The Impacts of Vertebrate Grazers on Vegetation in European High Mountains

Effects of Recreational Traffic on Alpine Plant Communities in the Northern Canadian Rockies

“…To evaluate structural and functional changes on vegetation, however, long-term controlled grazing trials are necessary. Factors such as years of exclusion from grazing combined with grazing intensity, type of grazers, and climate variability can shape the response of vegetation (Milchunas and Lauenroth, 1993;Erschbamer et al, 2003). Also, changes found in this study, including height and biomass, could be homogenized over winter because of compensatory mechanisms (Briske et al, 2003).…”

Human use and conservation planning in Alpine areas of Northwestern Yunnan, China

“…The herders we interviewed reported neither a general decrease in alpine fodder levels, nor an increase in inedible plant species, both well-known indicators of grazing land degradation (Mohamed-Saleem and Wuldo, 2002;Erschbamer et al, 2003). Many herders did indicate that fodder quality in areas directly surrounding camps, where livestock are kept during the night, is becoming degraded.…”

Review on the Geographic and Elevational Distribution of the Mountain Long-Eared Bat Plecotus Macrobullaris, Completed by Utilising a Specific Mist-Netting Technique

“…Other indirect effects of the animals, such as trampling and fertilization, are more important. The accumulation of excrement in rest areas or other locations frequented by the animals often causes significant changes in the vegetation (Erschbamer et al 2003).…”

“…The overgrazing of alpine grasslands can lead to significant changes in biomass, floristic composition, diversity, and the recycling of nutrients in the community (Erschbamer et al 2003). In some areas of Southern Carpathians grazing has been forbidden in zones where 6170 and other alpine habitats are present (projects LIFE 03 NAT/000032 "Natura 2000 sites in Piatra Craiului National Park").…”

“…Some alpine species are tolerant to high levels of herbivory (Diemer 1996, Lee et al 2000. In addition, the impacts of herbivores on mountain grasslands are more a consequence of the spatial distribution of fertilization and trampling than an effect of defoliation (Erschbamer et al 2003).…”