Changes in forest structure modify understory and livestock occurrence along the natural cycle and different management strategies in Nothofagus antarctica forests

Microclimatic Conditions Restrict the Radial Growth of <em>Nothofagus antarctica</em> Regeneration According to the Type of Forest Environment in Tierra Del Fuego

“…We also recorded animal feces from native (Lama guanicoe, guanaco) and domestic animals (cows) along each transect (50 × 4 m, 200 m²). We used the number of feces as a proxy of animal use (animal ha -1 ) by assuming: (i) Feces was maintained in the forest floor for a period not longer than a calendar year (decomposition rates was low during summer due to low temperatures and high during winter due to mechanical effect of snow accumulation) [8,32]. (ii) Average values of defecation per day were defined as 6.0 times per day for guanacos, and 12.3 times per day for cows.…”

“…Also, we considered different residual palatable biomass in the understory for further calculations of stocking rate (130 kg DM ha -1 for guanacos and 260 kg DM ha -1 for cows). And finally, (iv) we used sheep equivalent based on the animal species size (0.50 for guanaco and 0.16 for cows) to standardize the current livestock density (LD) (for more details see [8]). To characterize the understory, we used the point-intercept method with 50 intercept points (every 1 m) along each transect.…”

“…sheep and cattle grazing). This proposal simplifies the forest structure by opening the canopy through thinning, maintaining homogeneous tree and age distributions [4], promoting the increase of understory biomass [5,6] for livestock production [7,8]. Forest structure values (e.g.…”

“…MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions, or products referred to in the content. regeneration) have been previously informed [3,9], where several constraints during the management cycle may affect the natural regeneration of stands [8,10].…”

“…light and water availability) regulated by the forest overstory cover [12], and other biotic factors such as animal browsing (e.g. natural populations of Lama guanicoe or domestic livestock) [8,13]. Besides, harvesting modifies the forest structure by altering ecosystem functions, microclimate and natural cycles depending on cut intensity [3], e.g.…”