Sustainability of traditional pastoral fires in highlands under global change: Effects on soil function and nutrient cycling

Emeterio, Leticia San; Múgica, Leire; Ugarte, M. D.; Goicoa, T.; Canals, R. M.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2016.10.009

Cited by 58 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…The lower Simpson diversity and evenness in burned encroached habitats compared to unburned encroached grassland indicate that fire modifies the dominance hierarchy, favoring single species at the expense of species diversity (Enyedi et al., ; Canals, Pedro, Rupérez, & San‐Emeterio, ). This response is a result of the complex interplay between increased productivity as a feedback to post‐fire nutrient release (Gross, Mittelbach, & Reynolds, ; San Emeterio, Múgica, Ugarte, Goicoa, & Canals, ), increased light availability after burning (Belsky, ) and species‐specific traits such as ramet production, clonal growth or longevity of leaves, which seem to be closely associated with the frequency of disturbance in a habitat (Kahlert, Ryser, & Edwards, ; Canals et al., ). We expected to find higher nutrient availability in burned plots compared to unburned plots, which was not confirmed by the Ellenberg N ‐values, perhaps due to the stronger effects of woody species encroachment on the soil's nutrient status.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of woody species encroachment and fire on vegetation and the soil seed bank in dry grasslands of Transylvania

Görzen

Borisova

Fenesi

et al. 2019

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions: (a) In which ways do woody species encroachment and fire affect vegetation and seed bank composition, structure and diversity in Transylvanian dry grassland; (b) do native and non-native woody species differ with respect to their impact on grassland community composition and structure; (c) is burning useful to control woody species encroachment; and (d) can soil seed banks contribute to the restoration of grasslands in Transylvania? Location: Transylvania, Romania. Methods: We collected data on vegetation and seed bank composition in 4 m 2 plots in 16 shrub-encroached grasslands and adjacent open grassland. Data were analyzed with regard to the impact of woody species encroachment (native vs non-native) and fire on grassland vegetation and the seed bank using NMDS and LME models combined with ANOVA and Tukey contrast tests.Results: Encroachment was accompanied by a decrease in plant species diversity and altered microclimatic conditions. There was a lack of sufficient evidence for a difference in effect size between native and non-native woody species on tested vegetation or seed bank parameters. While the effects of fire on vegetation were weak compared to encroachment, burning failed to reduce the cover of woody species sustainably. Grassland vegetation and the seed bank differed significantly in species composition and diversity, indicating a limited potential for restoration from the seed bank alone. Conclusions:To halt secondary succession in Transylvanian grassland sustainably, we suggest the establishment of a post-fire management regime including the cutting of woody species and/or re-introduction of grazing and mowing. Grassland restoration from the seed bank may be supported by the introduction of species from surrounding intact grassland. K E Y W O R D S dry grassland, fire, Hippophae rhamnoides, invasive shrub, native and non-native woody species, plant species composition, plant species diversity, restoration and management, seed bank, Transylvania, vegetation, woody species encroachment 410 | Applied Vegetation Science GÖRZEN Et al.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of woody species encroachment and fire on vegetation and the soil seed bank in dry grasslands of Transylvania

Görzen

Borisova

Fenesi

et al. 2019

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…Moreover, the influence of fire on soil fertility showed contradictory results. Some authors reported soil nutrient decreases after prescribed fire events (Martínez-Mena et al, 2001;San Emeterio et al, 2016;Nuche et al, 2018), while others reported neutral or even positive effects on soil nutrients (Fernandes et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clearing vs. burning for restoring Pyrenean grasslands after shrub encroachment

Alados

Sáiz

Nuche

et al. 2019

CIG

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Anthropogenic activities have modified vegetation on subalpine belts for a long time, lowering the treeline ecotone and influencing the landscape mainly through grazing and fire. The abandonment of these traditional land use practices during the last decades and global warming are contributing largely to the colonization of woody species in subalpine grasslands, causing irreversible changes in ecosystem functioning. A variety of management strategies requiring the use of fire and/or clear-cutting are carried out to prevent the expansion of highly encroaching shrubs and improve the conservation status of subhumid high-productive grasslands ecosystems. However, it is still poorly understood how different management strategies affect the recovery of subalpine grasslands, which is influenced concurrently by the vegetation community involved. In this study we used field experiments to test the impact of management treatments on soil properties and vegetation responses in subalpine Bromion erecti grassland communities colonized by the pyrophyte shrub Echinospartum horridum (Vahl) Rothm. on the southern Pyrenees. Vegetation was monitored for 5 years in E. horridum plots (two plots per treatment) where the vegetation was removed by prescribed fire (Burnt treatment) or by mechanical removal (Clear-cut treatment). Undisturbed E. horridum plots were used as a control (C-Erizón) for shrub removal treatments and a Bromion erecti grassland community regularly grazed (C-Grass) was used as a control for subalpine grassland. Clear-cut treatment of E. horridum community was more effective to control E. horridum colonization than Burnt treatment and contributed to a higher extent to recover original grassland vegetation, because E. horridum seedling performed worse (lower germination rates) and plant species were more similar to the original grassland (legumes, non-legume forbs, and grasses). Shrubs and sub-shrubs cover in Burnt areas increased faster than in Clear-cut areas during the 5 years following the treatment, although it did not reach the level of C-Erizón. Species richness and diversity increased in comparison with C-Erizón in both treatments, but they were significantly lower than those in the C-Grass. Network connectivity was larger in well preserved grasslands, i.e, C-Grass, than in any other treatments, mainly dominated by negative plant-plant association. Soils nutrients declined in Burnt sites 4 years after the fire treatment and no difference was observed between Clear-cut and C-Erizón sites, although they did not reach the soil fertility values of C-Grass in terms of organic matter and C/N ratio. This study showed that grazing favors plant diversity and community complexity in subalpine grasslands. It also demonstrated that clearing is a better strategy than burning to restore grasslands after shrub encroachment because burning entails deeper soil degradation and faster recovering of the pyrophyte shrub, E. horridum.

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“…Prescribed fires, or controlled fires, are a tool to reduce the accumulation of fuel and the risk of fire. In addition, they promote the regeneration of pastures for livestock grazing, and conserve biodiversity and cultural landscapes (Fernandes et al, 2013;San Emeterio et al, 2016). Canals (2019) justifies the environmental interest in the combination of prescribed fires-guided grazing (pyro herbivory) as a tool for handling mountain ecosystems, for which it is essential to combine traditional knowledge of shepherds with the technical and scientific knowledge.…”

Section: Combining Extensive Livestock Grazing With Prescribed Fires mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prescribed fires also affect the land to a certain extent. San Emeterio et al (2016) point out the reduction in microbial biomass in the soil for at least the first two years following fire. Fonseca et al (2017) observed chemical changes in the soil.…”

Section: Combining Extensive Livestock Grazing With Prescribed Fires mentioning

confidence: 99%

Gestión activa frente a matorralización: buscando el equilibrio entre conservación y explotación en montaña

Lasanta

2019

CIG

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The mountains of Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, have undergone a significant process of revegetation since the mid-20 th century with the spread of shrublands and forests in succession stages. This leads to negative effects (degradation of pasture, accumulation of biomass with the subsequent increase in fire risk, loss or trivialized of cultural landscapes, etc.) and other positive ones (greater rewilding of landscapes, recovery of forest life, more CO 2 fixation, less soil erosion, etc.). Thus, two alternatives must be put forward: either allow the rewilding process to continue, or intervene in the region to reduce the negative effects of revegetation.In this paper, the literature forms the base for a discussion on the main interventions in the territory: extensive livestock grazing, combined with prescribed fires and shrub clearing. Prescribed fires are found to be insufficient to control the spread of shrublands, and in some cases promotes its regrowth (Echinospartum horridum), as well as degrading the pasture land and increasing soil erosion. On the other hand, clearing shrubland has positive effects: a reduction in wildfires, increased livestock numbers, and improved indicators of heterogeneity and fragmentation of the landscape. Gestión activa frente a matorralización: buscando el equilibrio entre conservación y explotación en montañaRESUMEN. Las montañas europeas, especialmente las mediterráneas, experimentan un importante proceso de revegetación desde mediados del siglo XX, con el avance de matorrales y bosques de sucesión. Ello implica unos efectos negativos (degradación de pastos, acumulación de biomasa, con el incremento del riesgo de incendios, pérdida o banalización de paisajes cul-turales…) y positivos (mayor naturalización del paisaje, recuperación de la vida silvestre, mayor fijación de CO 2 , disminución de la erosión del suelo…). De ahí, que se planteen dos alternativas: dejar que el proceso de revegetación continúe o intervenir en el territorio para disminuir los efectos negativos de la revegetación. Lasanta 424 Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica 45 (2), 2019, pp. 423-440En este trabajo se discute, a partir de la literatura, sobre las principales intervenciones en el territorio: ganadería extensiva en combinación con quemas prescritas y desbroce de matorrales. Se señala que las quemas prescritas resultan insuficientes para controlar la expansión de matorrales, favoreciendo en algunos casos (Echinospartum horridum) su rejuvenecimiento, además de degradar la comunidad de pastos e incrementar la erosión del suelo. El desbroce de matorrales, por el contrario, muestra efectos positivos: disminución de incendios, aumento de los censos ganaderos e incremento en los índices de heterogeneidad y fragmentación del paisaje.

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Sustainability of traditional pastoral fires in highlands under global change: Effects on soil function and nutrient cycling

Cited by 58 publications

References 74 publications

Effects of woody species encroachment and fire on vegetation and the soil seed bank in dry grasslands of Transylvania

Effects of woody species encroachment and fire on vegetation and the soil seed bank in dry grasslands of Transylvania

Clearing vs. burning for restoring Pyrenean grasslands after shrub encroachment

Gestión activa frente a matorralización: buscando el equilibrio entre conservación y explotación en montaña

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