Yak Dung Deposition Affects Litter Mixing Effects on Mass Loss in Tibetan Alpine Grassland

Liang, Defei; Lamb, Eric G.; Zhang, Shiting

doi:10.1016/j.rama.2018.11.004

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…S1). Similar findings support this explanation, as it has been found that the presence of manure from both exotic and native animals, can increase plant diversity and cover [12,[26][27][28][29]. However, it is important to highlight that while total cover tended to augment in closer sectors, the remaining response variables in Tolar exhibited no discernible changes between distances from the corral.…”

Section: Plant Functional Types and Grazing Pressure Indexsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…Conversely, at the Tolar ecological site, total cover and cover of herbaceous dicotyledons decreased towards intermediate values of the GPI, suggesting a potential threshold effect where moderate grazing pressure may lead to reduced vegetation cover. Low vegetation cover values at both ends of the index could be explained by reduced plant consumption by livestock at low GPI values (less pressure), and likely by dung fertilization at higher GPI values [26][27][28][29][30]. The only negative linear response regarding the GPI was for the cover of clonal shrubs at the Tolar ecological site.…”

Section: Plant Functional Types and Grazing Pressure Indexmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Grazing Pressure and Plant Functional Types in Puna Highlands, Northwestern Argentina

Mariana,

Andrés

2024

Phyton

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The Puna grasslands support grazing systems that produce meat and wool in multi-species herds, especially from llama (Lama glama) and sheep. However, it is yet unknown whether grazing pressure can modify grassland structure and Plant Functional Types diversity and cover in Puna grasslands. We analyzed the relationship between grazing pressure and Plant Functional Types by comparing transects located near stockyards (high grazing pressure) and far from them (low pressure) and by evaluating the relationship between the Plant Functional Types cover to a Grazing Pressure Index (GPI). This index incorporates the heterogeneity of traditional pastoral management. At two ecological sites (Ciénego and Tolar), we sampled paired transects (near-far). Plots near and far from corrals were similar in all the variables measured except for plots in Tolar, which tend to have higher total cover, possibly due to fecal fertilization near stockyards. Furthermore, we recorded an increase in total cover and grass cover at higher GPI in Ciénego, while in Tolar we found lower values of total cover and herbaceous dicotyledonous cover at intermediate intensities of GPI. The only negative relationship found was the cover of clonal and non-clonal shrubs, possibly explained by the greater use of these shrubs as firewood near stockyards. In summary, our study does not show important changes in Plant Functional Types as a function of grazing pressure in the studied grasslands probably because grazing pressure is diluted or diminished when livestock rotates in different areas and grazing durations vary. Finally, the long grazing history with which the Puna has evolved could also contribute to the co-structuration between native vegetation and livestock farming.

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