Short duration overnight cattle kraaling in natural rangelands: Implications for grass composition, quality, above ground biomass, species diversity and basal cover

Huruba, Rangarirai; Mlambo, Tafadzwa; Mundy, Peter J.; Sebata, Allan; MacFadyen, Duncan N.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2018.02.004

Cited by 22 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Our results align with those of Huruba et al. , who showed 7 d to be sufficient to create glade‐like vegetation at a site in southern Africa. In contrast, Sibanda et al.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…, Huruba et al. ), and presumably higher forage quality on the longer‐occupied boma sites, is one such important factor (sensu Augustine ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These 7-d site results emphasize that wildlife foraging decisions are shaped not only by plant species composition, but by other factors as well. Though we were unable to collect data on forage quality during this experiment, we hypothesize that higher forage quality on abandoned boma sites (van der Waal et al 2011, Sibanda et al 2016, Huruba et al 2018, and presumably higher forage quality on the longeroccupied boma sites, is one such important factor (sensu Augustine 2004).…”

Section: Herbivore Responsementioning

confidence: 97%

“…In southern Africa, bomas kept in place for 7 d increased the proportion of palatable grasses but produced only a short‐term wildlife response (Huruba et al. , ). Presumably, below a minimum duration of occupation, short‐term mobile bomas will not capture enough cattle‐derived nutrients and seeds to convert to a glade‐like vegetation state, even given sufficient moisture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In central Kenya, Porensky and Veblen (2015) showed that a mobile boma kept in place for one month was sufficient to create a glade-like feature that attracted wild herbivores and provided palatable forage for livestock. In southern Africa, bomas kept in place for 7 d increased the proportion of palatable grasses but produced only a short-term wildlife response (Huruba et al 2017(Huruba et al , 2018. Presumably, below a minimum duration of occupation, short-term mobile bomas will not capture enough cattle-derived nutrients and seeds to convert to a glade-like vegetation state, even given sufficient moisture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Thresholds are in the eye of the beholder: plants and wildlife respond differently to short‐term cattle corrals

Veblen

Porensky

2019

Ecological Applications

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Citation: Veblen, K. E., and L. M. Porensky. 2019. Thresholds are in the eye of the beholder: plants and wildlife respond differently to short-term cattle corrals. Ecological Applications 29(8):Abstract. Rangelands are governed by threshold dynamics, and factors such as drought, wildfire, and herbivory can drive change across thresholds and between ecological states. Most work on this topic has focused on shifts in a single response variable, vegetation, and little research has considered how to reconcile responses of more than one variable to determine whether a system has undergone a genuine state change. In sub-Saharan Africa, mobile overnight livestock corrals (bomas) can be used by managers to precipitate ecological transitions from areas dominated by bare ground to productive ecosystem hotspots (glades) that are attractive to wild herbivores. We asked how long bomas must be occupied by cattle before undergoing a state change, considering both plant and animal response variables, to glade ecosystem hotspots. We tested five durations of boma occupation: 0, 4, 7, 14, and 28 days. Each treatment was replicated five times, and we assessed vegetation as well as herbivore dung (as a proxy of use) at multiple time points over 3 yr following boma abandonment. Vegetation in 7-, 14-, and 28-d boma duration treatments appeared to undergo a complete transition to glade-like plant communities, whereas the shortest 4-d treatment had not converted to a glade plant community by year 3. Wildlife responses appeared to lag behind vegetation responses, with transitions to glade-like herbivore use occurring only in the longest duration (14-and 28d) treatments. Our results show that different response variables, when considered individually, may provide incomplete or misleading information about state changes. Although shorteroccupied bomas might be effective for reducing bare ground, they may not attract enough wild herbivores to constitute crossing into an alternative state. Understanding threshold dynamics associated not only with vegetation responses but with a broader suite of response variables is challenging, but will provide a more complete representation of ecosystem function and greater opportunity for more successful ecosystem management.

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“…Our results align with those of Huruba et al. , who showed 7 d to be sufficient to create glade‐like vegetation at a site in southern Africa. In contrast, Sibanda et al.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…, Huruba et al. ), and presumably higher forage quality on the longer‐occupied boma sites, is one such important factor (sensu Augustine ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%