2015
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1531
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Long‐term livestock exclusion facilitates native woody plant encroachment in a sandy semiarid rangeland

Abstract: The role of livestock grazing in regulating woody cover and biomass in grass-dominant systems is well recognized. However, the way in which woody plant populations in respond when livestock are removed from grazing in the absence of other disturbances, such as fire, remains unclear.We conducted a 10-year, replicated fencing experiment in a sandy semiarid rangeland in northern China (which has a mean annual rainfall of 365 mm), where fires have been actively suppressed for decades.Fencing dramatically influence… Show more

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Cited by 29 publications
(25 citation statements)
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“…The GGW program has greatly improved vegetation cover and effectively reduced dust storm intensity in parts of northern China [8], but other researchers point to warmer temperatures and greater rainfall as being more important drivers of greening trends in the area [146], and the value of large-scale afforestation in controlling desertification and soil erosion in China has been questioned due to low tree survival rates [147]. Huang et al [148] report that rangeland restoration programs have resulted in a systematic increase in the area of grassland in most northern and western regions, but Su et al [149] warn that bush encroachment is an unexpected outcome of the grazing ban on sandy rangelands in Inner Mongolia.…”
Section: Contemporary National Regional and International Plansmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The GGW program has greatly improved vegetation cover and effectively reduced dust storm intensity in parts of northern China [8], but other researchers point to warmer temperatures and greater rainfall as being more important drivers of greening trends in the area [146], and the value of large-scale afforestation in controlling desertification and soil erosion in China has been questioned due to low tree survival rates [147]. Huang et al [148] report that rangeland restoration programs have resulted in a systematic increase in the area of grassland in most northern and western regions, but Su et al [149] warn that bush encroachment is an unexpected outcome of the grazing ban on sandy rangelands in Inner Mongolia.…”
Section: Contemporary National Regional and International Plansmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…However, because of lacking in human interference, the fierce competition of plants, caused by limited resources, may induce intense intra-and interspecific competition in exclosure grasslands (Angassa & Oba, 2010;Catford et al, 2012;Connell, 1979;Oba, Vetaas, & Stenseth, 2001). This may lead to a loss of biodiversity and ultimately cause redegradation of ecosystem after long-term fencing (Shang et al, 2010;Su, Liu, Xu, Wang, & Li, 2015).…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Recent studies focused on the effects of grazing bans/exclosure mostly concentrated on plant community characteristics (Deng, Zhang, & Shangguan, 2014;Li, Zhang, et al, 2017;Li, Cao, et al, 2017;Liu et al, 2015;Rooyen et al, 2014;Wal, Bardgett, Harrison, & Stien, 2004;Wu et al, 2009) and soil properties (Li, Zhang, et al, 2017;Li, Cao, et al, 2017;Mekuria & Aynekulu, 2013;Zhu et al, 2016;Zou et al, 2016). Plenty studies have focused on the evaluation of aboveground vegetation and soil based on different restoration time or management types (Su et al, 2015;Zhu et al, 2016).…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Grazing has a role in changing the composition of plant communities by reducing the abundance of palatable plants and promoting ephemeral plants (Milton & Hoffman 1994). Heavy grazing can lead to the deterioration of the vegetation cover by consuming plant species and trampling (Su et al 2015). The reduction of vegetation cover and its replacement by annual plants makes the soil more susceptible to wind and water erosion in consequence, the processes of desertification.…”
Section: Discussion:-mentioning
confidence: 99%