brazilian grasslands based on quantitative vegetation data recorded in a standardized sampling design. The data support the division of grasslands into the main phytogeographic units of the region (Brazilian biome classification). Grasslands in these two regions also differ in terms of species dominance pattern (higher dominance in Pampa grasslands, likely also due to higher grazing levels) and in terms of conservation state (low presence of exotic species in highland grasslands). Our results are important for conservation policies, which can now consider the presence of different grassland types in different region, but more data will be necessary for a more detailed classification that considers different abiotic features in more detail.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Classification of South Brazilian grasslands: Implications for conservation

Andrade

Bonilha

Overbeck

et al. 2019

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…Expansion implies an advance on grasslands, hence modifying the system, since it removes the natural tapestry. The consequences of this transformation are linked to various processes, such as loss of the ability to retain carbon in soils [38], degradation [58], and loss of biodiversity associated with the Pampa biome [59]. In addition, there are changes in the "productive profile" of these soils linked to traditional livestock use, which is replaced by agriculture and new social stakeholders [60].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agricultural Transformations in the Southern Cone of Latin America: Agricultural Intensification and Decrease of the Aboveground Net Primary Production, Uruguay’s Case

2019

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The agri-exporting enclaves of the current corporate food regime intensively exploit natural assets in global strategies that govern the local processes. Their multidimensional impacts contribute to the environmental and civilizational crisis. Linked to the agrarian metabolism in its appropriation phase, land use has impacts on local systems. To understand this process, it is necessary to identify the systemic and spatial expression of environmental transformation. The objective of this work was to analyze the dynamic adjustment of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) to agricultural intensification between the years 2000 and 2017, using a land use intensity index and the soils’ productive potential. Agricultural expansion and consolidation are observed, as well as the significant intensification throughout the period in 65% of the country’s area—with differences between regions—associated with soil types. ANPP is higher in areas of low land use intensity and lower in high intensity areas, varying from high to low in soils with low to high productive potential, respectively, and growing throughout the period—depending on the area, with less growth in areas of greater intensity. The appropriation of edaphic wealth puts the systemic functionality at risk and challenges these transforming dynamics, with a strong impact on southern systems.

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“…This biome represents a unique biodiversity that forms the habitat of 3,000 species of vascular plants, 385 of birds, and 90 of mammalians (Bilenca & Miñarro ), and is also the main food source for livestock production. However, these grassland ecosystems are critically threatened by changes in land use (Overbeck et al ) due to the replacement by temporary crops or cultivated forests (de Oliveira et al ). Moreover, overgrazing is common in the remaining areas, causing biodiversity losses, soil erosion, susceptibility to biological invasion, and, in consequence, loss of ecosystem services (Overbeck et al ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporary grazing exclusion promotes rapid recovery of species richness and productivity in a long‐term overgrazed Campos grassland

Fedrigo

Ataíde

Filho

et al. 2017

Restoration Ecology

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Moderate grazing intensity is considered the basic requirement to enhance ecosystem function in grasslands. Yet, deterioration by overgrazing is common in many biomes, including Campos grasslands in South America. Understanding how grazing management can lead to recovery of ecosystem function is essential to design and implement effective strategies for sustainable use of this resource. In a long‐term field experiment carried out in Southern Brazil, we studied the effects of temporal grazing exclusions (spring or fall) at moderate and severe livestock grazing intensities (maintained by adjusting contrasting forage allowances) on the species richness, botanical composition, forage mass, sward height, and photosynthetic active radiation intercepted. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications of grazing exclusions, applied simultaneously at moderate and severe grazing intensities. Moderate grazing intensity showed a bimodal structure of shorter and taller canopies, and high species richness. Severe grazing created a shorter and homogeneous sward structure characterized by less standing biomass and species loss. In response to grazing exclusions, sward height, standing biomass, and light interception recovered almost to the levels of moderate grazing. Further, within 2 years grass species richness increased and botanical composition changed toward grasses with erect habit prevailing in moderate grazing intensity. Our study confirms that (1) moderate grazing intensities allow the coexistence of high number of species and (2) spring grazing exclusions of long‐term overgrazed grasslands can lead to a quick start to recover the grass species richness, primary productivity, and species composition like that prevailing in well‐managed grasslands.

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Agricultural land use change in the Brazilian Pampa Biome: The reduction of natural grasslands

Cited by 126 publications

References 17 publications

Classification of South Brazilian grasslands: Implications for conservation

Classification of South Brazilian grasslands: Implications for conservation

Agricultural Transformations in the Southern Cone of Latin America: Agricultural Intensification and Decrease of the Aboveground Net Primary Production, Uruguay’s Case

Temporary grazing exclusion promotes rapid recovery of species richness and productivity in a long‐term overgrazed Campos grassland

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