Effects of vegetation and herbivores on regeneration of two tree species in a seasonally dry forest

Torres, Romina; Renison, Daniel

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.05.002

Cited by 29 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…The recovery of physiognomy is particularly slow if the area is under high grazing pressure by domestic herbivores, because animals browse the new shoots, slowing down the growth of trees and shrubs (Giorgis et al. ; Torres & Renison ). In this way, a high cover of herbaceous plants is maintained, which may produce a positive feedback with fire, preventing succession towards the full recovery of woody physiognomies (Giorgis et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, woody species resprout from the base, and a few years after the fire event, floristic composition became quite similar to the previous one, while physiognomy needs more time to recover. The recovery of physiognomy is particularly slow if the area is under high grazing pressure by domestic herbivores, because animals browse the new shoots, slowing down the growth of trees and shrubs Torres & Renison 2015). In this way, a high cover of herbaceous plants is maintained, which may produce a positive feedback with fire, preventing succession towards the full recovery of woody physiognomies (Giorgis et al 2013;Argañaraz et al 2015).…”

Section: Applied Vegetation Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in floristic composition and physiognomy are decoupled along elevation gradients in central Argentina

Giorgis

Cingolani

Gurvich

et al. 2017

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions Most vegetation descriptions tacitly assume that floristic composition and physiognomy are tightly linked. However, the two vegetation properties may not respond in a similar way to environmental and disturbance gradients, leading to uninformed management planning and difficulties when attempting to restore degraded ecosystems. In this context, we addressed two main questions: (1) how close are relations between floristic and physiognomic types as defined by numerical vegetation classification in mountain ecosystems; and (2) how are floristic and physiognomic types distributed along the elevation gradient? Location Central mountains of Argentina, between 500 and 1700 m a.s.l. Methods We selected 437 sites where we performed complete floristic and physiognomic relevés. We classified eight physiognomic and eight floristic types. We tested the relationship between the two classifications through a chi square analysis. We tested the association between elevation and each physiognomic and floristic type with random permutations. Results In general, floristic types were significantly and positively associated with more than one physiognomic type and vice versa. Physiognomic and floristic types responded differently to the elevation gradient. Floristic types were restricted to different sections of the gradient, although having large overlap among them. In contrast, seven out of the eight physiognomic types did not show elevation restriction, being distributed along the complete elevation gradient. The open low woodland with shrubs was the only restricted physiognomy, significantly absent from the upper part of the gradient. Conclusions We highlight the importance of considering the two vegetation properties independently when characterizing vegetation patterns in heterogeneous systems, since they show decoupled responses to environmental gradients. We note that the assumption of a direct link between floristic composition and physiognomy may induce bias into the understanding of vegetation patterns and processes. Hence, we encourage managers and restoration practitioners to consider the complete range of possible physiognomic types under each floristic type.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Applied Vegetation Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in floristic composition and physiognomy are decoupled along elevation gradients in central Argentina

Giorgis

Cingolani

Gurvich

et al. 2017

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…Then, Torres and Renison () demonstrated that remnant woody vegetation patches were important for effective seedling establishment on grazed sites, and that establishment was also feasible on ungrazed sites in dry upland woodland regions in central Argentina. Aguiar and Román () showed that it is possible to restore populations of forage grasses (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pioneering direct seeding experiments with notable positive results were reported by Salomone (2013) for dune ecosystem recovery efforts under harsh Patagonian site conditions. Then, Torres and Renison (2015) demonstrated that remnant woody vegetation patches were important for effective seedling establishment on grazed sites, and that establishment was also feasible on ungrazed sites in dry upland woodland regions in central Argentina. Aguiar and Román (2007) showed that it is possible to restore populations of forage grasses (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct seeding and outplantings in drylands of Argentinean Patagonia: estimated costs, and prospects for large‐scale restoration and rehabilitation

Pérez

González

Ceballos

et al. 2019

Restoration Ecology

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In large areas of the world that are deeply scarred by desertification and hampered by low capacity for natural regeneration, the scaling up of ecological restoration and rehabilitation can be achieved only if it is low in cost with high return on investment, and shows promise of providing long‐lasting social‐economic as well as ecological benefits. In the Monte Austral region of Patagonia Argentina, concerted efforts are underway to facilitate scaling up of ecological restoration and rehabilitation practices. Here, we evaluate financial costs and preliminary results of direct seeding as compared to outplanting of nursery‐grown seedlings of three native species (Atriplex lampa, Senecio subulatus var. subulatus, and Hyalis argentea var. latisquama) considered to be high‐priority dryland framework species. Comparative success is expressed in terms of plant survival and in monetary terms. The three candidate species showed low survival rates, ranging from 4.3 to 22.3%, after the first summer following direct seeding. In contrast, survival rates for planted seedlings of the same three taxa varied between 84 and 91%, after the first summer following reintroduction. However, cost of direct seeding varied between 1,693 and 1,772 US$ less per hectare, that is, 64% less than the cost of outplanting nursery seedlings. Therefore, in the search for ways to scale up ecological restoration and rehabilitation in drylands, direct seeding should receive more attention. We discuss the social and ecological perspectives and the way forward for direct seeding techniques in Patagonia. We also consider how costs could be reduced and effectiveness improved in large‐scale efforts.

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“…2). These can be broadly classified as: (1) resources, such as water (Reich and Borchert 1984;Chaturvedi et al 2013;Vadigi 2013;Barbosa et al 2014), light (Ceccon et al 2006;Tripathi and Raghubanshi 2014), and soil nutrients (Huante et al 1995;Ceccon et al 2006;Chaturvedi et al 2012;Tripathi and Raghubanshi 2014) and (2) disturbances, such as fire (Khurana and Singh 2001;Otterstrom andSchwartz 2006, Pluchon et al 2014), herbivory (Higgins et al 2000;Chaturvedi et al 2012;Norghauer and Newbery 2014;Juan-Baeza et al 2015;Torres and Renison 2015), grass competition (Riginos 2009;Ortega-Pieck et al 2011;Griscom et al 2014), and atmospheric CO 2 (Khurana and Singh 2002). A series of experiments have been conducted across the dry tropical environment, which suggest that tree-seedling survival and establishment are highly susceptible to water stress, nutrient shortage, shade, herbivory, and competition with grasses (Table 1).…”

Section: Resources and Disturbancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the ecology of tree-seedling growth in dry tropical environment: a management perspective

Bhadouria

Singh

Srivastava

et al. 2016

Energ. Ecol. Environ.

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The dry tropical forests are among the most vulnerable ecosystems of the world and, however, are relatively understudied. These forests provide various ecosystem services, and are progressively being converted into patches of dry scrubs, savanna and marginal cropland systems, due to various anthropogenic perturbations. Soils of these regions are relatively nutrient poor with a patchy nutrient and water distribution pattern. Therefore, the variability in these natural resources imposed by the present climate change scenario may affect the forest plant community of dry tropics via its impact on seedling growth and recruitment. Seedlings are considered as the most sensitive stage of plant lifecycle, and therefore, understanding of seedling regeneration may help in restoration of forest ecosystems. Seedling growth is majorly regulated by various naturally occurring resources (such as light, water, nutrient, etc.) and disturbances (such as defoliation, grass competition, fire, etc.). Therefore, efforts on the regeneration of these forest systems are highly necessitated. In the present study, we critically reviewed the studies on seedling survival and growth under different resource and disturbance regimes with a special focus to dry tropical environment. We found that water, light, nutrients, herbivory, and grass competition majorly regulates recruitments, growth, and establishment of the tree seedling in dry tropical environment. Most of the studies are limited to observe the effect of one or two factors over the seedling survival and growth. However, the resources and disturbances may have an interactive effect over seedling growth. Therefore, studies encompassing the interactions of various growth factors (resources and disturbances) under different climatic conditions are urgently needed for the successful regeneration of tree seedlings and for the restoration of plant community. Moreover, it will improve our ability to manage the tropical vegetation under changing climatic scenario.

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Effects of vegetation and herbivores on regeneration of two tree species in a seasonally dry forest

Cited by 29 publications

References 38 publications

Changes in floristic composition and physiognomy are decoupled along elevation gradients in central Argentina

Changes in floristic composition and physiognomy are decoupled along elevation gradients in central Argentina

Direct seeding and outplantings in drylands of Argentinean Patagonia: estimated costs, and prospects for large‐scale restoration and rehabilitation

Understanding the ecology of tree-seedling growth in dry tropical environment: a management perspective

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