Functional diversity and grazing intensity in sub‐alpine and alpine grasslands in<scp>A</scp>ndorra

Komac, Benjamín; Pladevall, Clara; Domènech, Marta; Fanlo, Rosario

doi:10.1111/avsc.12119

Cited by 22 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Those indices measure the effects of disturbance on functional biodiversity. For example, Komac et al [ 53 ] showed that grazing increases functional richness and functional dispersion in sub-alpine and alpine grasslands, which indicated that grazing was an essential mechanism in structuring these grasslands. In our study, functional richness was quantified using the multivariate FRic Index [ 12 ], in which all plant traits (n = 12) were categorical or ordinal variables ( Table 1 ); thus, functional richness was the number of unique trait combinations in the plant community [ 54 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inferring Resilience to Fragmentation-Induced Changes in Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Ecosystem

Frutos

Navarro

Pueyo³

et al. 2015

PLoS ONE

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Predicting the capacity of ecosystems to absorb impacts from disturbance events (resilience), including land-use intensification and landscape fragmentation, is challenging in the face of global change. Little is known about the impacts of fragmentation on ecosystem functioning from a multi-dimensional perspective (multiple traits). This study used 58 500-m linear transects to quantify changes in the functional composition and resilience of vascular plant communities in response to an increase in landscape fragmentation in 18 natural scrubland fragments embedded within a matrix of abandoned crop fields in Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Almería, Spain. Changes in functional community composition were measured using functional diversity indices (functional richness and functional dispersion) that were based on 12 plant traits. Resilience was evaluated using the functional redundancy and response diversity from the perspective of plant dispersal, which is important, particularly, in fragmented landscapes. Scrubland fragmentation was measured using the Integral Index of Connectivity (IIC). The functional richness of the plant communities was higher in the most fragmented scrubland. Conversely, the functional dispersion (i.e., spread) of trait values among species in the functional trait space was lower at the most fragmented sites; consequently, the ecological tolerance of the vegetation to scrubland fragmentation decreased. Classifying the plant species into four functional groups indicated that fragmentation favoured an increase in functional redundancy in the ‘short basal annual forbs and perennial forbs’ group, most of which are species adapted to degraded soils. An assessment based on the traits associated with plant dispersal indicated that the resilience of ‘woody plants’, an important component in the Mediterranean scrubland, and habitat fragmentation were negatively correlated; however, the correlation was positive in the ‘short basal annual forbs and perennial forbs’ and the ‘grasses’ groups.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inferring Resilience to Fragmentation-Induced Changes in Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Ecosystem

Frutos

Navarro

Pueyo³

et al. 2015

PLoS ONE

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“…Recently, the functional analysis of grazing effects on the vegetation based on specific plant traits has become a "hot topic" (Kechang, He, Zhang, & Lechowicz, 2015;Komac, Pladevall, Domènech, & Fanlo, 2015;Teuber, Hölzel, & Fraser, 2013). The traitbased functional diversity approach can reveal the functioning of the ecosystem and mechanisms beyond the changes of taxonomic diversity and composition; thus, helping to explain dynamic changes in ecosystems (Carmona, Mason, Azcárate, & Peco, 2015;Villéger, Mason, & Mouillot, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation type and grazing intensity jointly shape grazing effects on grassland biodiversity

Török

Penksza

Tóth

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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In the Palaearctic steppe zone, overgrazing was identified as one of the key drivers of declining grassland biodiversity, which underlines the necessity of the functional evaluation of increased grazing pressure on grassland vegetation. We tested the following hypotheses: (a) The effect of grazing intensity on species and functional diversity is strongly dependent on grassland type. (b) The magnitude of diet selectivity of grazers decreases with increasing grazing intensity. (c) Increasing grazing intensity increases evenness and functional evenness of the subjected grasslands. We analyzed vegetation patterns in four types of grasslands (Dry alkali short‐grass steppes, Dry loess steppes, Non‐alkali wet and Alkali wet grasslands) along an intensity gradient of beef cattle grazing at 73 sites in Hungary. Species richness, Shannon diversity, evenness, and four leaf traits were analyzed. We calculated community‐weighted means for each single trait, and multi‐trait functional richness, functional evenness, and divergence for all leaf traits. All species and functional diversity metrics were significantly affected by the grassland type, except leaf dry matter content. The effect of interaction between grazing intensity and grassland type was also significant for functional richness, functional evenness, community‐weighted means of leaf area, and for species richness and evenness. An upward trend of specific leaf area was detected in all grasslands with the highest scores for the overgrazed sites, but the change was also grassland type dependent. The detected trend suggests that with increased intensity the overall selectivity of grazing decreased. We found that evenness was affected but functional evenness was not affected by grazing intensity. Functional evenness scores were more related to the grassland type than to changes in grazing intensity, and displayed a high variability. We stress that one‐size‐fits‐all strategies cannot be recommended and actions should be fine‐tuned at least at the level of grassland type.

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“…Beyond the analyses of species diversity and composition, functional trait‐based approaches became increasingly involved in analysing and explaining the effects of grazing in grassland ecosystems (Teuber et al, ; Kechang et al, ; Komac et al, ). Trait‐based functional approaches can help to reveal the underlying mechanisms and support to sustain diversity and related ecosystem functions (Villéger et al, , Carmona et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Livestock Type is More Crucial Than Grazing Intensity: Traditional Cattle and Sheep Grazing in Short‐Grass Steppes

Tóth

Deák²,

Valkó³

et al. 2016

Land Degrad Dev

163

109

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In biodiversity conservation of agriculture‐driven landscapes, grasslands have an outstanding importance; their conservation became a top priority both in research and practice. In many regions, sheep or cattle grazing are the best options for biodiversity conservation. In our study, we compared the effects of cattle and sheep grazing on short‐grass steppe vegetation under various grazing intensities. We tested the following study hypotheses: (i) sheep grazing maintains a lower taxonomic and functional diversity, lower amount of forbs compared with cattle grazing; and (ii) the effects of grazing are highly intensity dependent: the differences detected between cattle and sheep grazing are more pronounced at low grazing intensities than at high ones, because the selectivity of grazing decreases at higher intensities. We found lower taxonomic and functional diversity, and lower cover of forbs in sheep‐grazed steppes compared with cattle‐grazed ones. Grazing intensity had a significant effect only on species richness, while on Shannon diversity and evenness, only livestock type had a significant effect. While most single trait indices were affected by the type of the grazer, significant effect of intensity was detected only in few cases. These findings indicated that the selection of the livestock type is the most crucial in conservation; however, for proper ecosystem functioning and high trait variability, the suitable grazing intensity should also be carefully adjusted. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Functional diversity and grazing intensity in sub‐alpine and alpine grasslands inAndorra

Cited by 22 publications

References 66 publications

Inferring Resilience to Fragmentation-Induced Changes in Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Ecosystem

Inferring Resilience to Fragmentation-Induced Changes in Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Ecosystem

Vegetation type and grazing intensity jointly shape grazing effects on grassland biodiversity

Livestock Type is More Crucial Than Grazing Intensity: Traditional Cattle and Sheep Grazing in Short‐Grass Steppes

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