Short-Term Effects of Cattle Browsing on Tree Sapling Growth in Mountain Wooded Pastures

Abstract

Browsing by livestock has been identified as an important factor preventing tree regeneration in wooded pastures. Two field experiments were performed to investigate the effects of cattle browsing on tree sapling growth in a mountainwooded pasture. Two size classes (ca. 12-17 cm and 41-59 cm) of each of 4 species (Picea abies, Abies alba, Acer pseudoplatanus and Fagus sylvatica) were exposed to zero, low and high grazing intensities. We measured the proportion of saplings browsed and the effect of browsing on growth. A mowing treatment within the zero grazing intensity treatment showed no significant effect on sapling growth. One percent of the large saplings but 25% of the small saplings escaped browsing. Saplings were better protected when surrounded by taller vegetation. The proportion of saplings browsed was not significantly different among species although evergreen tree saplings lost a larger proportion of biomass than deciduous species when browsed. Under grazing, average current-year shoot production and total aboveground biomass of all species were significantly reduced. Browsing effects tended to be smaller at the lower grazing intensity. Because the deciduous species were least reduced in aboveground growth, especially under the low grazing intensity, we conclude that at least in short-term, deciduous species are less affected by cattle browsing.

Seed bank persistence of clonal weeds in contrasting habitats: implications for control

“…In the Pre-Alps, the most common herbaceous species were Festuca rubra, Agrostis capillaris, Polygonum bistorta, V. album and G. lutea (Kleijn and Mü ller-Schä rer 2006). In the Jura Mountains, the vegetation was dominated by F. rubra, A. capillaris, Cynosurus cristatus, Alchemilla xantochlora Vandenberghe et al 2006). In general, hay meadows tended to be moister than the forests and pastures, which occurred on slightly steeper slopes and higher altitudes (Table 2); the altitudes of the sites ranged 1020-1555 m a.s.l.…”

Effects of forest management on ground beetle diversity in alpine beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) stands

“…Annex 1 of the "Habitats Directive" (92/43/EEC) lists eight habitat types characterized by beech forests as worthy of conservation. Current threats to beech forest ecosystems include climate change (Gessler et al, 2007;Di Filippo et al, 2012), increased likelihood of drought and fire damage (Piovesan et al, 2008;Ascoli et al, 2013), impact of tourism (Negro et al, 2009;Rolando et al, 2013), habitat loss and fragmentation (Kunstler et al, 2007), grazing by domestic or wild ungulates (Vandenberghe et al, 2007;Olesen and Madsen, 2008) and changes in forest management (Mund and Schulze, 2006;Wagner et al, 2011).…”

Grazing and abandonment determine different tree dynamics in wood-pastures

“…However, large herbivores trample large numbers of small seedlings and graze them among grass (Smit et al 2006). Later, larger seedlings or saplings of palatable tree species are browsed selectively, while unpalatable seedlings are avoided (Lampimäki 1939;Vandenberghe et al 2007). Broadleaved deciduous trees are often favored, whereas conifers are avoided.…”

“…Broadleaved deciduous trees are often favored, whereas conifers are avoided. Deciduous trees, however, have a greater potential for compensatory growth (Hester et al 2004;Vandenberghe et al 2007). The browsing pressure on palatable seedlings may be lower if they are protected by surrounding unpalatable vegetation (Smit et al 2006;VanUytvanck et al 2008).…”