Redistribution of phosphorus by cattle on a traditional mountain pasture in the Alps

Jewell, Peter L.; Käuferle, Dominik; Güsewell, Sabine; Berry, N. R.; Kreuzer, Michael; Edwards, Peter J.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2007.02.012

Cited by 57 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Furthermore, social behavior may affect nutrient release. When herbivores defecate in common latrines, they concentrate nutrients in the landscape (e.g., rhinos, rabbits, horses), which function as hotspots of nutrients, possibly with a low N:P ratio, though data are scarce and not fully consistent regarding the effect on soil P (see Edwards and Hollis, 1982;Willott et al, 2000;Jewell et al, 2007). In this respect, there are similarities and differences between terrestrial and aquatic habitats.…”

Section: Applying Rule 2 To Terrestrial Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 96%

The Stoichiometry of Nutrient Release by Terrestrial Herbivores and Its Ecosystem Consequences

et al. 2017

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It is widely recognized that the release of nutrients by herbivores via their waste products strongly impacts nutrient availability for autotrophs. The ratios of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) recycled through herbivore release (i.e., waste N:P) are mainly determined by the stoichiometric composition of the herbivore's food (food N:P) and its body nutrient content (body N:P). Waste N:P can in turn impact autotroph nutrient limitation and productivity. Herbivore-driven nutrient recycling based on stoichiometric principles is dominated by theoretical and experimental research in freshwater systems, in particular interactions between algae and invertebrate herbivores. In terrestrial ecosystems, the impact of herbivores on nutrient cycling and availability is often limited to studying carbon (C):N and C:P ratios, while the role of terrestrial herbivores in mediating N:P ratios is also likely to influence herbivore-driven nutrient recycling. In this review, we use rules and predictions on the stoichiometry of nutrient release originating from algal-based aquatic systems to identify the factors that determine the stoichiometry of nutrient release by herbivores. We then explore how these rules can be used to understand the stoichiometry of nutrient release by terrestrial herbivores, ranging from invertebrates to mammals, and its impact on plant nutrient limitation and productivity. Future studies should focus on measuring both N and P when investigating herbivore-driven nutrient recycling in terrestrial ecosystems, while also taking the form of waste product (urine or feces) and other pathways by which herbivores change nutrients into account, to be able to quantify the impact of waste stoichiometry on plant communities.

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Section: Applying Rule 2 To Terrestrial Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 96%

The Stoichiometry of Nutrient Release by Terrestrial Herbivores and Its Ecosystem Consequences

et al. 2017

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“…At medium scale (10-100 m), the spatial patterning of dung pat density is generally heterogeneous inside a paddock, especially for a large paddock with various habitats and low stocking rate (White et al, 2001;Jewell et al, 2005;Kohler et al, 2006). In case this spatial pattern persists over years, it can lead to a redistribution of nutrients over the paddock, which in turn can induce a directional drift in plant succession (Jewell et al, 2007). At fine scale (0.1-10 m) and short term (one season) the patchiness of dung deposition has a direct impact on local vegetation dynamics by altering biotic interactions and nutrient availability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of dung deposition on small-scale patch structure and seasonal vegetation dynamics in mountain pastures

Gillet¹,

Köhler²,

Vandenberghe³

et al. 2010

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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International audienceCattle activity greatly influences plant species composition and biomass production of grassland ecosystems. Dung deposition by cattle together with grazing and trampling can be considered as one of the important factors driving vegetation dynamics in pastures. The objective of this study was to investigate at 10-cm and 1-month resolution the plant community dynamics induced by dung deposition in two plant communities (a mesotrophic and an oligotrophic grassland) in a pasture of the Swiss Jura Mountains. Vegetation was sampled four or three times during the vegetation period in contiguous 10 cm x 10 cm quadrats from the centre of the dung pat to a distance of 60 cm. A lower grazing intensity near the dung pat was recorded for all observation periods. In the mesotrophic grassland the canopy was higher near the dung pat already one week after dung deposition. Vegetation around dung pats was submitted to two opposite fertilizing and grazing gradients, which induced changes in vegetation texture and structure at fine scale and short term. We observed a positive rank correlation between species turnover and distance to the dung for both communities, suggesting a seasonal stabilizing effect of dung on the plant composition of their direct surroundings (0–10 cm) likely due to cattle avoidance. Since dung pats are dropped every year in different locations, they create in the pasture a shifting mosaic of nutrient availability and grazing intensity inducing at seasonal scale microsuccessions in plant communities

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“…Pastoral management is one of the most important drivers of soil and plant nutrient 52 concentration in alpine pastures, due to the removal and accumulation of nutrients that livestock 53 exert by grazing and deposing dung and urine, respectively (Jewell et al, 2007;Lonati et al, 54 2015). The concentration of soil nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorous, affects plant 55 diversity and forage yield and quality as well (Güsewell et al, 2012;Gardarin et al, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant diversity and pastoral value in alpine pastures are maximized at different nutrient indicator values

Pittarello

Lonati

Gorlier

et al. 2018

Ecological Indicators

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Redistribution of phosphorus by cattle on a traditional mountain pasture in the Alps

Cited by 57 publications

References 20 publications

The Stoichiometry of Nutrient Release by Terrestrial Herbivores and Its Ecosystem Consequences

The Stoichiometry of Nutrient Release by Terrestrial Herbivores and Its Ecosystem Consequences

Effect of dung deposition on small-scale patch structure and seasonal vegetation dynamics in mountain pastures

Plant diversity and pastoral value in alpine pastures are maximized at different nutrient indicator values

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