Year-round horse grazing supports typical vascular plant species, orchids and rare bird communities in a dry calcareous grassland

Kohler, Malcom; Hiller, Georg; Tischew, Sabine

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2016.03.020

Cited by 59 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Indeed, intermediate levels of grazing can benefit orchids because it forestalls reforestation. Fischer and Wipf [53] found that in sites where grazing occurs, the percentage of shrubs and woody plants was low, while Köhler et al [54] found that orchids can be benefited from moderate grazing, since it maintains low species competition, favourable conditions (space and lighting), as well as will enhance useful soil nutrients. The Mediterranean landscape is undoubtedly shaped by human presence [55], and its flora is replete with many examples of the co-evolution of plants with grazing animals [56, 57].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of salep collection for the conservation of the Elder-flowered orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) in Epirus, Greece

Charitonidou

Stara

Kougioumoutzis

et al. 2019

J of Biol Res-Thessaloniki

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BackgroundIn Epirus, Greece, orchids have been traditionally harvested for the production of salep, a beverage made from their tubers. Over-collection of orchids for salep is believed to be a growing threat to wild species, yet very little research has concentrated on orchid populations in the wild. Here, we studied the impact of salep collection on population demographic parameters and uniformity of distribution patterns of the Elder-flowered orchid, Dactylorhiza sambucina, the most commonly collected orchid in northern Greece.MethodsWe carried out fieldwork in four meadows where salep harvesting occurs, and conducted interviews in villages close to these sites. Fieldwork focused on the demographic parameters of orchid populations and on the characteristics of their habitat (natural-anthropogenic). We also measured population size and distribution, extent and multi-scale density, comparing distributions to Poisson and fractal models.ResultsAccording to interviews, salep collection by the local community has decreased, contrary to collection by people outside the community, which is increasing. Interviewees did not believe that orchid abundance was higher in the past; they claim that it can be very variable. None of the participants seemed aware of the legislation to conserve orchids. Demographic parameters did not seem to be strongly dependent on whether it was a harvested and non-harvested sites and population density was greatest in the site of highest collection pressure.ConclusionsOur findings show that salep collection is still ongoing in Epirus. Our interview results and our population study indicate that current levels of collection are not significantly affecting the abundance of the Elder-flowered orchid in Epirus subalpine meadows. However, the expanding commercial collection could reach levels that threaten the species. There is a need for a longer-term monitoring of these orchid populations, and a more effective modeling of the species’ response to different harvesting pressures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of salep collection for the conservation of the Elder-flowered orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) in Epirus, Greece

Charitonidou

Stara

Kougioumoutzis

et al. 2019

J of Biol Res-Thessaloniki

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“…Surprisingly, free-roaming horses are perceived in extremely different ways: from totally destructive (Australia and the United States) [ 48 , 51 , 95 , 96 ] to beneficial (Europe) [ 19 , 20 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ] for the environment and biodiversity. The management of feral horses provokes debate and ethical concerns [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 48 , 51 , 95 , 96 ].…”

Section: Management Techniques To Assure Welfare In Semiferal Konimentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of Free-Roaming Horses: 70 Years of Experience with Konik Polski Breeding in Poland

Górecka-Bruzda

Jaworski

Jaworska

et al. 2020

Animals

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To prevent abuse and to assure the welfare of domestic horses, attempts to assess welfare in a standardized way have been made. Welfare-assessment tools often refer to the physical and social environments of feral domestic horses as examples of welfare-friendly conditions for horses. However, free-roaming horses are often exposed to conditions or states that may be regarded as welfare threats or abuse. The aim of this review was to present cases of welfare compromises as well as natural ways to restore high standards of welfare to Konik polski horses (Koniks) living in semiferal conditions in a forest sanctuary over the course of 70 years. Welfare problems in Koniks related to feeding, locomotor, social, reproductive, and comfort behavior, as well as health issues concerning hoof trimming and parasitism in Koniks, are discussed. Periodic food scarcity or abundance, stressful events around weaning and gathering, the consequences of fights among stallions, exposure to sire aggression during dispersal, lameness during “self-trimming,” exposure to insect harassment, high levels of parasitism, and specific landscape formations may endanger free-roaming horses. It has to be underlined that despite the excellent adaptability of horses to free-roaming conditions, one should be aware that welfare problems are to be expected in any semiferal population. Here, we present the management system applied for 70 years in free-roaming Konik polski horses that minimizes welfare threats. It allows close follow-up of individual horses, the strict monitoring of health and welfare on a daily basis, and if necessary, instant reactions from caretakers in cases of emergency. Moreover, it addresses the problem of starvation due to overgrazing and thus, the ethical controversy related to the eradication of surplus animals causing environmental damage.

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“…However, certain species do not establish permanent seed banks in the long term, and this includes the majority of species typical of grazing herbaceous ecosystems (Milberg, 1992;Thompson & Grime, 1979). For several decades, horse grazing in particular has been widely used for the management of semi-natural grasslands (Gilhaus & Hölzel, 2016;Köhler, Hiller, & Tischew, 2016;Loucougaray, Bonis, & Bouzillé, 2004). It enables vegetation to become structured in a mosaic of patches of shorter herbaceous strata that are more conducive to new plant species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous studies have investigated the impact of horse grazing on plant communities and its potential to meet conservation management objectives (Duncan, 1992;Henning, Lorenz, von Oheimb, Härdtle, & Tischew, 2017;Köhler et al, 2016). However, there has been little research on horse grazing in a highly artificial ecosystem (Lindenmayer et al, 2008), and such studies have rarely examined two compartments (above-ground vegetation, seed bank) in relation to forage quality (Gilhaus & Hölzel, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extensive horse grazing improves grassland vegetation diversity, seed bank and forage quality of artificial embankments (Rhône River - southern France)

Moinardeau

Mesléard

Ramone

et al. 2020

Journal for Nature Conservation

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Grazing by herds of herbivores modifies plant communities in different ways, depending on the herbivore species. Horse grazing is already known to be effective in increasing plant diversity and maintaining herbaceous vegetation, creating different types of patches and thus ensuring spatial heterogeneity. On an artificial embankment at the Donzère-Mondragon hydroelectric facility in the Rhône Valley, extensive grazing by a rustic horse (Konik-Polski) was introduced several years ago to control shrub encroachment and to enhance plant grassland diversity. Vegetation monitoring surveys over a five-year period (2014-2018) showed that horse grazing maintained patches of open and short grasslands and increased species-richness, in particular of annual species, some of which have heritage value. In contrast, overly-low grazing pressure led to the dominance of an unpalatable perennial grass (Brachypodium phoenicoides) at the expense of the annual species that significantly enhance the forage value of the most heavily grazed patches. Horse grazing also had a positive impact on the permanent seed bank of the soil, increasing its heterogeneity and the density of viable seeds. Extensive horse grazing thus appears to be a relevant management tool to preserve the diversity and the forage quality of the most open and short grasslands. Nevertheless, grazing pressure here remained too low to allow restoration of grasslands already colonised by woody species. Combining different livestock species might be a better alternative to pure horse grazing, to increase heterogeneity and diversity. Our results are discussed in relation to extensive horse grazing on artificial ecosystems, such as the embankments bordering rivers and canals.

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Year-round horse grazing supports typical vascular plant species, orchids and rare bird communities in a dry calcareous grassland

Cited by 59 publications

References 45 publications

Implications of salep collection for the conservation of the Elder-flowered orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) in Epirus, Greece

Implications of salep collection for the conservation of the Elder-flowered orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) in Epirus, Greece

Welfare of Free-Roaming Horses: 70 Years of Experience with Konik Polski Breeding in Poland

Extensive horse grazing improves grassland vegetation diversity, seed bank and forage quality of artificial embankments (Rhône River - southern France)

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