Effects of large herbivores on wood pasture dynamics in a European wetland system

Cornelissen, Perry; Bokdam, J.; Sýkora, K.V.; Berendse, F.

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2014.06.006

Cited by 36 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…2b; 3a, b). Hippophae shrubs typically return to grasslands (regressive succession: this study; see also Provoost et al 2011;Cornelissen et al 2014), but the fine scale analysis of 25 × 25 cm field size pixels reveals the degenerating process at an earlier stage and better than manual mapping. On the other hand, new blowouts can generate new opportunities for Hippophae especially in a low density of rabbits due to both diseases being still epidemic.…”

Section: Shrublandmentioning

confidence: 68%

Is livestock grazing a key factor for changing vegetation patterns in lime rich coastal dunes in the Netherlands?

Hagen

Assendorp

Calame³

et al. 2020

J Coast Conserv

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In 1990, livestock grazing was introduced in Meijendel, a 1800 ha lime-rich coastal dune area, at a density of 0.06-0.07 LLU. ha-1. year −1 (1:12-18 ha) to counteract encroachment of tall grasses and shrubland on dune grassland and increase the bare sand area. Monitoring was based on four digital orthophotos (1975-1990-2001-2009) with a high spatial resolution (pixel size 25 × 25 cm). The changes were tested using Generalized Estimating Equations. Habitat changes occurred, but contradicting our hypothesis, there was no significant impact from the grazing on bare sand, grassland or shrubland within 11 and 19 years post livestock introduction. (1) After several decennia of decreasing bare sand, there was a significant increase between 2001 and 2009, irrespective of livestock presence. (2) The changes in grasslands and shrublands are independent of the livestock, but dependent on distance to the coast. (3) Bare sand and shrub cover determine the space left for the dune grasslands. It appears other factors than livestock grazing must have induced the changes. Changes in climate conditions and nitrogen load might have stimulated bare sand. An interaction with the end of Marram planting in 1990 cannot be concluded from available data. The disease-led reduction of rabbit grazing from the mid-1950s led to an expansion of the dominant shrub Hippophae rhamnoides. However, Hippophae shrubland typically regresses to grasslands on its collapse after 25-40 years. Tree species like Crataegus, Betula and Quercus will gradually dominate the landscape for far longer. Active removal of these indigenous species is necessary to prevent future loss of dune grasslands.

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Section: Shrublandmentioning

confidence: 68%

Is livestock grazing a key factor for changing vegetation patterns in lime rich coastal dunes in the Netherlands?

Hagen

Assendorp

Calame³

et al. 2020

J Coast Conserv

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“…This, however, is an anthropocentric perspective, as visitors to Oostvaardersplassen in the Netherlands can experience. From the outside, it is small (5600 ha) area, artificially reclaimed from the sea, to which 'fake' wild cattle and horses, as well as real deer, have been introduced to recreate a semblance to a Late Pleistocene ecosystem [64]. Inside the fence, however, these animals live spontaneous, autonomous lives largely free from human control, and have helped create a habitat for native plant and animal species that are rare elsewhere.…”

Section: Problems and Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Rewilding in Landscape Design for Conservation

Corlett

2016

Curr Landscape Ecol Rep

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Rewilding means returning a non-wild area back to the wild. It implies a reduction or cessation of human control in favour of allowing nature to take care of itself. The concept originated in North America, where it was initially focused on reconnecting existing wilderness areas and re-establishing populations of large carnivores and other large vertebrates. The modern literature is dominated by European studies, however, in which rewilding is seen as a management option for the increasing areas of abandoned agricultural land. Although modern rewilding looks forward to a future wildness that is not necessarily the same as the past, evidence from past ecosystems gives inspiration and support for a hands-off approach. Late Pleistocene ecosystems provide a major challenge since they show the irreplaceable roles of the now largely extinct megafauna. Large-scale rewilding will benefit some charismatic large vertebrates, but probably at the expense of many disturbance-dependent species, with the overall impact likely to differ in different regions. Other potential problems include the loss of valued biocultural landscapes and an increase in human-wildlife conflicts. Benefits may include increased recreational opportunities, enhanced ecosystem services, and greater resilience, as well as less quantifiable social benefits and spiritual values. Rewilding science needs to catch up with rewilding practice, and there is an urgent need for replicated, large-scale, long-term experiments.

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“…The geese are themselves important for local bird diversity, because during molting they withdraw to the marshy parts, grazing reed beds and creating a mosaic of shallow water and vegetation that facilitates many other species (64). Largely regulated by food availability, the herbivores have strongly reduced the predominantly nonthorny woody vegetation (64)(65)(66). In time a dynamic tree-grassland mosaic might establish if grazing refuges develop (65) [e.g., via temporary declines in herbivore abundance and thorn scrub establishment (66)].…”

Section: Current Scientific Basis For Trophic Rewildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Science for a wilder Anthropocene: Synthesis and future directions for trophic rewilding research

Svenning

Pedersen

Donlan

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

457

506

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Trophic rewilding is an ecological restoration strategy that uses species introductions to restore top-down trophic interactions and associated trophic cascades to promote self-regulating biodiverse ecosystems. Given the importance of large animals in trophic cascades and their widespread losses and resulting trophic downgrading, it often focuses on restoring functional megafaunas. Trophic rewilding is increasingly being implemented for conservation, but remains controversial. Here, we provide a synthesis of its current scientific basis, highlighting trophic cascades as the key conceptual framework, discussing the main lessons learned from ongoing rewilding projects, systematically reviewing the current literature, and highlighting unintentional rewilding and spontaneous wildlife comebacks as underused sources of information. Together, these lines of evidence show that trophic cascades may be restored via species reintroductions and ecological replacements. It is clear, however, that megafauna effects may be affected by poorly understood trophic complexity effects and interactions with landscape settings, human activities, and other factors. Unfortunately, empirical research on trophic rewilding is still rare, fragmented, and geographically biased, with the literature dominated by essays and opinion pieces. We highlight the need for applied programs to include hypothesis testing and science-based monitoring, and outline priorities for future research, notably assessing the role of trophic complexity, interplay with landscape settings, land use, and climate change, as well as developing the global scope for rewilding and tools to optimize benefits and reduce human-wildlife conflicts. Finally, we recommend developing a decision framework for species selection, building on functional and phylogenetic information and with attention to the potential contribution from synthetic biology.conservation | megafauna | reintroduction | restoration | trophic cascades

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Effects of large herbivores on wood pasture dynamics in a European wetland system

Cited by 36 publications

References 15 publications

Is livestock grazing a key factor for changing vegetation patterns in lime rich coastal dunes in the Netherlands?

Is livestock grazing a key factor for changing vegetation patterns in lime rich coastal dunes in the Netherlands?

The Role of Rewilding in Landscape Design for Conservation

Science for a wilder Anthropocene: Synthesis and future directions for trophic rewilding research

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