Grassland vegetation sampling - a practical guide for sampling and data analysis

Andrade, Bianca Ott; Boldrini, Ilsi Iob; Cadenazzi, Mónica; Pillar, Valério D.; Overbeck, Gerhard Ernst

doi:10.1590/0102-33062019abb0160

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…In temperate grasslands, species are often annuals, resulting in different physiognomies depending on the season or even the month of assessment (Bond et al, 2003). Despite similar changes occurring along the year because of the presence/absence of geophytes and changing proportions of warm‐ to cool‐season species (Rusch & Oesterheld, 1997; Andrade et al, 2019), mesic subtropical grasslands have several perennial species, and change less markedly between seasons (Bond et al, 2003; Overbeck et al, 2005). In addition, species compositional shifts that we found between sampling times, especially in control plots, can reflect ongoing successional changes following cattle exclusion (Boldrini & Eggers, 1997), which by the time of the experiment had recently been implemented in the study site.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional and taxonomic alpha and beta diversity responses to burning grasslands in southern Brazil

Joner

Giehl

Pillar

2021

J Vegetation Science

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Questions Grasslands in subtropical Brazil are known as potentially fire‐prone ecosystems. Aiming to better understand the effects of fire on biodiversity, we addressed the following questions: does fire benefit all alpha and beta components of taxonomic and functional diversity in grasslands; which functional groups are affected; does diversity foster recovery of above‐ground biomass after fire? Location Campos grassland, southern Brazil Methods The effects of fire were investigated using a before/after control/impact experimental design. A randomized block design with seven replicates was set up, where a fire experiment was established after three years of both grazing and fire exclusion. Each block contained two paired 10 m × 10 m plots. We assessed plant species composition, plant functional trait composition, plant functional groups, and above‐ground biomass before and after fire in both burnt and control plots. Results Both taxonomic and functional alpha diversity increased in burnt plots and decreased in unburnt plots across time. Taxonomic species richness considering total species increased more than considering common species only. Functional beta diversity increased in burnt plots while taxonomic beta diversity stayed similar between treatments. Forb total cover increased after fire while graminoids and shrubs remained unchanged. Burnt plots with high initial functional richness presented greater biomass recovery, whereas species richness presented no relation with above‐ground biomass. Conclusions Fire increases species and functional richness in plots of subtropical Campos grasslands (alpha diversity component), and while it increases functional beta diversity, taxonomic beta diversity remained unchanged. Functional diversity is important for maintaining grassland biomass recovery after fire.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional and taxonomic alpha and beta diversity responses to burning grasslands in southern Brazil

Joner

Giehl

Pillar

2021

J Vegetation Science

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“…As manchas de campo não invadido caracterizam-se por maior dominância de Asteraceae de hábitos herbáceo e subarbustivo, baixa cobertura de gramíneas e grande porcentagem de solo descoberto, contrário ao que é geralmente encontrado nos campos do sul do Brasil (Andrade et al 2019). Aparentemente, o substrato arenoso, com baixa fertilidade e baixa retenção de água é um fator limitante para as gramíneas, já que estas possuem um sistema radicular mais superficial e não possuem estruturas de reservas maiores, diferente de muitas das espécies arbustivas e herbáceas.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

“…A partir disso sorteamos pontos para amostragem e, deste conjunto, 31 foram amostrados. Em campo, amostramos a vegetação utilizando o método amostral de superfície, com parcelas de 1 m x 1 m (Andrade et al 2019). Estimamos os valores de cobertura de cada espécie, utilizando a escala decimal proposta por Londo (1976), bem como a porcentagem de solo descoberto e mantilho.…”

Section: Amostragem Quantitativa Da Vegetaçaounclassified

Invasão Por Gramíneas Exóticas Em Campos Sobre Paleodunas: Efeitos Na Diversidade Florística

2021

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O Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Banhado dos Pachecos localiza-se sobre a Coxilha das Lombas, Viamão/RS, e encontra-se em processo de invasão biológica por gramíneas exóticas na área de campo seco. Este fragmento de vegetação campestre sobre paleodunas é habitat da espécie endêmica Ctenomys lami (Rodentia, Ctenomydae) e apresenta composição florística peculiar em relação a maioria das áreas naturais dos Campos Sulinos, com espécies de Asteraceae sendo dominantes em comparação às espécies de Poaceae. Com o objetivo de caracterizar a composição florística e avaliar o grau e efeitos da invasão biológica sobre a comunidade de campo seco foi realizado um levantamento quantitativo. Foram amostradas 31 parcelas de 1 x 1 m e levantados dados de cobertura e altura da vegetação, solo descoberto e serrapilheira. Foram calculados parâmetros fitossociológicos para cada espécie. As parcelas foram classificadas quanto ao nível de invasão por gramíneas exóticas. O efeito da invasão sobre a composição e estrutura da vegetação foi avaliado a partir de Análise de Coordenadas Principais, regressão linear e análise de variância. As gramíneas exóticas invasoras Urochloa decumbens e Digitaria eriantha subsp. pentzii foram dominantes em grande parte da vegetação campestre, modificando a estrutura e composição vegetal conforme o nível de invasão. Cerca de um terço da área encontra-se altamente invadida. Ações de remoção e controle de invasoras se fazem urgentes, considerando que este é um dos poucos fragmentos de ecossistemas naturais abertos na Coxilha das Lombas e abriga espécies ameaçadas de extinção. INVASION BY EXOTIC GRASSES IN GRASSLAND ON PALAEODUNES: EFFECTS ON FLORISTIC DIVERSITY. The Banhado dos Pachecos Wildlife Refuge, located in the Coxilha das Lombas, in Viamão/RS, Brazil, is under a process of invasion by alien grasses in its areas of dry grassland. The grassland on palaeo-dunes is the habitat of the endemic species Ctenomys lami (Rodentia, Ctenomydae) and presents a peculiar floristic composition in relation to most natural grasslands in southern Brazil, with species of the Asteraceae dominating in comparison to grasses. In order to characterize the floristic composition and to evaluate the degree and effects of biological invasion on the grassland community, a quantitative vegetation survey was carried out. In 31 plots of 1 x 1 m, data on cover and height of vegetation, bare soil and litter were collected. Phytosociological parameters were calculated for each species. The plots were classified according to the level of invasion by exotic grasses and Principal Coordinate Analysis, linear regression and Analysis of Variance were performed to observe the species distribution in the community and the effects of the invasion on the richness and structure of the vegetation. The invasive exotic grasses Urochloa decumbens and Digitaria eriantha subsp.pentzii were dominant in grassland vegetation, modifying plant structure and composition according to the level of invasion. About a third of the area is heavily invaded. Invasive removal and control actions are urgent as this is one of the few fragments of natural grasslands in the Coxilha das Lombas and is habitat to species threatened with extinction.

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“…Each plot in each stratum had three 1 m 2 quadrats that were randomly placed as depicted in Figure 2. This size of the quadrat is adequate to be used in emergent wetland vegetation and grassland ecosystems (Herlihy et al, 2019;Andrade et al, 2019;Clarke, 2009). Furthermore, this size of quadrat has been used by other scientists in the tropical areas (Andrade et al, 2019;Rongoei et al, 2014;Terer et al, 2012) and temperate regions (Peterka et al, 2020;USEPA, 2016).…”

Section: Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of climate variables and seasonal water depth on emergent macrophyte biomass production in Kingwal riverine wetland, Kenya

Priscah,

Shem,

Vincent

2023

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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The production of macrophyte biomass holds a crucial role in supporting diverse life forms within wetland ecosystems. However, this biomass production is intricately tied to hydrology of the inland wetland system, which in turn is driven by the local climate's seasonal patterns. The response of macrophyte biomass production to seasonal changes in water depth, influenced by rainfall patterns and air temperatures in the freshwater King'wal riverine wetland of Kenya, remains unclear. This study investigated seasonal productivity of emergent macrophytes in relation to water depth and humaninduced disturbances in the King'wal riverine wetland of Kenya. Water depths were measured across four study sites using a graduated meter-ruler. Monthly harvesting of above-ground emergent macrophyte biomass took place just above the soil surface in three 1 m 2 quadrats at each of the four sites, spanning from September 2021 to August 2022. The harvested macrophyte samples were cut, air dried, and oven dried at 65°C to constant weight. The weight was expressed in grams per square meter. Historical rainfall data spanning from 2011 to 2021 was acquired for two stations near the wetland. Daily data for both rainfall and temperature were collected for the study period from three stations: Baraton, Tebeson farm, and Moi University. The Mann-Kendall test was employed, revealing a significant reduction in rainfall (tau = -0.102, P < 0.05) in the area. A negative and significant relationship was established between water depth in the wetland and biomass productivity (rho = -0.59; P < 0.001). Biomass accumulation and productivity can indicate climate change impacts over a longer period of time.

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Grassland vegetation sampling - a practical guide for sampling and data analysis

Cited by 6 publications

References 53 publications

Functional and taxonomic alpha and beta diversity responses to burning grasslands in southern Brazil

Functional and taxonomic alpha and beta diversity responses to burning grasslands in southern Brazil

Invasão Por Gramíneas Exóticas Em Campos Sobre Paleodunas: Efeitos Na Diversidade Florística

Impacts of climate variables and seasonal water depth on emergent macrophyte biomass production in Kingwal riverine wetland, Kenya

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