Évolution des caractéristiques écologiques le long d’un gradient de dégradation édaphique dans les parcours du sud tunisien

Gamoun, Mouldi; Chaïeb, Mohamed; Belgacem, Azaiez Ouled

doi:10.3406/ecmed.2010.1362

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…However, this response varied with soil and vegetation type. These results corroborate the findings of other studies for arid ecosystems [56,57]. In southern Tunisia, Floret and Pontanier [58] explained that rainfall and soil type were decisive factors and higher response of vegetation and soil moisture levels were observed in deep sandy soils compared to limestone soils.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Rangeland Biodiversity and Climate Variability: Supporting the Need for Flexible Grazing Management

et al. 2021

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Resting or grazing exclusion is an effective practice widely adopted to restore degraded, arid rangelands. To understand its effect on plant diversity, we studied Hill’s diversity indices during two growing seasons (2017–2019). The experiment consisted of a three-level factorial design with four plant communities subjected to different resting durations (one, two, and three years) compared to continuously grazed areas (control). The results showed that rainfall plays an important role in arid rangeland restoration. Under favorable conditions, one-year grazing exclusion considerably enhanced species richness and evenness diversity compared to longer resting durations under dry to average rainfall conditions. The decision to how long livestock grazing exclusion would last should not be decided upfront as it depends on the climatic and the site-specific conditions. The findings of this study will have vital management implications for development agencies. Knowing that short grazing exclusion with adequate rainfall amount and distribution could be enough and offers a cost-effective technical option to ensure the sustainable restoration of arid rangeland. This flexible grazing management would also be more acceptable by the pastoral communities. Longer resting periods could have detrimental effects on arid rangeland vegetation, in addition to adding more pressure on the remaining rangeland areas open to grazing.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Rangeland Biodiversity and Climate Variability: Supporting the Need for Flexible Grazing Management

et al. 2021

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“…Furthermore, thorny and spiny plants (e.g. Astragalus armatus ) were less selected by the addax, consistent with what has been reported for several ruminant species (Gamoun et al 2010). Other plants were not selected, such as Oudeneya africana , because they contain an inhibitor of rumen microbial fermentation (tannins) that limits their digestibility (Hammami and Fliss 2010).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Habitat selection and foraging preference of the endangered addax (Addax nasomaculatus) in a fenced wildlife reserve within its historic range: insights for supporting effective reintroduction

et al. 2022

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Reintroduction of species should be based on ecological knowledge, which is fundamental to enhancing the probability of success, but also in predicting the response to future changing landscapes. The addax (Addax nasomaculatus), an endangered antelope whose ecology is mostly unknown, was released in a fenced area of the Jbil National Park, Tunisia. Considering the extreme desert conditions of the area, seasonal changes should affect both habitat and diet selection. Addax occurrence, habitat selection and diet were assessed using an integrative approach, and analysed with multivariate statistics. During the wet season, preferred and avoided plant species abundance were highly correlated with addax occurrence; while in the dry season, preferred plant species abundance were positively correlated with addax presence. Micro-histological analysis of faecal samples indicated differences in diet between seasons. The integrative approach proposed represents a useful contribution for decision-making in the scope of reintroduction programmes and habitat restoration measures, by facilitating the assessment of habitat suitability for endangered antelopes in arid environments.

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“…A previous study in the area has indicated that CG has a wide range of effects on the composition, diversity, and rangelands production (Gamoun, Chaieb, et al 2010;Gamoun 2014). Livestock grazing has caused a severe degradation of vegetation both directly (by eating it) and indirectly (trampling) (Gamoun, Tarhouni, et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of vegetation response to grazing management in arid rangelands of southern Tunisia

Gamoun

Patton

Hanchi

2015

International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Servic

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Livestock grazing influences arid rangelands greatly with important effects on vegetation dynamics. Two areas traditionally grazed by sheep and goats in southern Tunisia were sampled to evaluate the vegetation response to grazing management. A continuous grazing (CG) area was sampled in March 2007. A 2000 ha exclosure that had been rested for 3 years (2004-2007), grazed for 2 months (July and August 2007), and then rested for 7 months (September 2007 to February 2008) was sampled before and after grazing, and again after the 7 months' rest. Results show that vegetation dynamics in arid rangelands respond strongly to changes in grazing management. Our results suggest that even previously overgrazed rangelands are resilient and are able to recover if given rest periods. In the studied Tunisian rangeland that has been moderately or lightly grazed, we found that recovery improved faster compared with continuously grazed. In practice, excluding grazing livestock and the use of a rotational grazing system are available ways to restore vegetation affected by CG. Therefore, a stocking rate not exceeding the carrying capacity is vital to maintain grazing operations under changing conditions and sustain rangeland resources over the long term. Increased stocking rates generally promote rangeland degradation.

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Évolution des caractéristiques écologiques le long d’un gradient de dégradation édaphique dans les parcours du sud tunisien

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Rangeland Biodiversity and Climate Variability: Supporting the Need for Flexible Grazing Management

Rangeland Biodiversity and Climate Variability: Supporting the Need for Flexible Grazing Management

Habitat selection and foraging preference of the endangered addax (Addax nasomaculatus) in a fenced wildlife reserve within its historic range: insights for supporting effective reintroduction

Assessment of vegetation response to grazing management in arid rangelands of southern Tunisia

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