Herbivore Effects on Plant Species Density at Varying Productivity Levels

Gough, Laura; Grace, James B.

doi:10.2307/176778

Cited by 45 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Several studies indicate that the effects of fertility and productivity on diversity in old-field and grassland communities may be strongly influenced by the inhibitory effects of accumulated plant litter in addition to competition (Carson and Peterson 1990, Tilman 1993, Foster and Gross 1997, Gough and Grace 1998. As in our study, Carson and Peterson (1990) found that experimental additions of plant litter reduced plant density and species richness in a Solidago-dominated old field.…”

Section: Fig 3 Treatment Effects On (A)supporting

confidence: 74%

Species Richness in a Successional Grassland: Effects of Nitrogen Enrichment and Plant Litter

Foster¹,

Gross²

1998

Ecology

190

267

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Abstract. We conducted a field experiment in a successional grassland to investigate the short-term effects of nitrogen enrichment and plant litter on plant species richness and on the establishment of a native grass (Andropogon gerardi) that was experimentally introduced to the study site as seed. Additions of nitrogen fertilizer to experimental plots over two growing seasons increased plant production as indicated by increases in both living plant biomass and litter biomass. Increased productivity reduced species richness by effectively preventing the seedling establishment of the subordinate forb species and reduced the recruitment of Andropogon gerardi by inhibiting both germination and survival. Litter removals carried out at each of two levels of nitrogen enrichment (no nitrogen, nitrogen added) showed that litter significantly reduced species richness by the same amount in fertilized and unfertilized plots, suggesting that living biomass and litter were purely additive, rather than interactive in their effects. In contrast, the results of litter additions suggested that the declines in richness associated with fertilization could largely be due to the suppressive effects of increased litter biomass alone. As a whole, the results indicate that litter and living biomass are largely substitutable in their inhibitory effects on species richness in highly productive successional grasslands due to their independent and equivalent capacities to attenuate light to very low levels. This study highlights the combined roles of competition and plant litter in influencing the diversity of grasslands through effects on seedling establishment.

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Section: Fig 3 Treatment Effects On (A)supporting

confidence: 74%

Species Richness in a Successional Grassland: Effects of Nitrogen Enrichment and Plant Litter

Foster¹,

Gross²

1998

Ecology

190

267

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“…Gough and Grace 1998;Todd and Hoffman 1999). Many grassland plants are long-lived and it may therefore take a long time before the effects of experimental treatments are reflected in vegetation composition and species richness (Schla¨pfer and Fischer 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relation Between Unpalatable Species, Nutrients and Plant Species Richness in Swiss Montane Pastures

Kleijn

Müller‐Schärer

2006

Biodivers Conserv

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Abstract. In agriculturally marginal areas, the control of unpalatable weeds on species rich pastures may become problematic due to agricultural and socio-economic developments. It is unclear how increased dominance of unpalatable species would affect the botanical diversity of these grasslands. We investigated whether there was any relationship between plant species diversity and the abundance of unpalatable species and whether soil conditions affected this relationship. In three species-rich montane pastures in western Switzerland, we related plant species richness to soil attributes, the relative cover of all unpalatable species and the relative cover of the locally dominant, toxic Veratrum album in 25 plots of 4 m 2 . We furthermore determined species richness in small transects through patches of V. album. Species richness was significantly lower in and near ( £ 0.3 m) patches of V. album. At the field scale, plant species richness was best described by total soil N:P ratio (positive relation) in one site and the relative abundance of unpalatable species (negative relation) and soil N:P ratio (positive relation) in a second site. In the third site, species richness was not significantly related to any measured variable. Vegetation diversity (Simpson's D) was negatively related to the relative abundance of unpalatable species in one site and positively related to pH in another site. The results suggest that no single factor can explain plant species richness and diversity in montane pastures. At very high densities unpalatable species can have adverse effects but soil nutrient status appears to be a more general determinant of plant species richness. Conservation efforts should give priority to the prevention of intensification of these pastures.

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“…Geese also are damaging grazers, but their impacts in the GoM are more localized. These animals can cause "eatouts" that result in denuded marsh surfaces that often recover slowly or not at all (Kerbes et al 1990;Linscombe and Kinler 1997;Gough and Grace 1998;Randall and Foote 2005). Herbivore impacts from invertebrates (for example, snails in Louisiana and Georgia (Silliman et al 2005) and crabs in New England (Holdredge et al 2008)), causing denuding of marshes, also have been reported.…”

Section: Herbivorymentioning

confidence: 99%